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Michael R
23-May-2016, 05:15
http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/45H.html

Oren Grad
23-May-2016, 05:45
Two non-folding models, 250mm and 350mm maximum bellows draw. With handles, at last!

dave_whatever
23-May-2016, 06:40
Oh Jesus that looks great. I thought my 045F1 would be the last field camera I would need to buy, but I really will have to get one of these as I like the non-folding design having used an Ebony RSW45 in the past. Seems to address the only real issue with the 045F1, which is easily maintaining proper parallelism with wide lenses. I wonder if that front swing mechanism has a zero detent?

jumanji
23-May-2016, 06:51
Right on time. I bet Chamonix designed (or actually just copied) and finished this model for quite awhile but only release it after Ebony's retiring announcement

Sal Santamaura
23-May-2016, 07:42
...With handles, at last!And, if the knob-on-each-side configuration is a functional as well as visual copy, maybe even focus lock. :)


...I wonder if that front swing mechanism has a zero detent?Unlikely. Even Ebony relied on tactile/visual alignment for swing zeroing.

EDIT: Wrong. I almost never use swing, front or rear. This erroneous comment was based on recalling how the rear swing is centered on my SV57 and SV Wholeplate. Checking them now, I find that their rear standards do rely on tactile/visual alignment for swing zeroing, but their fronts indeed have swing zero detents.


...I bet Chamonix designed (or actually just copied) and finished this model for quite awhile but only release it after Ebony's retiring announcementSeems unlikely that they waited. Most probably just coincidence.

dave_whatever
23-May-2016, 07:55
Even Ebony relied on tactile/visual alignment for swing zeroing.
.

Really? I had a Shen Hao TFC which was a poorer quality copy of the SW45 and the front swing on that had a detent, which I assumed was a direct copy of the Ebony mechanism. You wouldn't think Ebony would have done a specialist wide camera with no swing detent, wouldn't make sense.

Is it me or on the new Chamonix model website it says they have no rear shift, but they both seem to have a rear shift scale, implying they do.

Corran
25-May-2016, 11:28
Just now seeing this. I'm also interested to know if the swings (and tilts) are detented at zero position. One of the only gripes I have with my 45n1 is it's hard to get things parallel with the widest lenses. I've been tempted by some of the newer models when they come up for sale used but this model would seem to be a good companion to my N1. Interested to see how it pans out once folks get their hands on it. Can't buy one anytime soon myself.

Michael R
27-May-2016, 06:05
I emailed the question to Hugo and apparently the H models have detents on both swing and tilt, front and rear.

Looking at the design, at least on the front, swing should be easier/faster to square up even without a detent compared with the N/F models because you can line the standard up with the focusing block it sits on by feel, rather than having to do it visually with the little white dots.

Corran
27-May-2016, 06:52
Nice! I think an H is on my wishlist now.

James Morris
29-May-2016, 01:59
Nice. Hope they make an 8x10 version.

austin granger
6-Jun-2016, 13:34
These new cameras really appeal to me, but I have to confess, even after studying the pictures, I still can't quite figure them out. Chamonix states they use the screw-focus mechanism, but looking at the back of the camera, there isn't the focus knob of the N or F1 series. Also, the wheel behind the front standard in the full extension picture; is that just to unlock that third "bed" for maximum extension? Maybe I should drop Hugo a line. Anyway, I'm hoping some early adopter out there will offer some feedback. Maybe it'll be me... :-)

Hugo Zhang
6-Jun-2016, 15:00
I am traveling in China at the moment and our website has some incorrect information about the new H1 and Hs-1 models.They will be updated soon.

To be brief:

1. Both models have rear shift and the 5 cm on the rear scale are the limit of the rear shift. Beyond that, the rear standard can be taken out and exchanged to other formats like 4x10, 5x7 and 617cm. One plateform for multiple formats. Those backs are in development stage as accessories.

2. Dave Parry from UK ordered the first H1 and it should reach his door this week and his report will follow.

Thanks.
Hugo

James Morris
6-Jun-2016, 15:03
Great to know re. the 5x7 back!

Corran
6-Jun-2016, 15:08
Interesting. Curious to see how the interchangeable backs work, and the cost.

Austin, I think you should get a demo model to try out and report on! ;)

Michael R
6-Jun-2016, 15:41
I could be an early adopter, but I really need more accurate/detailed specs first, and I worry there might soon be an improved H2. Love my N-2 but the H models are a better fit for the kind of work I do.

austin granger
6-Jun-2016, 17:18
I am traveling in China at the moment and our website has some incorrect information about the new H1 and Hs-1 models.They will be updated soon.

To be brief:

1. Both models have rear shift and the 5 cm on the rear scale are the limit of the rear shift. Beyond that, the rear standard can be taken out and exchanged to other formats like 4x10, 5x7 and 617cm. One plateform for multiple formats. Those backs are in development stage as accessories.

2. Dave Parry from UK ordered the first H1 and it should reach his door this week and his report will follow.

Thanks.
Hugo

Thanks for the information Hugo. The exchangeable backs make it even more interesting. I look forward to learning more about it.


