lightest most compact 4x5 rail view camera

[stradibarrius]

I currently have a calumet cc-400 with good movement and a rotating back.
I am thinking about something that is a bit lighter and packs up a little better...if there is such a thing.
If you were buying a rail camera that is reasonably priced what would you get and why?

[IanG]

Cambo (Calumet) Cadet.

Ian

[vinny]

toho. look on badgergraphic.com

[stradibarrius]

Does the Cambo SC have extension rails? Or is it difficult to remove the rail and re-install it?

[Dan Fromm]

Does the Cambo SC have extension rails? Or is it difficult to remove the rail and re-install it?

No. But and however, all sizes of SC use a 1"x1" rail. If you ask Google to find 80/20 t-slotted aluminum extrusion, it will find you vendors who'll sell you the stuff in, IIRC, lengths up to 8'.

I have a Baby Bertha that incorporates a 2x3 Graflex RB Ser. B and a 2x3 SC. At the moment the longest rail I have for it is a 4' length of 1"x1" (IIRC, they call it 1010 section) 80/20 that I bought from 80/20's surplus sales operation via Amazon.com.

Getting some, not all, SC standards -- I have 4 -- on it can be a tussle, but that's true of Cambo's own rails too.

FYI, Cambo's own rails have a spring-loaded stop at each end to make it hard to run a standard off the rail unintentionally. With a length of t-slotted extrusion one has to pay attention ...

If you want a really light 4x5 monorail, go, as you've already been directed, to Badger Graphics' site and look, as you haven't been told, at Toho cameras.

[stradibarrius]

I finally found the specs. on the SC and compared them to my cc-400. My cc-400 is actually about half a pound lighter??? 8.9lbs. for the SC and 8.5 for the cc-400. I do like the graduated markings on the Cambo the my cc-400 doesn't have.

[Peter York]

Kerry Thalmann has a great review of the Toho here: http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/toho.htm

I love mine but it is really designed for ultralight situations, like backpacking. You may be able to find a rail camera with more flexibility (and greater weight) that meets your needs.

[jeroldharter]

Gowland Pocket View is smaller than a Toho but not as user friendly, e.g. Using an Allen wrench to tighten rather than knobs.

[cyrus]

The screws on the Gowland can be easily swapped out for knobs.

[jeroldharter]

The screws on the Gowland can be easily swapped out for knobs.

Do you have a link/source for the knobs?

I have seen pics of that but have not found any.