New to LF - Chamonix or used Wista SP outfit?

Would suggest that you get new holders - the Toyo ones. No point in loosing out on good film plane sharpness because of some cheap warped holders.

I once bought a Tachihara 4x5 brand new. It was so pretty that I worried every time I used it that I might scratch it. I now have a Wehman 8x10 which I bough used. Wehmans aren't exactly pretty cameras plus mine was used. I enjoy using the camera and don't worry about scratching it.

A new Chamonix is a pretty wooden camera. A used Wista SP is an all black metal camera that probably has a few "paint offs" here and there.

I'm not trying to tell you which to buy. They are both very fine cameras. You really can't go wrong with either one. I'm just trying to give you something more to think about.

I looked at these two when I decided to get into LF photography. I was scared off by the Chamonix due to reports of the bellows not being IR safe, and I like to shoot IR film sometimes. Then again, I've read other reports where they say they're fine, so I don't know where they land. It may be worth checking out if you think you might do IR photography and are leaning towards the Chamonix.

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Originally Posted by neil poulsen

Read the information about the SP on the Wista website. For example, they claim that one can use a 75mm lens without using the SP's drop bed. I also picked up from KEH an attachment that will enable me to use a 47mm lens in combination with the bag bellows. I doubt that I'll ever use it, though.

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Can you tell me about that attachment? I recently picked up an SP and I plan on using 55mm and 75mm lenses. The 90mm I have on there doesn't allow me a tun of room already. How will this pan out? Hahah thanks

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I bought my Wista made Zone-VI with three lenses and everything else as a shooters kit at a camera show twenty years ago. the seller was moving into digital, and his wife pretty much forced the sale to finance his new direction, I think. The Camera is essentially a re-badged Wista 45DX dating from the mid 1980s and still does the job just fine.


With your experience, whichever choice you make, you will do well.

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Originally Posted by Rodfjell

I got into 4x5 last year and started with a Wista SP metal field camera. I sold it a few months ago and bought a Chamonix 045N-2. That model weighs the same as the F1 you're looking at. It is much lighter than the Wista and setting up the Chamonix and breaking it down really isn't a hassle at all.

Given that you're a serious photographer I'd recommend buying a brand new F1 over a used SP. Fujinon lenses are reallly sharp and can be bought much cheaper than comparable lenses from Japanese sellers.

Don't buy from the reseller on eBay. Buy directly from Chamonix by contacting their US distributor Hugo Zhang (http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com). Hugo will offer to send the camera as a gift thru PayPal to save you money but if something goes wrong you don't have PayPal's buyer protection. I ordered mine on a Friday and had it in my hands the following Thursday in Louisiana.


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I bought a new 45H-1 from Chamonix. I'm retired and decided to try large format as I usually shoot my RB67 medium format system. I don't hike much but wanted something small in any case. The H1 has less finagling to set up and put away than the F models. I emailed Hugo and reviewed what would be the best model of theirs for my needs before buying. I suggest you do the same. Describe the kind of shooting you do, etc. with him.

One other suggestion. Pick lenses that will accept the same filter size with or without a step-up adapter to avoid duplicate sets of filters.

I bought the Chamonix holders. They were are $80 each. Expensive, but I didn't want to screw around with used holders that might have leaks and other problems. Plus they look terrific in teak. And very light because of the carbon fiber materials as well as are in the camera.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I can't believe I just answered a 2017 thread. :rolleyes:

Have fun! Please view the SP-445 instructional video and pay close attention to the agitation method. I had trouble with uneven development using my normal SS rollfilm tank agitation; the demonstrated one with the direction reversal works beautifully.