Shen Hao Phillips clone...

[tim atherton]

http://www.badgergraphic.com/search_product2.asp?x=4477

[tim atherton]

but over a pound heavier

[Dean Tomasula]

Aluminum and magnezium alloy at only 9.7 pounds. Not bad for an 8x10.

[Oren Grad]

Dean, the genuine article is more like 7.9 pounds. That's a big part of its appeal, along with the excellent rigidity.

[Donald Hutton]

I'de be very interested to see how the knock-off holds up - Dick's cameras rely on pretty exotic materials and construction methods to make the progressive design functional. I suspect that this knock-off may be completely flawed in the same way that the SW45 clone is. FWIW, Shen Hao make a knock-off of the Ebony SW45. Looks identical and seems functionally identical until you realize that the whole concept of the SW45 is a "wide angle" friendly 4X5 which is very fast to set up. The Shen Hao copy requires a separate bag bellows to use ultra wides, which really ruins the concept... The lack of flexibility in the bellows completely destroys the design concept of the camera!

It says a great deal for Dick's foresight as a camera designer that his ideas are being copied by knock-off merchants.

[Scott Schroeder]

Oren, your saying the shen hao is really 7.9 lbs?
hmmmm....interesting
thanks

[tim atherton]

No Scott,

the real Phillips Compact II

[tim atherton]

And 5.9 for the Explorer

[Oren Grad]

And about 7.5 for my Compact, an earlier, simpler version with reversing back but without the "feet" and the lead-screw focusing.

[Michael Kadillak]

Many over the ages have said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. But if I were Dick Phillips (who hopefully followed through on a patent application when he designed his camera line) I would be looking for a royalty check in the mail.

I understand that 8x10 cameras that offer a low price point and are light weight are highly desirable, but obvious blatant copy of a existing designs particularly from honest hard working and decent private camera maker create a scenario that pushes my buttons big time.

But maybe that is just me....