Graflex.org

[aoresteen]

I recently purchased a Cambo 23SF view camera. It has a Graflok type back. The ground glass unit pops out and you then attach a roll film back (I have a Horseman 6x9). Works great.

This weekend I recieved some 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet film holders and to my surprise I discovered that there is no way to use them with the Cambo 23SF! The ground glass does not spring up and when you remove the ground glass there's nothing there to hold the SFH in. Cambo confirmed this today in an email.

Looking at pictures of a 2x3 Century Graphic with the Graflok back, it seems to me that the ground glass unit should fit my Cambo and let me use SFH. Am I correct?

It would be cheaper to find a 2x3 ground glass back (Graflok type) than to have a custome back made for the Cambo. Thought?

Aside from ebay, where would I be able to locate a 2x3 Graflok back complete with ground glass and viewer hood?

I have never heard of a view camera not being able to use sheet film!

TIA!

[Dave]

This question takes me back, because I had the same problem the other way around. When I bought my used Century in about 1984, it came with no ground glass back. I nearly bought a new Cambo back for it, but the price turned me off. (Instead, I got a local camera repair guy to make me a focusing screen out of a sheet film holder.)

Years later, I got a regular Graflok back from Midwest Photo (mpex.com). I think it was new old stock-- it was perfect anyway. It's of course in perfect registration for my Graphic rollholder. Graflok backs also show up on ebay occasionally.

I can't answer whether the Graflok back will work on the Cambo camera. You'd think it should, but who knows whether the spring arms fit the same and so on. If you don't get a really good answer here, consider posting this on the photo.net large format forum, or one of the other LF sites.

[Les]

I can't find a photo of the back of a 23SF. If you could post one it would help.

Just from your post it doesn't sound like you have a Graflok (or International back) because the grould glass should be able to spring away from the camera body and hold a film holder.

As an aside, when I was looking at 2x3 view cameras several years ago, I couldn't find one would allow you to use the camera like a view camera..slide film in slide film out. All of them had you remove the ground glass to put the roll film holder on. One or two had a 'ferris wheel" or sliding back that allowed you to view on the ground glass and spin or slide the film holder in place. These are great in the studio, but too big and bulky for the field.

[aoresteen]

Les,

The Cambo 23SF does have a 2x3 Graflok back. It's just that the ground glass unit that Cambo makes does not allow the use of a SFH.

What you do is release the Graflok clips, the gg comes out, and you attach your roll back. I have a Horseman 6x9 back which works just fine with the camera - and it is a Graflok back.

I'll post a snap tonight when I get home.

_________________
Tony Oresteen
Newnan, GA

WWW.oresteen.com

[aoresteen]

Here's the picture

[aoresteen]

Oops, how do you post a picture?

_________________
Tony Oresteen
Newnan, GA

WWW.oresteen.com

[Les]

you'll need to put it up on a server somewhere then post the URL between the tags [image...] picture url [/image...]

eliminate the periods. I added them so you can see the tags.

Or email the photo to me and I can post it.


LNphoto@twmi.rr.com

[Dave]

I think what Tony is saying is that the Cambo ground glass is held in by the horizontal slides, correct? But there is no actual spring back held on by the hook-shaped spring clips? Maybe I'm restating the obvious (again).

I guess this is a good design if you're using the Cambo as a rollfilm view camera in the field. I use the removable Graflok ground glass like this on my Century, and pull it off to replace it with the rollholder, but it's a pain. I have to be darn careful that I don't jiggle the camera when I'm unlatching the spring clips.

But if the Cambo has no recesses for the spring hooks, it would mean that a conventional Graflok removable back from a Graphic camera wouldn't fit on the Cambo because the hooks would be in the way. Do I interpret this right?

The other alternative, a bit of a kludge, would be to do what my camera repair guy did for me 20 years ago and make your own, either out of planed hardwood or an old sheet film holder. However you did this, you'd have to be real fussy about getting it in the same focal plane as your rollfilm back.

[aoresteen]

Dove,

You have got it correct. There are at least 3 solutions mentioned thus far; I'm sure I will get it to work.