Austin, I think you should get a demo model to try out and report on! ;)

Ha, if Chamonix would like another fair-minded reviewer, I'm officially volunteering right here. Trust me, I'm (mostly) incorruptible!

dave_whatever
6-Jun-2016, 23:34
OK a few first thoughts here to clear up what isn't clear from the official website blurb for the H1, guessing most of this will also apply to the Hs1 too.

- Focus is the normal rack&pinion type, on both front and rear standards, with focus knobs on the right, locking knobs on the left.

- does have rear shift as Hugo says. Will physically go well beyond the marked 5cm and not fall off, if you want to risk it.

- front/rear rise and tilt are separately locked. The big outer knob locks the rise, and the smaller inner knob locks the tilt.

- rear tilt is asymmetric like the F1, although at a glance the tilt axis seems in a slightly different position to the F1, so don't assume you can just swap focussing screens if you have both cameras.

- rear swing is also asymmetric, the axis is on the left side.

- the swing and shift on both front and rear is locked via the same lever, i.e. If you unlock to do say front shift you need to take care not to accidentally swing.

- the front and rear swings have no detents, but you set the zero position by feel and aligning hard surfaces together. Sms more reliable than the "zero it by eye with the white dots" of the philips type models.

- that cog wheel thing under the front standard does indeed lock the additional sliding bed extension.

- haven't checked yet if the front rise zero dot is set up for centre-drilled lensboard or offset boards.

Hope this helps a few folk. I'll be writing a full review in due course.

stawastawa
6-Jun-2016, 23:52
interesting, the flex in the images at full extension seem a bit much. but I guess things can flex and still be rather ridged.

austin granger
7-Jun-2016, 11:47
That is very helpful Dave, thank you. I look forward to your full report.

Andrew O'Neill
8-Jun-2016, 12:21
They look great! Great price, too!

dave_whatever
8-Jun-2016, 13:21
interesting, the flex in the images at full extension seem a bit much. but I guess things can flex and still be rather ridged.

I thought about this and decided to test it, as my gut feeling is you can't judge flex on a web photo, for many reasons.

I've just levelled the H1 then checked the with the same bubble level at max extension of both the rear, front and extra front extensions, to detect any sag. Basically there's no appreciable sag at full extension of the front or rear tracks that I can see. The only detectable sag is when pulling the extra front extension all the way out, and even then it's marginal, and by that I mean the bubble in the level is displaced by about 1mm from the zeroed unextended position. You'd expect the generous depth of focus of a long lens to cover this. Basically it's surprisingly sag free, better than I was expecting anyway. I did the same test with my 045F1 and I got similar overall results. This was without a lens on by the way, just to give us a baseline. Obviously stick a 300mm aero ektar on there and you might see a bit more sag.

In terms of rigidity at max extension when locked down, compared to the F1 at the same extension length, the H1 is pretty good but noticeably a bit less rigid than the F1, which would make sense as mechanically there is more going on, more joints. But still really good, take the F1 away and it seems a pretty rigid camera. It does make you realise how remarkably rigid the simple philips type designs are though.

Professional
1-Jul-2016, 01:56
I have a question, how good is the ground glass of those Chamonix cameras? how bright? good enough or not difficult to focus without a dark clothes or a magnifier?

go_jmo
1-Jul-2016, 06:58
I have shot my 045H-1 a few times now. The ground glass is excellent in my opinion (although I have only shot with an old 70's Nagaoka Seisakusho previously and in comparison it is night and day). Inside with a 210mm lens I got away composing without the dark cloth (although I used it for focussing a f5.6). Outside with a 90mm I definitely needed my dark cloth. Hope that helps.

612tom
1-Jul-2016, 22:59
Interesting. Curious to see how the interchangeable backs work, and the cost.


Agreed. Will be very interested to see how the 4x10 and 6x17 backs work out and pricing / specs etc, especially what roll film back for 6x17 they'll be using...

I had a Chamonix 4x10" in the past and always wished they made a non-folding one, so much simpler to just rack and go rather than have to unfold first.

Was thinking about pushing the button on a Shen Hao 6x17 non-folder, but then saw this... H1 with a potential 6x17 back... if the functionality is good it could sway me.

Professional
11-Jul-2016, 03:01
I have shot my 045H-1 a few times now. The ground glass is excellent in my opinion (although I have only shot with an old 70's Nagaoka Seisakusho previously and in comparison it is night and day). Inside with a 210mm lens I got away composing without the dark cloth (although I used it for focussing a f5.6). Outside with a 90mm I definitely needed my dark cloth. Hope that helps.

Thanks, that helped me, hope if i bought this new model it will be good GG coming with it too.


Agreed. Will be very interested to see how the 4x10 and 6x17 backs work out and pricing / specs etc, especially what roll film back for 6x17 they'll be using...

I had a Chamonix 4x10" in the past and always wished they made a non-folding one, so much simpler to just rack and go rather than have to unfold first.

Was thinking about pushing the button on a Shen Hao 6x17 non-folder, but then saw this... H1 with a potential 6x17 back... if the functionality is good it could sway me.

I am with you in that, can't wait to see what 6x17 back they will produce, i saw few options to buy 6x17 tools either a dedicated camera or a film back, but if i will buy this Chamonix in the future i hope then i better look at its accessories they will come out with.