Chinn Cameras

I know Jim Galli and Me, are both due to get our cameras in the same shipping as Jorge, or maybe sooner considering the baracho burroito. Last I talked to JIm a couple of nights ago, He had been very sick, and is now finishing up the cameras. Soon, very soon.

Aggie,
Do you know if Jim Chinn still plans to bring one/some to the Texas Workshop in May?

Bruce as far as I know there will be at least one there, and If I can pry mine away from Mateo I will send mine down there as well.

Aggie said:

Bruce as far as I know there will be at least one there, and If I can pry mine away from Mateo I will send mine down there as well.

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I am envisioning a very large box arriving at the Texas workshop. Inside is one 11x14 camera with Mateo attached!

Shmoo said:

I am envisioning a very large box arriving at the Texas workshop. Inside is one 11x14 camera with Mateo attached!

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We promise he is house borken too!

Bruce,

I will have a 7x17 for sure and probably at least one other camera, probably an 11x14. I will be providing film for anyone that wants to make some exposures.

Jim Chinn said:

Bruce,

I will have a 7x17 for sure and probably at least one other camera, probably an 11x14. I will be providing film for anyone that wants to make some exposures.

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Damn sure I'm going to try out a shot!

Ok Jeremy, we have to start checking the cushions, under the car seats...we need $..because I bet when we see one of these...well hope my wife will let me have a fan in the daghouse....

Can't wait Jim, looking forward to meeting you and the cameras in May.

What is the status of these cameras. Are any of them out and available yet?

steve simmons
view camera magazine

Steve,

We are still completing the first four cameras which are prototypes and from which we are making templates and welding jigs. these cameras will be shipping soon. After getting some initial feedback from these four individuals I will be taking orders and providing a camera(s) for review to various individuals.

Any chance you'll be posting some pictures somewhere so we can see them?

Thanks,
Dave

Jim Chinn said:

Steve,

We are still completing the first four cameras which are prototypes and from which we are making templates and welding jigs. these cameras will be shipping soon. After getting some initial feedback from these four individuals I will be taking orders and providing a camera(s) for review to various individuals.

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Any news? I was hoping to hear a review from Jorge but things seem quiet.


Christian

colivet said:

Any news? I was hoping to hear a review from Jorge but things seem quiet.


Christian

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I had a message from Jim just this week. He found some new gizmo that apparently allowed him to make better and more sturdy cuts for the camera and decided to redesign some parts. He will be delivering the cameras or at least mine sometime in July. As soon as I get it I will be shooting with it and letting you all know how it works. Hopefully Jim will come down and spend a few days with me so we can give it a good run. So stay tuned, hopefull next month I will have something for you all, including pictures......

I am glad to see others are working to make affordable ULF cameras available.
The more cameras out there, the more film used and the more we can insure we have film and papers for contact printing out there.

Let's see, I am about 9 months behind my original schedule.

Progress has moved a little slower with prototyping new things.
Since the cameras are designed around a new film holder system, I have had to make adjustments and changes with every prototype. Not due to problems with the previous version, but because each one sort of evolves into something a little better.

Also about 6 weeks ago I was intorduced to a gentleman who does custom water jet cutting for small prototype people such as myself. It totally opened my eyes to previously unthinkable possibilties with design that would allow me to keep my price points on cameras.

Basically a water jet allows you to perform more precise cutting and machining operations for a much lower cost then using a laser or mill.

The holders are made from 6061 aluminum and Komatex plasitc. The design allows perfect registration with the back, and the use of multiple formats with the same holder. No springs or bail. The holder slides inside a set of rails and is locked by two indexing pins.

The registration system allows the use of adaptors to use other format holders (of our design) without requiring a seperate back.

This system allows us to make up holders to fit any format one can conceive.
What ever size you want to cut film to we can make a holder for it.

One thing I have learned from talking about LF and ULF for several years is that no one camera fits the needs of every photorapher. From the start I envisioned talking to the customer and letting them help design the camera.
That includes selecting types and designs of movements, requirements for front standard based on lenses used, custom bellows lengths, right or left side controls, fitting the camera for lensboards the customer may already have, providing a built in packard shutter option.

The system is also expandable. One can later add a new rear standard and bellows to get more flexability or purchase back adaptors and additional internal film holder frames for smaller formats.

The GG and film holder system also provides for the use of glass plates, metal plates, paper, etc.

When I started this project I listed on paper several criteria that had to be met without any compromise. Rugged, light, flexible system, new less expensive film holder design, with full movements, geared focus and seperate front rise and tilt controls, priced to be affordable while including two film holders with every camera.

On at least 3 occaisons I reached the point where I was frustrated and ready to release a product that did not meet all of the above requirements. But I could not pull the trigger. To do so would be to admit failure and not provide a tool that will make ULF available to more enthusiasts.


Serendipity and hard work have paid off. With what has transpired over the last few weeks I have now been able to meet all the above goals.

So cameras will be going out in July to the first the who placed orders and have had the patience of saints. I will let there impressions speak for the product.

Did I mention that each camera includes two double side film holders?

Jim Chinn
Great Plains Large Format

Great to hear news. Jorge I am awaiting for your full review!

