Chamonix 4x10 & 450mm lens?

[rich caramadre]

I was looking at the specs on the Chamonix 4x10 and it has 420mm max extension. Has anyone successfully used a 450 lens on one? I see they have extra extensions available but are there enough bellows?

[Richard Wasserman]

You can contact Hugo Zhang who is the US rep for Chamonix cameras either here on the forum or at hugoz_2000 AT yahoo DOT com. I'm sure he can answer any questions you might have.

[Greg]

Chamonix does offer an extension board for your 4x10 for $180.00, which I'm sure Hugo will advise.

On a similar note I have a Chamonix whole plate camera with its maximum bellows extension listed as being 600mm. Wanted to use my 600mm f/11.5 S KangRinpoche lens (in a Copal #3) on the camera. It is mounted normally on a Sinar lensboard. By the specs would seem that focusing on anything closer than infinity was not possible. In practice the lens was able to focus 30-40 feet away. For me, I have a "top hat" Sinar lensboard which I need to modify to be able to mount the Copal #3 into. With this combo I should be able to focus 16-20 feet away which I will easily be able to live with.

[Keith Pitman]

I have a Chamonix 4x10 and use a top hat lensboard with my 450. Check Ebay for other sellers of top hats.

[rich caramadre]

Keith, How deep is your top hat? I thought of that but was worried about possible vignetting.

[Luis-F-S]

I have a tophat Board that allows me to use a 30" Artar on my V8 from infinity up to about 25' The V8 has right at 30" of bellows. I can also use it on the 11x14 which has 42" bellows with a flat board..

[Hugo Zhang]

With an extension board, our 45N3 has a max bellows draw of 560mm.

[rich caramadre]

Hugo, OP here. I was interested in the 4x10 camera. Not a 4x5. Honesty I'm surprised it only goes to 420mm. I find a 450 lens very useful for 4x10.

[Hugo Zhang]

Sorry I meant to write 410N3.

[eric black]

Im pretty sure the effective lens length limit of the 410N3 deals with the desire to have a compact form when the camera is folded up for storage and the limitations to length are a result of the shorter 4 inch height of the format. I have one and use a 450mm lens, but do use the extension that Chamonix sells/advises. I would rather deal with the extension piece than a top hat, but that is my personal preference. The extension is lightweight and packs easily and the bellows have plenty of capability for that length lens.

[rich caramadre]

Eric, When you the extension board do you attach to the existing board or do replace the existing one with the extension.

[Greg Y]

Eric, When you the extension board do you attach to the existing board or do replace the existing one with the extension.

212126 It's an additional piece which allows bellows extension

[eric black]

Eric, When you the extension board do you attach to the existing board or do replace the existing one with the extension.

Like Greg Y said, its a screw-in add on that attaches to the front of the currently used board with the front-most screw hole- it is quite secure and doesnt wobble or seem ill fitting at all

[rich caramadre]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I've been looking at this camera for quite a while. Someday I'll pull the trigger.

[Greg]

Someday I'll pull the trigger.

Over the past few years sold a lot of photo equipment that I either didn't use or rarely used towards acquiring a whole plate, an 8x10, and an 11x14 Chamonix. I "pulled that trigger' three times and absolutely no regrets.