Chamonix 045N-2, some more questions

[Eric Woodbury]

I have read a lot of Chamonix reviews, but still have a few questions:

What is the quality of the groundglass? I'll be using without the Fresnel.

The pictures look as though the corners of the gg are there and not clipped. Is this correct? Are the roll film lines on the gg removable with acetone or equivalent?

The threaded rod focusing mechanism, is this tedious or slow when you change lenses or focus?

Is it correct that the camera will work with lenses from 47mm SAXL to 450mm non-telephoto (with the extension block)? How will it handle the weight of the Nikkor 600T ?

Is there a lens shade accessory available? I thought I saw that at one point, but no more.

Will the camera accept a Linhoff dimension board without the cut lower corners, i.e. a simple rectangle 3.75 x 3.875"?

Thanks in advance for all your answers. E

[Preston]

Eric, I bought my 045N-2 last December. I think I can answer some of your questions.

I use the Fresnel lens, but the GG itself looks to be of good quality.

The corners on my GG are clipped. The grids on the GG are etched, as far as I can tell.

It took me a little time to get used to the rear focus knob after using a Tachihara for years, but I find it easy to use and quite fast. It holds position perfectly and there is no backlash.

I can't comment on whether the 47XL will work, but it handles my 90 with ease. No problem at all using a 450 with the extension block. I can't comment as to how it will handle the weight of a 600T, but I will say that the front standard is quite rigid. The limiting factor may be the extension block: It should be strong enough. Ask Hugo.

I don't know about a lens shade.

The camera accepts the Linhoh-style boards. I don't see any restriction in using a board that doesn't have the cut lower corners.

You could send a note to Hugo. I am sure he'd help you out.

I really like my camera--it's a great machine for the price.

--P

[Kodachrome25]

Have had mine since May....

I use a 65mm F4.5 Grandagon on mine and it works fine. The bellows are fairly compressed even with that lens so a bag bellows might be in order for the 47. I find the roll film etchings on the GG to not be intrusive at all for shooting 4x5. If anything, I have thought about taking a marker to the roll film marks because I use a 6x12 back and feel they could be easier to see.

I agree that focus is smooth and fast. Not sure on the shade...
The longest lens I will be using is my Schneider 350mm F/11 when I get it in a couple weeks so can't help you there.

All in all, a fantastic camera that I would have paid double for.

[SergeiR]

if only it didnt have that creeping in focusing - it would be fantastic camera. But staying focused with serious angling down, and somewhat heavy lenses is impossible. Unless of course there is some weird tightening mechanism for focusing that i have not found yet.

[vinny]

The ground glass is okay. If you don't like it, replace it for a few bucks. The fresnel is okay, not great but I'm still using that combo with everything from 65mm to 450.

if only it didnt have that creeping in focusing - it would be fantastic camera. But staying focused with serious angling down, and somewhat heavy lenses is impossible. Unless of course there is some weird tightening mechanism for focusing that i have not found yet.

never heard nor had an issue with the camera pointing straight down. That's with a 250mm fujinon, 305 g claron, 450mm nikkor M. Using heavier lenses than that on this camera doesn't make sense, get a studio camera or leave the 5.6 copal #3's at home.
here's one with the 250mm pointed almost straight down. Long exp and camera sat there for several minutes.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8082948270_38c0af8672.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62218065@N00/8082948270/)
first frost (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62218065@N00/8082948270/) by vinnywalsh.com (http://www.flickr.com/people/62218065@N00/), on Flickr

here's another with the 250mm with 500mm of extension. Camera sat again for 10 minutes. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8096903172_bb3030154e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62218065@N00/8096903172/)
45fp-frosted-aspen-leaf-in-sun (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62218065@N00/8096903172/) by vinnywalsh.com (http://www.flickr.com/people/62218065@N00/), on Flickr

[toyotadesigner]

Does the camera feature zero detents for the default set up? It's nowhere mentioned, not even in the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEJ0GMWJk-Y

About the cut corners of the gg: I've seen both versions, straight and cut. Maybe you have to order it according to your wishes?

