Cairo Camera 45 (First Assembly and Movement Check)
Cairo Camera 45 (Prototyping)
25/03/2021
So finally I finished enough machining for me to be able to assemble the camera and check the basic movements.
What's Next
Now since the general design concept is proven to an acceptable level, I can now go back to completing the geared movement and locking mechanisms.
Meanwhile, I have ordered two custom bellows from custombellows.co.uk, once arrived I will have to manufacture a frame for them and i shall be able to take the first photo with the camera.
8 Comments
This is amazing, I’m frustrated with my current view camera’s little movements and specially that I can only move the front standard to focus. I was willing to get a monorail even thou I work mainly in the field because of the freedom it gives you. The Cairo Camera is the ultimate answer to all I need. Are you planning on making it available for purchase? Best of luck with the design
Ammar, thanks for your comment.
Yes I have a plan to make the camera available for purchase once the design is complete.
I was going to buy a Chamonix I’m going to wait for your camera to come out. do you have an estimate price range? Have you considered a kickstarter campaign? Keep up the good work I’m really happy that I discovered this project before upgrading my current setup
Hi Ammar, it really makes me happy seeing your comment about waiting for my camera.
The pricing is a big discussion between me and my trusted friends whome I consult while making this camera.
Personally, I want this camera to be affordable, other friends believe that the additional features puts this camera on the high end of 4×5 field cameras and it should be priced that way. We ended up agreeing that there will be three variants of the camera, the basic one with very simple finish, a more refined one with much nicer finish and styling, and a collectors edition with exotic materials and finish. The last variant will probably sit behind a glass cabinet which is not my liking but I understand the collectors concept.
Next factor is manufacturing, In-house vs outsourcing, the first is my preference but the initial investment for a CNC is not less that 100k USD, add to that rental, permits, and many other factors that I will talk about in a separate post. So I have to factor in all this plus the biggest unknown to me, how many I can sell in one year?
Outsourcing can be quicker option but for sure the cost will be higher.
I know that doesn’t answer your question with numbers but I will be having the numbers in hand once am done with the prototype and the machining time required to make each part is final, then I’ll be able to price the basic model but I can tell you now that it will cost more than the Chamonix considering the number of parts that make each camera.
Stay tuned as I will be posting more on the pricing in the future.
Finally, about kickstarter, I did look into that option but kickstarter is not supported in the UAE where I live now or in Egypt where I am from.
Since I recently sold my beloved Linhof Technikardan 45, I’ve been looking for just this type of camera. Are they already being produced? This is truly a very promising piece of engineering! Thanks.
James, thanks for your nice words.
Currently am in the prototyping phase, once completed I’ll make few cameras and send to others for testing.
Hi Abdalla,
Thank you for the reply, I’ll fellow the evolution of the project patiently and I can’t wait to get my hands on one. Too bad for the kickstarter, it would’ve covered the expense to get a CNC and do in house machining and I agree with you, it should be priced accordingly to the production cost not to the fact that it offers premium features and plus the cheaper it is the easier it’s gonna be to sell.
Thanks Ammar, I’ll do my best to have one camera with you name on it as fast as possible.