Ordered a Chamonix 45N1 but changed my mind.

[John Wiegerink]

Early this spring I was trying to decide whether to buy a Toyo CF 4X5 or a Chamonix 45N1. Well, March 23rd I pulled the trigger on the Chamonix 45N1. I contacted Hugo Zhang and was told they had none at the moment, but I could be added to the waiting list for the next batch. I took him up on that and he said he'd let me know when the next batch was due. Fast forward to now. I went to the Chamonix Camera website, and it showed "sold out" yet on the 45N1, but there were several 45N2 cameras left for sale from the last batch of that run. I then contacted Hugo again and ask if he knew when the next run of 45N1 cameras might be coming out. He said not until the end of the year. Now I'm a pretty patient person, but the end of the year sounded like forever to me. To make a long story short I bought the last 45N2 from this batch. It should be shipped in a day or so. That sure beats the end of the year. I will say this, Hugo Zhang is a great person to deal with and is straight-up honest.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Seeing most of the cameras as sold out on their site. Is this an indication that LF cameras popularity are on the rise? Or problably they just make very few of them.

 

[GregY]

Congratulations John. I agree, Hugo is great to work with. He's been super helpful with my 5x7 & 4x5 purchases, and delivery was super fast.
Marcello, i'd suspect that they are still a small operation and schedule builds in batches. If you look at the range of cameras they make from 4x5 to ultra large format it would depend on what's in stock and what the build schedule is. In the end they make great cameras at a comparatively reasonable price.

 

[xkaes]

From what I can tell (there is no comparison chart that I could see on their website), the N2 is an improved version of the N1. Am I wrong?

Also, I had thought/assumed that these cameras had rear -- forward and backward -- focusing. Am I wrong about that as well?

 

[grat]

Seeing most of the cameras as sold out on their site. Is this an indication that LF cameras popularity are on the rise? Or problably they just make very few of them.

Little of both. They're built in batches by a small group of craftspeople, but due to the relatively small workforce, it's hard to keep up with demand. I forget how many 4x5 cameras Intrepid has sold-- but it's a ridiculous number. Chamonix won't sell as many, but obviously, they're selling every one they can. I think my 45N-1 "Classic" was the last one of the first production run, and the serial number is 0056.

Also, I had thought/assumed that these cameras had rear -- forward and backward -- focusing. Am I wrong about that as well?

Yes, but. The rear standard is movable on both the N1 and N2. The mechanism on the N2 is much smoother, but both are essentially "loosen, move, tighten", so you'll probably always do fine focus with the front standard. You can also do limited swing by loosening both sides, and pushing one forward and one back. Again, since it's not geared or otherwise driven, it's a bit clunky.

What I typically use the rear standard for offset on backs like the Lomograflok and/or the 6x17 Dayi-- The knobs for the rear standard movement can not only control friction, you can set a "stop" position. So for the 6x17 back, you have to offset the ground glass by 30mm, so I have the stops set at +30mm-- I can focus on the regular ground glass, loosen the standard, slide it forward to the stop, and now I'm in the right spot for the 6x17 back.

 

[Nitroplait]

Is this an indication that LF cameras popularity are on the rise?

LF cameras appears to be seeing a renewed interest.
Intrepid seems to be making loads of cameras and last I needed a few second hand LF sheet film holders I noticed that they are beginning to become pricy.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Actually, the only reason I went with the 45N1 first model is that I liked the looks of Teak wood, black hardware and of course the pretty red bellows. I understand that the latest batches of the 45N1's have some of the updates that the 45N2 got, but not all. By purchasing the 45N2 the only thing different, looks wise, is the color of the metal hardware. Hugo is swapping out the black bellows on my 45N2 for the pretty red one. Yes, the 45N2 cost me a little more than the 45N1, but at least I'll have a camera to break in while Summer is still here.
If you view all the videos and read the info on their site, you'll see they are a pretty small company and most of the camera is handcrafted. Both of those facts lead to small production runs. Given the fact that the 45N series cameras seem to be the most popular it's understandable that they can't keep them in stock very long. Can't wait to try mine out. I have a feeling my Toyo Field 4X5 is going to be going on the auction block early this Fall. JohnW

 

[grat]

The position locks for the rear standard on the N2 are levers, whereas the N1 (Classic) has knurled knobs. Also, the N2 has slides to keep it straight.

