Canham 6x17 back, looking for a camera for it

Howdy all,

I am seriously considering one of these backs, but I don't currently

own a 5x7 camera, and the thought of buying one is making me rethink

it. Here is the deal, I currently have a cambo 4x5 and 8x10

camera. Both are heavy and not really intended for a field camera,

but I do happen to take them outside quite a bit. I like the fact

that I can use both lenses on both formats without replacing out

lensboards, even though the weight can add up if I am not carefull.

I really like the idea of shooting 6x17 on roll film and this back

looks promising. If I were to pick up a 5x7 camera, which ones

should I be looking at that would facilitate the use of this back?

I have heard varying opinions on canham's metal 5x7, but are there

any other cameras that could use this back without extensive

modifications?

The Canham 6x17 back works great on the Canham MQC 5x7 camera -- which is

also a terrific camera -- for a field camera; but you can't compare it to a monorail

view camera like a Sinar, Arca-Swiss, Horseman or Cambo. Field cameras and

monorail cameras are two different kinds of tools.

I have used the Canham back with a 30+ year old Linhof Technika III or IV. As a

matter of fact that is the camera I used when I tested the back for "View Camera"

Magazine earlier this year. That camera had a minor but ingenious modification

devised by Jeff Wheeler at Quality Camera Company in Atlanta. Basically any camera

you decide to use will need a graflock type mechanism to hold the back into place. As

of this moment the only camera I know of that has a 5x7 graflock system is the

Caham MQC. there has been some talk of a possible second camera, made in

England, to incorporate a 5x7 Graflock but I am not sure where that project stands. I

know that there is at least one Arca-Swiis user who has had hiscamera modified and I

think one or two Sinar Por C users who have had their cameras modified. A few

hundred of these backs have been built and sold at this point and I have no doubts

that a sizable fraction of these backs are being used on cameras other than the

Canham MQC.

In theory it should not be too difficult to have a Cambo 5x7 rear format frame

modified for a graflock attachment mechanism at a reasonable cost. I would talk to

the people at SK Grimes: http://www.skgrimes.com

Keith,

In the last issue of View Camera, there was a listing for a 5x7 field camera that would take the Canham 6x17 back w/o modification. IIRC, it was the Osaka. I'm at home and the issue is at work. I do remember that the camera limited back movements.

Thanks!

Steve

The third camera (besides Canham and Osaka) designed to accept the 6x17 back will be a Walker 5x7 Wide Angle. This camera is being manufactured right now, though it isn't quite available yet. Get updates from Mike Walker through www.walkercameras.com. He told me the camera is basically designed specifically for the Canham back, and has no rear movements. Very similar to his existing 4x5 Wide Angle.

Walker cameras are machined out of ABS (fancy plastic); I am very pleased with my standard 4x5.

CXC