Chamonix vs. Xxxxx?

[AdamD]

Ok guys, totally unique thread here...never been done before...🤪

I'm pretty much ready to move on from my Cambo monorail and get something wooden. I've essentially "settled" on the Chominix F2 (about $1300). Thing is, I don't necessarily need all those features the Chominix offers. For instance, I can sacrifice on:

• Weight. It can be a little heavier than the F2
• Bellow extension does not need to be as long (so long as I can get a 70/300mm lens on it)
• does not need as many movements or extent of movements

I would like a wooden camera and just a point of clarification, I'm talking about 4x5 only. To me, ease of setup, minimal fiddling and good rigidity are important features.

Looking around eBay, the prices between many cameras I looked at last year and beyond have risen to the point that the Chominix F2 just makes sense on account of it making little in the way of compromise. But anyway....

Got ideas?

[Oslolens]

The Chamonix does not have a ground glass as nice as a Wista. See the reflex on their website. A Wista can be closed with a small lens. I don't have a small lens, my 120mm is to big anyway. I really like the operation and the look of my N2, so I will stay with the Chamonix.

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[Greg Y]

Adam... Chamonix. I've had 2 a 5x7 and a 4x5. I used an old Deardorff for many years. I am very impressed with the build quality and operation of the Chamonix cameras....especially at their price point.

[AdamD]

Ok good feedback.

I'm trying to be convinced of other options, but it seems difficult. That's notabad thing at all...it's called validation.

Anyone else???

Thx

[Tin Can]

Chamonix!

but which one...

I want an H

[ic-racer]

When the Shen-Hao 8x10 first came on the market, it was about $1000 less than the Chamonix, so I went that route. Though now I see they are priced about the same. Either way, you might check out the Shen-Hao 4x5 cameras, they list SIX different models from which to choose.
http://www.shen-hao.com/PRODUCTS.asp...9&id=n3&page=1

[lenicolas]

I’m quite happy with my Chamonix N2 which has a bit more basic movements than the F2. It’s also cheaper and more common used.
I replaced the ground glass for a plain one off ebay. Kept the fresnel that came with the camera though.

One thing that could make the camera more practical would be not having to unscrew the front standard from the base to fold the camera.

[Tin Can]

Very few here have one camera and most have plenty

Studio cameras remain cheap

[grat]

45N-1 (Classic) owner here. It's very well made, well designed, beautifully built. The only real complaint is that the front standard has to be taken down and put up when you use it-- but that's part of why it's so light and small. It also means you can't store it with a lens installed. On the other hand, it means you can pre-position the lens near the right focal length with a little practice.

If you don't need asymmetric tilt, the 45N-2 would be a good option (and about $200 less expensive if I recall).

Not sure what back Oslolens is using, but mine is relatively bright (It's the "new" ground-glass + fresnel sandwich with the clear circle in the middle of the fresnel).

The H series is slightly shorter and easier to put away (since it doesn't fold).

[Oslolens]

45N-1 (Classic) owner here. It's very well made, well designed, beautifully built. The only real complaint is that the front standard has to be taken down and put up when you use it-- but that's part of why it's so light and small. It also means you can't store it with a lens installed. On the other hand, it means you can pre-position the lens near the right focal length with a little practice.

If you don't need asymmetric tilt, the 45N-2 would be a good option (and about $200 less expensive if I recall).

Not sure what back Oslolens is using, but mine is relatively bright (It's the "new" ground-glass + fresnel sandwich with the clear circle in the middle of the fresnel).

The H series is slightly shorter and easier to put away (since it doesn't fold).

I have the original Chamonix groundglass. The main problem is in bright daylight, when focusing without dark cloth and with a loupe just to make sure I'm using the right front standard hole. The Wista is brighter by a fraction, but the reflex is much less, making it easier to set up.

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