Calumet (C-1) 8x10 value

[jbog]

I'm thinking of selling my Calumet C-1 8x10 view camera. I don't know what it's worth. It's condition and accessories should get a premium price. Any idea what it's worth?

"Calumet 8x10 Large Format View Camera. Model C-1. Serial # 20847. Comes with 8x10 back (glass missing) and 2 reducing backs - 8x10 to 5x7 & 8x10 to 4x5 (rotating back). The lens is a 12" (305 mm) f:6.3 Ilex-Calumet Caltar No. 1073 mounted in a #4 Acme Synchro fully synchronized Ilex Shutter. It also comes with a recessed reducing lensboard. Also 2 lensboards (4x4 & 6x6) with mounting flanges. The camera & lens are in beautiful shape. It hasn't been used very much. Paint is intact. It is the magnesium model. It comes with the original shipping box it came in."

Pictures:

Thanks, Jim

[Jon Shiu]

Probably worthwhile to replace the 8x10 ground glass.

Jon

[Brian Ellis]

I don't know how much value the lens adds but the camera alone would probably sell for around $300 - $400. One similar to yours recently sold for $295 on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Calumet-8X10-View-Camera-C2-/170541902661?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item27b516eb45 It seems a little rougher than yours but then you're missing the ground glass which isn't expensive to replace but does detract from the value, probably by more than the cost of a replacement.

[D. Bryant]

I'm thinking of selling my Calumet C-1 8x10 view camera. I don't know what it's worth. It's condition and accessories should get a premium price. Any idea what it's worth?

"Calumet 8x10 Large Format View Camera. Model C-1. Serial # 20847. Comes with 8x10 back (glass missing) and 2 reducing backs - 8x10 to 5x7 & 8x10 to 4x5 (rotating back). The lens is a 12" (305 mm) f:6.3 Ilex-Calumet Caltar No. 1073 mounted in a #4 Acme Synchro fully synchronized Ilex Shutter. It also comes with a recessed reducing lensboard. Also 2 lensboards (4x4 & 6x6) with mounting flanges. The camera & lens are in beautiful shape. It hasn't been used very much. Paint is intact. It is the magnesium model. It comes with the original shipping box it came in."

Pictures:

Thanks, Jim


I've owned 3 C1s. I would value your camera between $400-$500 if you replace the grnd glass. These are good cameras for converting to wet plate.

Don

[jbog]

Here are more pictures >>>

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/jgbogner/calumet%20C-1%208x10%20View%20Camera/

>>> Jim

[D. Bryant]

Here are more pictures >>>

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/jgbogner/calumet%20C-1%208x10%20View%20Camera/

>>> Jim
Your camera looks very very clean, a nice specimen. You might get $500+ for it with a ground glass.

[Merg Ross]

You have what appears to be a very clean outfit. I have a C-1 and it works well as an inexpensive 8x10 camera. However, I would never consider using it as a 5x7 or as a 4x5 in the field, hence the accessories that you offer would be of little interest nor add value. This is only my personal opinion, so somewhere around $450-$550 would seem reasonable.

[jbog]

I'm getting a replacement ground glass for the camera. Problem will be solved.

There is a demand for the reducing backs for the C-1. One sold several weeks ago on eBay for about $225.00.

>>> Jim

[al olson]

I'm getting a replacement ground glass for the camera. Problem will be solved.

There is a demand for the reducing backs for the C-1. One sold several weeks ago on eBay for about $225.00.

>>> Jim

There is likely more value if you sell the reducing backs separately rather than as a package. Oftentimes you can get more value by selling the lens separately as well.

[Lynn Jones]

Hi Jim,

While it is true that I am prejudiced regarding this camera I still think it is the over all best 8x10 view camera I have ever used (and I haven't missed many over my 63 photo years.

My bias is because I was one of the 4 people who created the camera, Ken Becker (owner/founder), Ben Booko (VP, Mgr of Mfring), Bill Ryan, VP SMA, and me, (Bill and Ben's assistant). We chose magnesium because it was 30% lighter than aluminum, Vdrive focus because of the smoothness (actually invented by Kodak), The 6x6 boards because they were identical to Deardorff, the 4x4 boards because of the popularity of the 4x5 (85% of the world market), reducing backs because of pro surveys, double recessed because a 90mm WA would work at infinity, and Caltar lenses because our favorite Kodak professional optics went out of business.

