Shen45
7-Dec-2006, 20:38
On a recent trip to America I purchased a good condition Calumet c400 with a 26" rail from a member of this list.
I had read before getting the camera that it was a heavy beast and a bit of a dinosaur to use -- well nothing could be further from the truth. The camera weighs 8 Ibs and that is only marginally heavier than my Shen.
Yes it doesn't fold so transprting it involves a bit of bulk and that could be a drawback for some however the bag I have made for it holds my backpack for my lenses and the 4x5 camera so while there may be some extra bulk it is all quite contained.
I set up the camera on the tripod and put the backpack on and off I go with the camera and tripod as a unit over my shoulder. If I was considering kilometres of hiking [which I wouldn't:)] then I would probably use the Shen. A kilometre or two from the car is fine with the camera on the tripod over the shoulder.
It certainly is not as heavy as some people make out and at 53 I'm nowhere near as strong as I once was yet I can carry it as well as my Shen. I would like a folder for 5x4 that had similar features as the Calumet especially the bellows draw. My friend has a Canham 5x7 with a 5x4 reducing back and about 30" inches of bellows so that is approaching the ultimate all round camera for me.
The real advantage for me is the bellows draw, 22". Close up work or the use of longer lenses is now very easy. I recently purchased a most amazing 19" Red Dot Artar in a shutter and can use it happily on this camera. I built an extension for the lenses and can use this lens up to 26" of exension. At that extension the camera is still rock steady.
One disadventage is the difficulty using a 90 mm WA but it can be done. Another is the length of bar behind the ground glass when you are under the dark cloth. For the first couple of times you bang into it but you adapt.
Initially I hated the axial tilts for focus but this camera is beautifully designed to make that style of focussing a no brainer. Everything about the camera looks primative compared to modern monorails yet everything is extremely funtional.
I hadn't considered a monorail for landscapes as since my first use of 5x4 nearly 30 years ago all of my cameras have been folding metal or wood field or press cameras.
If you are contemplating a versatile camera with only a few minor limations then the old Calumet is a brilliant camera. A great way to get started and I bet you don't get rid of it even if you "upgrade".
I'm keeping mine.
Steve
I had read before getting the camera that it was a heavy beast and a bit of a dinosaur to use -- well nothing could be further from the truth. The camera weighs 8 Ibs and that is only marginally heavier than my Shen.
Yes it doesn't fold so transprting it involves a bit of bulk and that could be a drawback for some however the bag I have made for it holds my backpack for my lenses and the 4x5 camera so while there may be some extra bulk it is all quite contained.
I set up the camera on the tripod and put the backpack on and off I go with the camera and tripod as a unit over my shoulder. If I was considering kilometres of hiking [which I wouldn't:)] then I would probably use the Shen. A kilometre or two from the car is fine with the camera on the tripod over the shoulder.
It certainly is not as heavy as some people make out and at 53 I'm nowhere near as strong as I once was yet I can carry it as well as my Shen. I would like a folder for 5x4 that had similar features as the Calumet especially the bellows draw. My friend has a Canham 5x7 with a 5x4 reducing back and about 30" inches of bellows so that is approaching the ultimate all round camera for me.
The real advantage for me is the bellows draw, 22". Close up work or the use of longer lenses is now very easy. I recently purchased a most amazing 19" Red Dot Artar in a shutter and can use it happily on this camera. I built an extension for the lenses and can use this lens up to 26" of exension. At that extension the camera is still rock steady.
One disadventage is the difficulty using a 90 mm WA but it can be done. Another is the length of bar behind the ground glass when you are under the dark cloth. For the first couple of times you bang into it but you adapt.
Initially I hated the axial tilts for focus but this camera is beautifully designed to make that style of focussing a no brainer. Everything about the camera looks primative compared to modern monorails yet everything is extremely funtional.
I hadn't considered a monorail for landscapes as since my first use of 5x4 nearly 30 years ago all of my cameras have been folding metal or wood field or press cameras.
If you are contemplating a versatile camera with only a few minor limations then the old Calumet is a brilliant camera. A great way to get started and I bet you don't get rid of it even if you "upgrade".
I'm keeping mine.
Steve