Chamonix camera is in my hands

John Wiegerink · Jun 6, 2022

I received the 45N2 about 3:00pm today just as FedEx indicated. The amazing thing is I ordered the camera on May 31 and it's now only June 6. I really never expected this fast of a shipment from halfway around the globe. Simply amazing! You're probably wondering what my first impressions are of the camera. Again, notihng short of amazing. This camera is most certainly made by a skilled craftsman or I should say, "multible craftsman's". Fit an finish are perfect as far as I can see for now. No gaps between wood, metal or CF where each meet. My lens boards arrive either tomorrow or the next day. I will post some shots of the midget 4X5 all dressed to go out. You be the judge as to whether or not it looks good enough. Also, when I picked up the box FedEx left I said to my self, "my God, there can't be a camera in here". Yup, light as a feather compared to my Toyo and smaller to boot.
Pictures will be coming very shortly. JohnW

Jay Schrotenboer · Jun 6, 2022

Looking forward to seeing your new baby. Always fun living vicariously through others

grat · Jun 7, 2022

They are a bit light and small, aren't they? And then you crank the bellows out to nearly 400mm.

Oh-- the one thing that took me a day to figure out-- the knurled discs on the side of the rear standard are for removing the bellows.

John Wiegerink · Jun 7, 2022

grat said:
They are a bit light and small, aren't they? And then you crank the bellows out to nearly 400mm.

Oh-- the one thing that took me a day to figure out-- the knurled discs on the side of the rear standard are for removing the bellows.

Yes, small and light is to my liking now that I hit 70. The only thing I have found not to my liking is the ground glass protector. I think they could do better in that department. It certainly should do its job, but it's not designed to instantly pop on or pop off. I khow it's tiny and easy to carry, but I miss a carrying strap atop the rear standard like I have on my Toyo. I'll see how it works for me the way it is, but just might add a strap and go for a home made plexiglass ground glass protector. Time will tell. JohnW

grat · Jun 8, 2022

I went with the "folding viewer with carbon fiber cover", as it provides a nice pop-out shade, and protects the glass as well. It's also easy to add/remove-- The two shiny "bolts" are actually slides.

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 8, 2022

Beauty!

John Wiegerink · Jun 9, 2022

grat said:
I went with the "folding viewer with carbon fiber cover", as it provides a nice pop-out shade, and protects the glass as well. It's also easy to add/remove-- The two shiny "bolts" are actually slides.

That's pretty much the same style I have on my Toyo 4X5 and I like it well enough. The one on my Toyo I'd call a "hard top" since when folded it forms a hard cover protection for the GG. I'll play with this camera for a spell and see if I can live with it the way it is or not. Maybe I'll become a little more efficient at getting the CF GG protector on and off. grat, do you have any problem getting a lupe on the ground glass/frensel while the hood is in use? Many years ago I had a Graphic View II and it came with a frensel on the ground glass. I eventually removed the frensel since I was much more used to just plain ground glass viewing for focusing. I think if one uses higher powered reading glasses frensels are alright, but it always bugged me if I used a 5X or higher lupe directly on the GG or the frensel itself. My eyes kept being drawn to those blasted circles. I'll find out today since I'm going out and take a few shots with the camera. We have an old coal dock from when the Pere Marquette RR ran through our little town of Lake Station that should make a fine first time experience with the new camera. I'll post pics of the camera latter this evening.

grat · Jun 9, 2022

As they say, you need at least a 4" loupe. My short, square "Peak" loupe isn't quite long enough, but the etone 6x is OK.

Focusing on the ground side of the GG, I haven't noticed the fresnel rings being an issue. I assume your fresnel also has the plain/un-etched circle in the middle to help with fine focus?

John Wiegerink · Jun 9, 2022

grat said:
As they say, you need at least a 4" loupe. My short, square "Peak" loupe isn't quite long enough, but the etone 6x is OK.

Focusing on the ground side of the GG, I haven't noticed the fresnel rings being an issue. I assume your fresnel also has the plain/un-etched circle in the middle to help with fine focus?

Yes, it has the fine matte center, but outside of center I will probably see the rings. We'll find out later in the day. My lupe is a nice one, but only about 2 1/2" long. Okay for using with a dark cloth, but not good with a folding hood. I'm also going to try both the lupe and my +3.00 reading glasses and see what happens.

Steve Goldstein · Jun 9, 2022

It looks like the bellows is held in by pressure applied by the screws. How do Chamonix ensure that the front and rear are light-tight?

Alan Edward Klein · Jun 9, 2022

grat said:
I went with the "folding viewer with carbon fiber cover", as it provides a nice pop-out shade, and protects the glass as well. It's also easy to add/remove-- The two shiny "bolts" are actually slides.

Me too.

grat · Jun 9, 2022

Steve Goldstein said:
It looks like the bellows is held in by pressure applied by the screws. How do Chamonix ensure that the front and rear are light-tight?

There's a lower lip front and rear. Front top is held in by a conventional slider, and the rear top is held in by the thumb screws. Both frames are reasonably large, and fit into a recessed cavity (with appropriate non-reflective material), and the tolerances are pretty tight.

GLS · Jun 9, 2022

John Wiegerink said:
My lupe is a nice one, but only about 2 1/2" long. Okay for using with a dark cloth, but not good with a folding hood

The long Horseman 6x loupe would work better here.

John Wiegerink · Jun 10, 2022

Well, I got two old film holders loaded with HP5+, found some old Wista boards and mounted my 210mm f5.6 Fuji L, 180mm f9 fuji A and an old Rodenstock Eurynar 165mm f4.5. They shipped my new boards to my house down-state and I'm up at my cottage. Won't be able to get those until the 15th when I go down for a doctors appointment. I was already to go shoot the P.M. coal dock (tower) and we got a very strong thunderstorm with high winds. That went on for most of the day and I decided to wait until today so the camera didn't get wet. The forecast is fine for today. I'll take the 45N2 out and will get 4 shots of the tower. I'll also take a few digi shots of the camera in action. Hang tight. JohnW

JamesEsq · Sep 20, 2022

Any pics to share?

John Wiegerink · Sep 20, 2022

JamesEsq said:
Any pics to share?

I'll have some after my scanner is repaired. If it can be repaired? The 45N2 works perfect. I didn't really want to spend the money, but I'm glad I did. Beautiful camera and first-rate craftsmanship.

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2022

Enjoy and shoot more film!

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 21, 2022

John Wiegerink said:
I'll have some after my scanner is repaired. If it can be repaired? The 45N2 works perfect. I didn't really want to spend the money, but I'm glad I did. Beautiful camera and first-rate craftsmanship.

Good luck John.

John Wiegerink · Sep 21, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Good luck John.

Thanks Alan! How are you getting along with your camera? Anything you find that could be better? I find the ground glass cover/protector is a bit of a pain, but other than that it's a very nice 4X5. Certainly smaller and lighter than my Toyo 4X5.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 21, 2022

Yes. The ground glass cover is a pain with my 45H-1 as well. It takes a while to get used to it. I have one of their foldable viewfinder that I keep on it now. It folds flat and seems to cover and install and remove easier.

MTGseattle · Sep 23, 2022

I use one of the Tenba "BYOB" series cases for mine. One velcro divider in it, 4x5 in the big space, light meter and cable release in the small space. Ground glass protector stays at home.

Chamonix camera is in my hands

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