Chamonix 45N-1 Order Shipped

[roteague]

I haven't had much time working with mine yet, hopefully I'll get to over the next few days. One thing I haven't figured out yet. What are those two knobs along the top side of the rear standards for.

[eddie]

removing your bellows.

enjoy. happy christmas and good light to all!

I haven't had much time working with mine yet, hopefully I'll get to over the next few days. One thing I haven't figured out yet. What are those two knobs along the top side of the rear standards for.

[roteague]

removing your bellows.

enjoy. happy christmas and good light to all!

Thanks Eddie. Since I never remove my bellows, I probably wouldn't have found that out.

[Scott Chandler]

Does Charmonix have a website, or are specs available for this camera? I'm sort of interested.

[BarryS]

There's no web site, but here are the specs.

Chamonix 45N-1 View Camera
Weight: White maple: 1,380g Black walnut: 1410g
Bellows draw: 395 mm max, 45mm min,
Rear standard swing: 20 degrees,
Front rise: 45mm, Front fall: 30mm, Left and right shift: 40mm
Front axis tilt: only limited by bellows
Rear base tilt: only limited by bellows

Choices of wood: white Canadian maple and dark walnut.
Choices of metals: dark and grey.
There is no price difference between the two woods or metal finishes.

I believe the current batch is completely sold out, but there will be another batch in July 2008 and I don't think the price has been set for the next batch. For more details contact Hugo Zhang hugoz_2000@yahoo.com. Hugo is the distributor.

[Maretzo]

Moderator!

[Daniel_Buck]

I don't have any film with me here on Vacation, but I did bring a lens and lens board to check out the camera. While setting the camera up, the Chamonix seems quite ridged, surprised me! We'll see how it goes once I'm out shooting with it when I get back home. I do like how it's all setup, seems very simple to use.

It doesn't seem to be as fast or as accurate to setup as other cameras I have used (not all of the movements have positive 'clicks' or 'stops' to them) Other cameras I have used fold out and are pretty much ready to go accept for front rise, which is usually the first thing I adjust anyway. Having to screw in the front standard will slow things down a bit (and having to zero out front swing and rise)

I do like how the screw for focusing is located in the rear of the camera (worm gear I believe), I think this is an excellent design!

The slower setup time probably won't bother me, as I'm not a fast shooter anyway. If I want fast, I'll use my DSLR

Looks like a keeper for sure!

[davidb]

You could choose a "faster" camera but I would think that the weight would double.

I think the camera is well designed and well built.

[Anupam]

I would definitely like to see someone doing a detailed head to head review of this new camera with some of the more 'traditional' cameras in this price range like the Shen or the Tachi, including practicalities like setup time as part of the comparison criteria. Certainly looks like a very interesting camera and maybe one of the folks who have received it will conduct such a review.

-A

[roteague]

You could choose a "faster" camera but I would think that the weight would double.

I think the camera is well designed and well built.

Yes, I'm using mine as a replacement for a Toyo 45AII, which weighs much more. The only drawback I see to the Chamonix over the Toyo is trying to setup the camera in the dark, something I do quite often.