Lynn

[Lynn Jones]

Hi again all, you may be interested in this 1965-67 LF history.

I'll add that the f6.3 Caltars were 4 element tessars. Ilex's Manny Kiner ray traced the best known Commercial Ektars, found some new optical glasses, and then computer designed them as f6.3 Caltars. They were extremely successful in less than a year. They were made in 6.5" (165mm), 8.5" (215mm), 10" (250mm), 12" (305mm), 14.75" (375mm). There was only 1 US made "S" Caltar, an 8.5" (215mm) f 4.8 72 degree plasmat, all the rest were originally private labeled Rodenstock Sironars until years later when Rodenstock and Schneider competed for the 2 year contracts. You may remember that all British and American lenses were in inches until about 1969 or 70. After that the names were mostly in metric measure.

The WF Caltar 90mm was a new design by Kiner that covered 103 degrees and was only made in that focal length. The 20" (508mm) f 7.0 was actually a triplet lens that had a great reputation, especially at studio distances (critical sharpness and flatness at from 35 to 40 degrees)

Ilex made all of these lenses in all focal lengths with there own name as well as B&J and BBOI's names.

Lynn

[Mark Sampson]

I'll speak up for the 14-3/4" Caltar. On the job once we made a 10' square enlargement from an 8x10 neg shot with one of those; it was still sharp at that size.

[jbog]

An C-1 sold on eBay Wednesday. The seller sold the reducing backs & lensboards separate. Camera came with 8x10 back, lens, 4 film holders, film. Seller says it needs painting. See http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160485203205&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_947

Prices > Camera --------------- $ 737.00
Reducing back 4x5 --- $ 100.00
Reducing back 5x7 ---- $ 223.50
Recessed lensboard --- $ 36.77
Lensboards (4) ------- $ 78.00
Total ---$ 1,175.27

>>> Jim

[Greg_Thomas]

An C-1 sold on eBay Wednesday. The seller sold the reducing backs & lensboards separate. Camera came with 8x10 back, lens, 4 film holders, film. Seller says it needs painting. See http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160485203205&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_947

Prices > Camera --------------- $ 737.00
Reducing back 4x5 --- $ 100.00
Reducing back 5x7 ---- $ 223.50
Recessed lensboard --- $ 36.77
Lensboards (4) ------- $ 78.00
Total ---$ 1,175.27

>>> Jim

I'd be interested in your setup without the 4x5 and 5x7 backs. I don't think I could do $700 though.

[Merg Ross]

An C-1 sold on eBay Wednesday. The seller sold the reducing backs & lensboards separate. Camera came with 8x10 back, lens, 4 film holders, film. Seller says it needs painting. See http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160485203205&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_947

Prices > Camera --------------- $ 737.00
Reducing back 4x5 --- $ 100.00
Reducing back 5x7 ---- $ 223.50
Recessed lensboard --- $ 36.77
Lensboards (4) ------- $ 78.00
Total ---$ 1,175.27

>>> Jim

Sounds like a fair price with a 12" Dagor lens and holders.

[D. Bryant]

I'd be interested in your setup without the 4x5 and 5x7 backs. I don't think I could do $700 though.

$737 is way on the high side in today's market.

Don Bryant

[jbog]

Hi TAG,

My second post had a link to more detailed pictures.
See >> http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/jgbogner/calumet%20C-1%208x10%20View%20Camera/

The camera seems to have had little studio use & was kept in it's original shipping box when not used. It's had only one owner.

>>> Jim

[D. Bryant]

Hi TAG,

My second post had a link to more detailed pictures.
See >> http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/jgbogner/calumet%20C-1%208x10%20View%20Camera/

The camera seems to have had little studio use & was kept in it's original shipping box when not used. It's had only one owner.

>>> Jim

I have to say it's the best looking one I've ever seen.

Don Bryant

[charlie03m]

[QUOTE=jbog;631031]I'm thinking of selling my Calumet C-1 8x10 view camera. I don't know what it's worth. It's condition and accessories should get a premium price. Any idea what it's worth?

Hi,
Is this camera still for sale?
Charlie