I recently had the chance to visit the place where the magic really happens: the Cambo headquarters in Amsterdam. Over two days, I toured the factory, met the people behind the products, and learned more about the company’s history. What stood out most wasn’t just the machinery or the precision — it was the people and the care behind every step.
A Look Inside the Process
Every Cambo product starts with a conversation. Ideas are shaped in meetings between operations, engineers, and business analysts, often beginning with simple but important questions: What problem can we solve? or how can we improve a photographer’s workflow?
From there, the two in-house engineers turn those ideas into real, working designs. One thing I found especially impressive is how closely everyone is connected. If an engineer needs input, the factory floor is only a few steps away. That kind of collaboration isn’t just convenient; it genuinely improves the product. Problems get solved faster, and ideas are refined with input from the people who will actually machine and assemble the parts.
Once a design is finalized, it moves into production. The factory houses five computer-controlled machines, each operated by specialists who know their equipment inside and out. During the tour, I met Bert, who has worked in the lathing and turning departments for 36 years. When I asked why he’s stayed so long, his answer was simple: the variety of the work and the people. Over nearly four decades, he’s seen new machines come in, new colleagues join, and products developed that wouldn’t have even been imagined 30 years ago.
The machines carve individual components from solid aluminum with impressive precision. Some tolerances are as low as one hundredth of a millimeter. Because everything is done in-house, adjustments and improvements can happen quickly. If something needs refining, prototype parts can be machined and tested without delay. That flexibility keeps innovation moving without sacrificing quality.
From Machining to Assembly
After machining, each part is carefully inspected, smoothed, powder-coated, and painted before heading to assembly. Every product that reaches a customer's hands has been assembled by hand by one of five skilled mechanics. And quality control doesn’t stop there; each product is checked again during and after assembly to ensure everything is exactly as it should be.
Once completed, products are packaged and stored until they’re shipped out. I have to admit, their storage system might have been my favorite part. Every component is carefully cataloged and easy to locate. It’s the kind of organization that makes you want to go home and organize your Tupperware cabinets.
Seeing the entire process firsthand makes one thing very clear: nothing is rushed, and nothing is taken lightly. Care goes into every stage, from the first sketch to the final inspection. When you invest in Cambo equipment, you’re not just buying a piece of gear. You’re buying into a system that’s been thoughtfully designed and carefully built.
Where Tradition Meets Vision
While walking through the building, I came across a magazine featuring Roelof Bok, the founder of Cambo. One story in particular stayed with me.
In 1943, the Royal Netherlands Navy Institute asked Bok to carry out a secret mission. Using a homemade camera, he photographed blank identity cards. These images were used to create new identification documents for Jewish citizens whose official papers had been marked with the letter “J,” putting them at risk during wartime raids. At the time, three passport photos cost 35 cents, but the work he did had far greater value.
Spending time at headquarters, meeting the people behind the products, and learning about the history behind the name gave me a deeper appreciation for what Cambo represents. There’s a clear thread connecting the company’s past to its present: craftsmanship, integrity, and a commitment to serving photographers well.
After seeing it all up close, it’s easy to understand why Cambo products feel the way they do. They’re not just manufactured. They’re carefully made by people who genuinely care about what ends up in your hands.
