Re: [Largeformat] case for an old Calumet

[Joshua Wein <jayelwin@yahoo.com>]

I also have an old C400 with that outlandishly long
rail which with my 135mm lens is absolute overkill. I
plan on getting a 210mm lens maybe in the future -
still no need for such a long rail. I too have
contemplated cutting the rail, but it is a little
tough to cut the only one I have in case I change my
mind in the future. I have had no luck finding a
replacement - I have even called calumet. 

I would assume that if you undo the tiny hex nuts that
hold on the caps you could roll the components off the
rail - but since it was definitely not made for this I
would assume that reassembling it on a cold night in
Yosemite with no desire to take off your gloves would
be difficult. It does look doable though. I am taking
a trip to NYC and want to get some LF images of the
bridges in Central Park - I would be very interested
in hearing about your attempt at making this camera
more portable. 

Oh - if you ever run into another rail - cut it in
half and I'll buy half of it off of you - a 10" rail
would suit my 135mm lens just fine. 

-Joshau Wein

--- Don Wilkes <don.wilkes@gems9.gov.bc.ca> wrote:
> Earlier this year, I got an old Calumet 4x5 (best
> birthday present I've
> ever had!), but I have no case for it, and I'm
> having a dickens of a time
> coming up with something.
> 
> So, a couple of questions:
> 
> Is there a short rail that can be temporarily fitted
> (replacing the 20"
> one), so that it can be packed in something much
> more compact?  What sort
> of difficulties might one encounter transferring the
> beast from one rail to
> another, or is this pretty simple? (I'm trying to
> anticipate springs and
> things going *sproing* and bouncing under the
> couch...)
> 
> Does anyone have experience (and tips) about packing
> a 4x5 for airline
> travel?  If I'm going to Yosemite, I've got to fly
> for at least part of the
> way, and I'd really like to get the view camera into
> a small enough, but
> tough enough, container that I can put it in an
> overhead bin, without
> getting flak from the crew, and still not worry
> about the lens(es) and
> ground glass.
> 
> Cheers,
> DonW in Victoria
> 
> P.S.  Anyone in British Columbia know of a place
> (probably Vancouver) with
> a good stock of cases and lenses for large format? 
> The selection here in
> Victoria is pretty slim...
>