Experience with Calumet C1 8x10 field camera

Looking for a second hand field camera I saw A Calumet 1C 8x10 camera. I never heard before of this camera. Has anyone experience with this camera? Weak and strong points? How does it compare to for instance a Wista?

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Theo Hartman

Netherlands

Hi Theo,I've got a C1. It's kind of the John Deere tractor of 8*10s.

On the one hand it is stout, and it has bellows, lots of bellows. I

think it will extend near 30". On the other hand, it's made of metal,

metal's heavy you know. With the weight, I don't know if you can

really call it a "field" camera. I've hiked a short distance so far

with mine. It gets heavy fast. The focusing is done from the front

standard back. All the focusing is on the rear standard, and so if you

are using a 250mm/10" lens, then you have to lean over the rear rail

to see the g-glass; this can become a pain. Before you buy one, look

it over good. These cameras were the work horses of studios, and they

saw a lot of use. Everyone I've seen was being dumped by a studio only

after they got their last dime out of it. You have to make sure the

threads aren't stripped on the rear standard/8*10 frame tilt movement.

You want to make sure the knobs haven't been lost, especially the

assembly which the front standard swings on. All of the C1's I've seen

(not all that many really) have had some repair jury-rigged on them.

Finally, you have to look over the bellows very carefully, they are

thin and - since they were studio cameras - the bellows are by now old

and well used, sometimes you can have them taped, but a new bellows is

going to cost you $150+ (I think?). It is probably over-kill for the

field. Depends if you need real stability and lots of extension. For

"views", you might look at something in wood. I've never seen a 8*10

Wista. Best, David

Theo,

I have the Calumet 8X10 C-1 camera. I bought mine second hand from

Midwest Photo Exchange in Columbus, Ohio. It's a solid camera, but

it's very heavy for field work. I have a Carl Meyer 12-inch lens on

mine, which also came from Midwest. It's a heavy combination, but the

whole package was less than $800, so it was an inexpensive (sort of)

way to get into 8X10. You can also get reducing backs for this camera

so that you can also shoot 4x5 and 5x7. For me, the weakest thing

about this camera is its weight. Just looking at this camera, and

knowing how heavy it is, kind of kills my ambition to get out on the

road and shoot some stuff. If I had to do it over again, I would

spend a little more money and get a lighter, wooden 8X10. But the C-1

is built like a tank. By the way, mine doesn't have any zero detents,

which I miss. I'm rambling on, but the strengths are its durability

and relatively cheap cost on the used market. Its weakness, as far as

I'm concerned, is its weight.

I forgot to mention that there is a review of the C1 by Sean Yates

under "Camera Reviews" on this forum. His excellent review should

answer a lot of your questions about the camera.

While favorably compared to a John Deere tractor, realize that the C-1

is not easily moved by the wind and stays put wherever you leave it.

While other LF owners are shielding their cameras with umbrellas and

waiting for a moment of calm, my sea foam green beast holds steady as

she blows. Much like my prose.

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You'll love a C-1. I love mine.

Bill

Having had one of these for a while, I can say that they are built

very well and not much can go wrong on them that can't be fixed by the

user. Calumet still has some parts for them I believe.

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The green ones are of magnesium and are pounds lighter than the black

ones. In fact the green models aren't much different in weight than

many of the wooden field cameras. (Be careful with magnesium - it is

a little more brittle.)

Theo,

I don't own that kind of camera yet but as far as I know Christopher

Burkett (www.christopherburkett.com), the acclaimed american

landscape photographer, takes most of his stunning images with a

Calumet C-1 8x10. Browse his website and enjoy these incredible

photographs. I highly recommend his work !!!

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Good luck, Carsten

It was Cole Weston's preferred camera until he couldn't lug it around

anymore.

"Green C-1" does not always = magnesium or lighter weight. I bought

one advertised as such around 13 pounds and it turned out to weigh 18

pounds, the same as the usual non-green heavy C-1. I don't know the

story behind this, but be carefull if the weight difference matters

to you. Be sure the seller verifies the weight before you buy. I sold

the camera as it was just a bit too heavy for me.