[Frank Petronio]

Just wondering, did they ever fix the problems they had with the fresnel being positioned wrong? And if you remove the stock fresnel on the v.2 doesn't it change the plane of focus?

[djhopscotch]

Just wondering, did they ever fix the problems they had with the fresnel being positioned wrong? And if you remove the stock fresnel on the v.2 doesn't it change the plane of focus?

The 45n-2 has the Fresnel on the outside of the gg, with a protector over it resolving the issue over the 45n-1


Does the camera feature zero detents for the default set up? It's nowhere mentioned, not even in the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEJ0GMWJk-Y

About the cut corners of the gg: I've seen both versions, straight and cut. Maybe you have to order it according to your wishes?

The front standard doesn't have detents, there are dots for use to align the standard to zero. The rear has stops for tilt to set the camera at 0. For the swings it again uses a set of dots for reference. The corners of the gg and Fresnel are clipped, the sheet of protective glass is not clipped.

[toyotadesigner]

Thanks a lot for your information!

[Kodachrome25]

Great info on the focus pointing down Vinny, all my glass is Copal-0 for the most part with two being Copal-1, I guess I should test it out...

As for the lack of detents, they bothered me a bit at first but now I love it as I never have to worry about hitting them when making tiny adjustments.

[SergeiR]

never heard nor had an issue with the camera pointing straight down. That's with a 250mm fujinon, 305 g claron, 450mm nikkor M. Using heavier lenses than that on this camera doesn't make sense, get a studio camera or leave the 5.6 copal #3's at home.

Mine creeps with 120/8 Super angulon in Copal #0 and with 240mm Heliar in shutter.

[sethlatimer]

Mine never slips but there is a hex setscrew near the knob that tightens it.

[SergeiR]

Mine never slips but there is a hex setscrew near the knob that tightens it.
oh! thanks for pointer.. didnt occur to me to check for those! (looking now, in hope of having this issue fixed)

UPD: mine doesnt have any hex screws around there, i see small one on the knob itself that i presume is to hold knob on the rod, and it shouldnt affect any tightness for focusing rail.. Only 2 screws that theoretically might affect how tightened it is - are on the end of railing, two on each side... but mine are pretty tight already. Oh well.. i like camera anyway, it just irritates me every now and then - got spoiled by Technika and Deardorff to not have that issue.

[genotypewriter]

That's with a 250mm fujinon, 305 g claron, 450mm nikkor M. Using heavier lenses than that on this camera doesn't make sense, get a studio camera or leave the 5.6 copal #3's at home.

I used to use my Xenotar 150mm f/2.8 on a Copal #3 (weight 1Kg+) on the 045N-2 almost exclusively and while the lens is almost as heavy as the camera, making the setup very front heavy, I've even traveled with this combo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/genotypewriter/tags/xenotar

Of course, I've never had this setup pointed downwards and done overnight long exposures or anything :) But I doubt there'd be any issues. Even if it's a properly focus creeping camera, I can think of many quick tricks to stop that from happening.

[genotypewriter]

Just wondering, did they ever fix the problems they had with the fresnel being positioned wrong? And if you remove the stock fresnel on the v.2 doesn't it change the plane of focus?

Of course they fixed it. It's even written on their website.

I don't think you can remove the fresnel because it seems to be glued on or something. Never even thought of removing it because it helps a lot. Chances of breaking it are also low because the fresnel is plastic and it's on top plus there's a protective carbon fiber sheet to protect the GG when packing it up.

[sethlatimer]

82204 Chamonix probably continually improves/changes things, so I am not surprised that some cameras are a bit different. This is the screw on mine that tightens the focus mechanism.

[Preston]

Mine has this screw. That's good to know for the future--just in case. Thanks, Seth.

Sergei, you might want to send Hugo an e-mail. He may know how you can correct the focus creep issue.

--P

[SergeiR]

Well bugger me.. After good night sleep and seeing photos... I actually missed this last night, tightened now, and its nice and snug.. Yay! Thanks, guys!

[genotypewriter]

82204 Chamonix probably continually improves/changes things, so I am not surprised that some cameras are a bit different. This is the screw on mine that tightens the focus mechanism.

Mine does too! Had no idea! Thanks for pointing it out :)