Calumet Wood Field - questions

<p>Hi,<br /><br />I am completely new to large format photography but have done extensive research and decided that a Calumet Wood has the functions I am looking for. I have found a used one.<br /><br />My questions are:<br /><br />a/ Is $600 a good deal, assuming all is in good condition? (this includes a Caltar II N 135mm Lens)<br>

b/ Is a Caltar II N 135mm Lens a high quality lens?<br>

c/ Are film holders readily available for this model?<br>

d/ Are most lenses compatible with it? Do lens boards come with lenses or are they acquired separately?<br /><br />Many thanks for any advice.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>A. It is good deal. Make sure the shutter is accurate<br>

B. Yes<br>

C. It takes the standard 4x5 film holders<br>

D. Yes. Only the longest focal length lenses and the ones with large diameter shutters may not fit. Lens boards are separate from the lenses unless the one you buy happens to come with one that fits your camera</p>

<p>Check the bellows for tiny pin holes in strong light. A lens with either a Copal 0 or a Copal 1 shutter will fit fine. It's likely the lens board is a size matching other 4x5 cameras. Caltar lenses are well regarded. Any standard 4x5 film holder will work. The more recent plastic Fidelity and Riteway holders are excellent and not expensive used. You will need a dark cloth and a cable release. Get a hand held light meter, most are fairly inexpensive used. A good solid tripod and head is money well spent and will reward you in the long run. </p>

<p>Thanks so much for your help!</p>

<blockquote>

<p>a/ Is $600 a good deal, assuming all is in good condition? (this includes a Caltar II N 135mm Lens)<br /> b/ Is a Caltar II N 135mm Lens a high quality lens?<br /> c/ Are film holders readily available for this model?<br /> d/ Are most lenses compatible with it? Do lens boards come with lenses or are they acquired separately?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>a/ The wood Calumet field camera is beautiful. A price of $600 is a good deal for one in good condition with a lens included. In a dark room, I would insert a lit low watt (40-60 watt) bulb in the bellows to look for light leaks. If I find leaks, I would use McNett Wetsuit/Drysuit Neoprene Flexible Cement to plug the leaks. Just be sure to wait until the cement is thoroughly dry before collapsing the bellows.</p>

<p>b/ The Caltar is a good lens. Rodenstock, Schneider, Fuji, Nikkor, and Kodak are the well-known large format lens names. Caltar was made by Rodenstock. The 135mm is a good general purpose focal length.</p>

<p>c/ I use Fidelity Elite 4x5 inch film sheet holders. Used ones in good condition cost about $10 each. I avoid wooden film sheet holders because they tend to warp.</p>

<p>d/ If you need additional lenses, you need to consider if the lens just barely covers the 4x5 format or does it provide enough coverage to also cover any swing, tilt, shift, rise, and drop movements you may need to make.</p>

<p>Your 135mm lens should come with a 4x4 inch lens board. However, if it does not or if any future lenses do not, there are many good lens board sources on eBay. Here is the one I use:</p>

<p> http://stores.ebay.com/zbima1?_trksid=p2047675.l2563</p>

<p> What subjects do you plan on shooting with your camera?</p>

<p>To correct a couple of the statements made above...<br>

First, there were several different versions of the Calumet Wood Field made, over time, by several different makers. Probably the best of the lot was actually a Wista Camera with the Calumet brand on it. Try to find out more about the camera, and if possible post a link so that someone can actually ID the version for you.<br>

Secondly, while a lot of Caltar lenses were made by Rodenstock they were also supplied, again over time, by Schneider, Topcon and others. The Rodenstock and Schneider lenses were supplied in Copal shutters and are by far the best of the lot.<br>

Lastly, most if not all of the Calumet Wood field cameras used a Linhof lens board not a 4x4 board as was normal on the Calumet Monorails cameras. The last monorails from Calumet were actually Cambos so they used a Cambo board obviously.<br>

As far as price is concerned, if the camera and lens are both in excellent condition then the price is good but not great. Make sure you have some time after the camera arrives to check it out and either return it or re-negotiate the price if repairs are needed.<br>

Don't forget there is a substantial list of "bits and bobs" that you'll need to add to complete your kit.<br>

JD</p>

 

<p>Thank you all for your informative responses.</p>

<p>Well, did you buy it?</p>

<p>If you did, please post some photos of it and/or some photos taken with it.</p>

<p>For your information, here are the accessories I use with my Calumet monorail:<br>

4x5 sheet film (most purchased from Freestyle Photographic Supplies)<br>

sheet film holders (10 Fidelity Elite 4x5)<br>

Tiltall tripod with pan/tilt head<br>

5X Bausch & Lomb focusing loupe<br>

focusing cloth (old black t-shirt)<br>

cable release<br>

large garbage bag (used to protect equipment from sudden rain)<br>

equipment case</p>