Keep my Horseman or sell and get a Chamonix?

[Shootar401]

I have a Horseman L45, I've been toying with the idea of selling it and getting a Chamonix 4x5. My reasons are pretty simple, I don't own a studio so 90% of my shooting is done outdoors. I'd love a smaller camera that I can pack in my bag or go on a hike with, currently I can't do that with my Horseman, for obvious reasons. When I hike I take my Mamiya 645 and 2 lenses.

I'm not a fan of Chinese made products by any means and go out of my way not to buy them. But, I've heard nothing but good things about the Chamonix 4x5's that I'm seriously thinking of picking one up, besides they look sexy. Can a camera be sexy?

Most of my work is landscapes, nudes, portraits and fashion. I don't do that much architecture, but I do when I see something I like. Does the Chamonix 4x5 have enough tilt and shift for architecture photography? I don't do closeups or extreme macho shots so I don't need any insane bellows extension either. And I've never used the Horseman to its full advantage.

Thats being said can anyone think of a reason I should keep my Horseman AND get the Chamonix, or based on my photography styles do you think I will be ok with just the Chamonix?

Thanks!

[David R Munson]

For architectural work, you might find available front rise limiting at times. I know I've run out of rise a number of times (just enough to make me consider going back to a monorail). Beyond that, though, I've not felt at all limited by the Chamonix. It's a great camera through and through, beautifully made, etc.

There's a hell of a lot of good stuff made in China, too, and this is a perfect example. No need to let cultural conditioning lead us to dismiss an entire (very large) segment of manufactured goods. Plenty of crap out there, of course, but plenty of good as well.

[Drew Wiley]

I've seen the Chamonix and it's a fine-looking little camera. And I don't have a Horseman,
but a comparable monorail (now a Sinar Norma) as well as a little Ebony 4x5 folder. The
two types of cameras excel in different departments. The monorail is superior not only for
architecture, but especially with very long lenses, which I use quite often landscape work,
and will be faster to use (you can collapse it with any lens plus a shade still installed).
But when minimum bulk and weight is the priority, like airline travel or long backpack trips,
the folder is preferable. I'd keep both.

[Shootar401]

Good points on the architecture. Currently I only have a 210 and 150, getting a 90 and maybe a 65 next month, but a 90 for sure. Maybe I'll just pick up the Chamonix and see if it works well enough for me before deciding to sell the Horseman.

Whats the minimum and maximum focal lengths on the Chamonix? Can I use a 65mm or a 300mm if I go that long?

[David R Munson]

I believe the maximum extension on the Chamonix is 395mm, which gets you down to something like 6 feet with a 300mm lens? If anyone else knows better, please correct me, but I recall calculating that being the case. As for a 65mm, I've not used anything wider than 135mm on mine, but I know others have. They do make a bag bellows. It is worth noting, too, that at long extension, the Chamonix maintains admirable rigidity.

[drew.saunders]

I believe the maximum extension on the Chamonix is 395mm, which gets you down to something like 6 feet with a 300mm lens? If anyone else knows better, please correct me,

Chamonix does claim a 395mm extension: http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/45.html

For a 300mm lens, assuming 300mm flange back (which is rarely the case), 1/((1/300)-(1/395))=1247mm minimum distance. If you don't want to work at the absolute maximum extension, call it 1.3 to 1.4m, which isn't too bad.

I regularly use a 300mm Fuji C, which needs 283mm of bellows, on my camera with 365mm of extension. The 17mm difference acts as a "top hat", so I get 1/((1/300)-(1/382))=1397mm minimum distance, which works fine for me. The same lens on the Chamonix gets 1103mm minimum distance. Here you can find the Flange Back for most modern lenses: http://www.ebonycamera.com/articles/lenses.html

Drew

[Two23]

I use a 300mm Geronar on my Chamonix 045n. If I need longer I could buy the extension. I really like the Chamonix. It's well made and finished. It's also very light. There are a lot of crappy Chinese photo gear manufacturers out there who are just churning stuff out to make quick money, but the guy who makes Chamonix really loves what he does. He seems to be competing with Ebony. If you are talking about a craftsman who takes pride in his work, what difference does it make where he's from? You might consider selling the Horseman and buying a used Chamonix, and an inexpensive monorail for when you need one.


Kent in SD

[Frank Petronio]

You won't get much for the Horseman anyway so you might as well keep it.

[David R Munson]

Frank's right. Was actually looking at Horseman's recently as a budget monorail option for when I need one.

[Shootar401]

Thanks for the info. Looks like next week I'll be buying a Chamonix 45N-2, leather wrap, 3 lens boads and a folding viewer.

Now I just have to decide what kind of wood and color hardware I want. It never ends, does it?