Cambo Ultima multi shot sliding back system, CMSL-45.

The advantage of the Cambo Ultima multi shot sliding back CMSL-45 over the Phase One Flexadapter sliding back is that the Cambo Ultima multi shot sliding back CMSL-45 is made for their own camera so fits perfectly. The Phase One sliding back was designed before the Ultima existed, and is about 1mm off (you have to jerry-rig the Phase One Flexadapter to fit a Cambo 4x5 camera). I do not want to need to jerry-rig any $4,000+ attachment, so I selected the CamboCMSL-45 multi-shot sliding back.

Since I have the 4x5 Cambo Ultima and not the medium format Cambo Ultima 23 series, I got the sliding back model CMSL-45.

CMSL-45 means Cambo Multi Shot L? 4x5 camera adapter for medium format

Information can be downloaded from the Cambo Web site.

I always like it when instruction manuals are available from a company web site without having to register or waste your time otherwise. So far I have found the instruction manual for the non-multishot version CSL. Frankly I would recommend buying the multi-shot version.

Cambo sliding back adapter.

Our experience at FLAAR with the Cambo Multi Shot adapter for 4x5 camera

At Photokina every two years in Cologne I have inspected sliding back adapters. These adapters allow placing a Phase One, Leaf, Hasselblad, Sinar, Jenoptik, or Megavision medium format digital back onto a 4x5” large-format camera. The reason is to enable you to utilize a Schneider or Rodenstock lens instead of a Zeiss or Mamiya lens on your Hasselblad, Contex, Mamiya, or Rollei medium format camera. These are great cameras but the large format lenses are considered better.

The second reason for using a sliding back adapter is so you can stitch two side-by-side images together to get a larger result. This is best when you are trying to photograph landscapes, architecture or panoramas. But our first use of the Cambo sliding back adapter was in our studio shooting cacao and maize for our Mayan ethnobotany projects.

In theory you could use a Cambo multi-shot sliding adapter for an Arca-Swiss or Sinar or Linhof 4x5 camera. You are not limited to using a Cambo sliding back only on a Cambo camera. Just be sure, however, that you have the proper adapters (and that they exist at all for the camera you wish to connect with).

The Cambo sliding back was tested by Nicholas Hellmuth because he has been interested in this photographic tool.

Nicholas Hellmuth evaluated the Cambo sliding back in Copan Honduras, when he was studying the Mayan culture during December 2008.

Nicholas Hellmuth using Cambo sliding back at FLAAR's garden

For Further Information on Sliding Back Adapters

You can speak with the Cambo representatives either in the Cambo booth or Calumet booth at PhotoPlus trade show every autumn in New York or every two years at Photokina in Cologne (also in autumn).

At other times you can contact Cambo directly in The Netherlands at telephone +31 38 331 4644. Their fax is +31 38 331-5110. E-mail is Cambo@wxs.nl. Their web site is www.Cambo.com.

There are already FLAAR Reports being issues this January that describe our experience with the Cambo sliding back adapter.

Most recently updated January 16, 2009.
First posted Oct 6, 2006. Updated January 2, 2009.

You can order these reports from FLAAR

Available by october 2008 Available by octuber 2008 Available by october 2008 Available by october 2008 Available by october 2008

Nicholas Hellmuth’s Medium Format Digital Camera Initiative For over 40 years Nicholas Hellmuth has used Rolleiflex and Hasselblad cameras to record the flora, fauna, and archaeology of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Now for several years he is extending his medium format experience to digital photography. Since FLAAR works both in a studio as well as out on location, we are an ideal focus for judging portability. We have experience with large format digital scan backs (the excellent BetterLight) and we also use Nikon and Canon digital cameras. A full-service digital pro should have at least one medium format digital system and should consider large format digital options as well. Although we started with a Leaf Valeo 22 coupled with a Mamiya 645 AFD body and lenses, we are open to showcasing all bodies as well as other digital backs. Indeed we have tested an Imacon 4-shot back on a Hasselblad H1 body. Then (February 2006 onwards) we are evaluated a MegaVision black-and-white dedicated back for fine art photography. Next we are testing a 33-megapixel Phase One P 30. Since 2008 FLAAR has used a Phase One P25+ (a great way to update an aging Hasselblad ELX body with its excellent Zeiss lenses). Camera resellers or manufacturers who wish to have their cameras, lenses, and backs included in this initiative are welcome to send their equipment for evaluation. FLAAR is the de facto source of information because we have been university based, independent, blunt, and we are one of the few review sources that dares to review advertising specs, advertising claims, and advertising hype. We can afford to reveal all the pros and cons because FLAAR is a research institute. Photographers feel they can trust a university research professor who has devoted years to understanding the pros and cons of each aspect of a digital camera system and workflow. Notice you are not blinded by blinking, flashing, or pesty ads for low-bid camera stores on a FLAAR photography review. I am always amused by a pseudo-review that obviously is simply paid to send you to a camera store. You can download our colorful FLAAR Reports on our medium format digital camera initiative.