I recently acquired my very 1st wooden field camera, a Chamonix 5x8. I have always used metal field or monorail cameras (Toyo), but wanted to experience the wooden camera gestalt for myself. While overall the camera appears of acceptable quality, there are no zero detents for Tilt or Swing on either standard, making initial set-up unduly tedious.
I count myself among those who subscribe to a slower, more contemplative approach to photography. That said, having to visually square both standards with a loupe, in two axis, each and every time I set up, seems a bit over the top. Far more often than not, my landscape work employs a minimum of movements... tilt, almost always... rise or fall, occasionally... swing, almost never.
Having to square tilt each time... I guess I can live with that. And I have already scribed lines across the width of the bed to indicate swing squareness of the front standard, though it really surprises me that the manufacturer didn't do this. What I'm having difficulty with is concocting a fix to square the rear standard for swing, as each side of the rear standard locates independently... anybody have any ideas?
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