American Expat in Switzerland

[Clint Chadwick]

Hello All,

I have already learned a great deal from the posts in this forum so I thought it was time I joined.

I'm just getting into large format after spending 2010 rediscovering film with MF. Large Format seems like a great way to capture the natural beauty of my adopted home here in Zürich.

I look forward to participating in the forums!

[John Kasaian]

Welcome! I spent a few summers in a Wallis. I love swiss wines!

[Vick Vickery]

Welcome to group therapy! Have you already started shooting LF or are you shopping for a starting camera/lens? Lots of good info on this site.

[Armin Seeholzer]

Hi Welcome!

Then we should do a meeting in the future I'm a bit near to Lucerne then Zürich, but not by much!

Cheers Armin

[munz6869]

Welcome Clint! I'm in Zürich nearly every July - If I see another LF-er, I'll wave madly!

Marc!

[Clint Chadwick]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I am on the waiting list for a Chamonix 045N-2, but I couldn't wait any longer so I've picked up a used Toyo 45A off an online auction site. I am still waiting for it to arrive. It appears to be in great shape with a new bellows so I either got a decent deal on it ($600) or someone screwed up the bellows installation and is trying to get rid of it (and is defrauding me in the process).

I also picked up a used Schneider APO Symmar 150mm f5.6 lens which seems to be more than good enough for a beginner like me.

Armin, that would be great. I'm actually South of Zürich anyway in Adliswil so we're probably quite close.

Marc, I'll wave madly as well!

[sultanofcognac]

Salut Clint,

I also 'live' in CH. . . since 1997 (also an American expat). I spend my time between there and France. I lived in Wädenswil for almost six years (give the brewery there a visit!), and later in Avenches.

I'll be in ZH around the 20th of Feb if you'd like to meet for a cupli and shoot at something ;-) Let me know, as I'll be driving from France and will bring something LF if so.

Cheers,

Johnny

[Jamie123]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I am on the waiting list for a Chamonix 045N-2, but I couldn't wait any longer so I've picked up a used Toyo 45A off an online auction site. I am still waiting for it to arrive. It appears to be in great shape with a new bellows so I either got a decent deal on it ($600) or someone screwed up the bellows installation and is trying to get rid of it (and is defrauding me in the process).

I also picked up a used Schneider APO Symmar 150mm f5.6 lens which seems to be more than good enough for a beginner like me.

Armin, that would be great. I'm actually South of Zürich anyway in Adliswil so we're probably quite close.

Marc, I'll wave madly as well!

Ha, funny. I'm also in Zurich ("born and raised" as they say ) and am also on the waiting list for a Chamonix 045N-2. The waiting time is a bit annoying but I'm pretty low on cash at the moment anyway so maybe it's good that I have to wait .

Since you're new in this city I can give you some information that might be useful to you.

Here are a few of the pro labs that process 4x5:
http://www.hebting.ch/
http://www.laboratorium.ch/
http://www.tricolor.ch/
http://www.gwerderart.ch/
http://www.studio13.ch/

I use Hebting as it's in my neighborhood but I'm sure the others are good, too. Hebting and Gwerder also sell film and at least Hebting also sells some chemistry.
However, if you want chemistry and lab accessories your best bet is Eschenmoser which is a branch of the electronics store Fust. It's right at the tram stop "Werd" (Trams 9 and 14). You can also order quite a lot from www.ars-imago.ch .

As you have probably already noticed, prices for film are pretty steep around here so I usually place large orders either from online stores in the US like B&H or, when the Euro is as low as it is right now, also from Germany from www.macodirect.de or www.fotoimpex.de.

That's all I can think of right now but if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

[walter23]

prices for film are pretty steep around here

Switzerland? Expensive? No way!

[Sascha Welter]

Switzerland? Expensive? No way!

Well, given that Switzerland has 8% VAT, while e.g. Germany has 19% VAT and given that currently the Swiss Frank is valued very high compared to the Euro and the Dollar, logic would say that the same product from the US or Japan, imported in Germany or imported in Switzerland should be cheaper in Switzerland.

In fact the dealers in Switzerland seem to put the currency and tax advance in their pockets and sell the customer the same product for a higher price. So some people buy from across the border.