I had just received a Korona 12x20 restored by AWB and may go shooting today. Somehow I am not fully excited about the Korona. Its light but the design doesn't make for a rigid camera and I feel that I have to be very very careful with it so it doesn't start coming apart. Just a feeling!
We'll see how it behaves on the field...

The Korona is an ok camera, you have to be careful with exposures since the camera is not very rigid, otoh it was up until Jim started making his cameras the least expensive way to get into ULF if you had patience and waited for the holders to come on e bay at lower than the new prices. I think the killer in the ULF market are the holders, when you have to pay $250 and up for them, all of the sudden the minumum investment is at least $1750 to $2000 for a camera with holders that is not very sturdy .

Let me put it this way I had no hesitation to send Jim money, his camera cannot be any worse than my Korona, for about the same price...

Congratulatinos Jim!!! This is really good news..and I agree the more people out there making cameras, the more film will be needed to feed these beast. Who knows, maybe if this works out we will have some new formats to think about..keep thinking something with a ratio like 5x7 would be nice, but smaller than 11x14, or maybe something like a 5x12 or 7x11 with the weight of my B&J 5x7...now that would be nice.

I think the important thing is, like jim stated, theres affordability on the ULF horizon.

I for one saw the photos jim chinn had here in texas a month or so back. The camera looks quality. They are utilitarian and seem centered on the person out shooting. I like that quality.
He even asked a lowly new comer such as me about cameras and what Im (or LF shooters in general) are looking for. we had a nice long discussion about it.

Im very excited to see the cameras in the next few months.

good work so far jim.

Jorge said:

Yeah, but Phillips will make up to 7x17 if you are willing to wait for it. I love his cameras, but I dont have the patience to get on a waiting list for 1 or 2 years....

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Last time I talked to Dick (about 6 months ago) he told me that recent batch of 7x17's was the last batch of cameras larger than 8x10 that he will ever make. He said that it just requires too much physical effort for him to manipulate the larger components during the assembly and finishing steps.

Too bad. He makes a fantastic camera.

clay said:

Last time I talked to Dick (about 6 months ago) he told me that recent batch of 7x17's was the last batch of cameras larger than 8x10 that he will ever make. He said that it just requires too much physical effort for him to manipulate the larger components during the assembly and finishing steps.

Too bad. He makes a fantastic camera.

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I thought I remembered Richard saying he was not going to do ULF cameras anymore, but of course, things can change and people change their mind, but was sure he said he was only going to continue to do 8 x 10.

Dave

Jorge said:

The Korona is an ok camera, you have to be careful with exposures since the camera is not very rigid...

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I apparently got lucky. My 7x17 Korona is surprisingly solid and stable. Many cameras of this style can run outside their tolerances between the cleat and the tracks that run down the flatbed rails. My Korona thankfully suffers no such issues.

I fixed an out of tolerance cleat/track issue this weekend on an old Century 11x14. It was quite wobbly before I started. With a few carefully formed shims cemented in the correct locations on the center block I now have an 11x14 woodfield camera that's as stable as my 7x17.

I assume the new JC camera is the one Jim Galli is hoping to arrive any moment now. Thanks, Jim! Your old workhorse is happily serving in a new Corps now. It might not have as much fun with me as they did you, but it will shoot straight and still look good in the process...

Hi Chris. You got it. I feel naked with no useable 1114 around. OTOH the first neg I made with that 150 on the 810 is a winner. Been printing it today for the print exchange. Glad you got that old kettle to perk. That block was in 3 pieces when I got it. No, I didn't mis-glue that one awful spot, it was that way when I got it too. Guess I'll have to grind a glass and get that old Korona I tried to pawn off on you going while I wait.

clay said:

Too bad. He makes a fantastic camera.

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That is too bad!

Satinsnow said:

I thought I remembered Richard saying he was not going to do ULF cameras anymore, but of course, things can change and people change their mind, but was sure he said he was only going to continue to do 8 x 10.

Dave

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Yes, he indicated that he would continue making 8x10's and 4x5's.

I have no interest in the Wisner/Ritter debate, but just to clear up pricing comparison and issues.

I quoted prices on various formats a year ago to individuals and had taken orders based on those prices. The range for 7x17 is $1950-$2150 depending on options. The fact that Richard's price estimate for his 7x17 and my price are similar I think is more representative of what is a good entry level price point for photographers wanting to taste ULF then anything else.

Jorge's camera is a 12x20 and priced appropriately for that format.

As far as determining a price, in my case it is calculated based on raw material cost, vendors (GG, belows, hardware), out of house mfg and miscellanious such as electricity to run my machines, phone, tools etc.

The above items and designs are chosen based on what I consider price points that allow more people to get into ULF. That in turn has to meet specific critieria that I established that could not be compromised on.

Price is simply based on the above, plus an amount per hour per camera to make the effort worthwhile for me.

One other important point is that my livelihood is not dependent on selling X number of cameras. I have other sources of income. This endeavor allows me begin to shift my emphasis from that job to more photography.

The best thing is more people will have the opportunity to work with these beautiful formats and processes regardless of who makes the camera.