Chaminoxvs Shen- Hao

[bwaysteve]

Anyone out there have any comparison of the Chaminox and Shen-Hao?
From photos the Chaminox looks better crafted and more rigid.
I know I can get a Shen from Badger,but I would be interested to know anyone who has ordered a Chaminox and the procedure since I cannot find an ordering source.Thanks,Steve

[john collins]

Many of us on this forum have ordered Chamonix cameras from Hugo Zhang - one of our members. I highly recommend Hugos service and Chamonix cameras. You can PM him for information.

[Gordon Moat]

I think you will find that the movements of the Shen-Hao are different than the Chamonix. I find that I use back shift movements extensively with some tilt on my Shen-Hao, though I do some unusual selective focus shots that way.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

[vinny]

I own the shen hao and i used a chamonix 45 recently. I sent a "review" to Hugo with the pros and cons. email me and i'll forward it on along with shen hao pros n cons. They are two very different cameras.
vinny

[Nick_3536]

Are we sure he's comparing the 4x5s?

[Jiri Vasina]

I have the Chamonix 5x8, my brother has Shen Hao FCL-57. Some quick notes (we have not really done the comparison yet, both cameras are new to us).

Chamonix:

+ lighter, even though it's bigger
+ more bellows extension (600mm plus)
+ rigidity
+/- large Sinar type boards
- minimum bellows extension is around 110mm

Shen Hao:

+ smaller
+ shorter minimum bellows draw (can use 90mm lens on normal board)
+ rigidity
+/- smaller Linhof technika boards
- heavier
- shorter maximum bellows extension

Handling of both cameras is very similar. I'd say that the cameras are a bit different, but nothing significant...

[Nick_3536]

Shen Hao:


+ shorter minimum bellows draw (can use 90mm lens on normal board)

With normal bellows I guess. If it's like the 8x10 with a bag bellows it goes much wider. OTOH I'm not sure anybody wants to go so wide.

[Jiri Vasina]

Nick, yes with normal bellows. I forgot to say that Chamonix does not provide a means to use bag bellows. The movement is limited by the construction of the camera, not the bellows themselves. I'm not sure about the Shen, I don't have it at hand.

[Ted Harris]

The Chamonix 4x5 does have interchangeable bellows. I judt did a review of the camera for the March issue of View Camera. Bottom line, it is a very favorable review.

[bwaysteve]

Thanks everyone this helps a great deal.Steve