But as a result, I don't know if the N2 can do this:

I'm not sure if you want the N2 to do that, anyway.

 

[ic-racer]

Post a picture of it when you get it. The few Chamonix cameras I have seen in person were magnificent.

 

[John Wiegerink]

That's definitely more movements than I need. I thought the latest 45N1's got the slides also, but could be mistaken on that.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Post a picture of it when you get it. The few Chamonix cameras I have seen in person were magnificent.

I'll do that. I have my new tripod for it, and I'll take a shot of how the two mate up.

 

[John Wiegerink]

The Chamonix outfit is very much bespoke and small-run. There are quite a few of these cameras here in Australia that are revered for their quality and precision of construction and movement. I believe they have a long waitlist of customers for the 45N2 with the snazzy and jazzy red bellows. Mmmm. I'd like that too — matches the colour of my equally snazzy and jazzy car!

Small-run style is probably what keeps the quality as high as it is. Oh, and skilled workers who take pride in their work helps a lot too.
OMG, my wife wasn't happy with my purchase at all. She said that I have tooooo many cameras already and didn't need anymore. She's going to really shlt nickels when I trade my black Ford in for a shiny, snazzy and jazzy new red pickup truck to match my bellows.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Hugo emailed me earlier today with the FedEx tracking number. Just checked and it left the FedEx facility in Jiaxing, China this afternoon. The long wait is almost over. Feels like Christmas Eve to me. I'll post a picture as soon as I have the camera in my hands.

 

[grat]

Lucky you. I ordered mine two weeks into the first covid lockdown. It took 6 weeks to arrive, 3 of those sitting at an airport in China. When I grumbled to a friend, he said "Let me get this straight-- You contacted a guy in California by email, paid him money over the internet, he calls up a shop in China, who boxes your camera, ships it halfway around the world to you in the middle of a global pandemic, and you're complaining because it took nearly 6 weeks? Shaddup, already!! Oh, and I want to see the camera."

 

[John Wiegerink]

Lucky you. I ordered mine two weeks into the first covid lockdown. It took 6 weeks to arrive, 3 of those sitting at an airport in China. When I grumbled to a friend, he said "Let me get this straight-- You contacted a guy in California by email, paid him money over the internet, he calls up a shop in China, who boxes your camera, ships it halfway around the world to you in the middle of a global pandemic, and you're complaining because it took nearly 6 weeks? Shaddup, already!! Oh, and I want to see the camera."

Yes, I was even a little worried that this camera might take longer to get here, and it still might. I just recently read where there was another flareup of Covid-19 in the Shanghai area and things weren't moving in and out of there. We'll see how long it takes for this one to get here. Fingers crossed.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Just checked FedEx tracking before I went to bed, and it says that the camera arrived in Shanghai at 11:00pm followed by the words "Operational delay". That doesn't sound so good. Might have the same problem grat had. We'll see I guess.

 

[xkaes]

Just my recent experience -- it seems that it takes longer for thing to GET to China, than ARRIVE from China.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Just my recent experience -- it seems that it takes longer for thing to GET to China, than ARRIVE from China.

You might just be right. I checked FedEx tracking last night and it showed it had departed Shanghai. this morning it shows it's in HAINING, ZH CN with my town as the next destination. I hope this means it has left China? We'll see I guess.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Lucky you. I ordered mine two weeks into the first covid lockdown. It took 6 weeks to arrive, 3 of those sitting at an airport in China. When I grumbled to a friend, he said "Let me get this straight-- You contacted a guy in California by email, paid him money over the internet, he calls up a shop in China, who boxes your camera, ships it halfway around the world to you in the middle of a global pandemic, and you're complaining because it took nearly 6 weeks? Shaddup, already!! Oh, and I want to see the camera."

grat,
I was expecting a little wait from China also, but Hugo just emailed me and said my camera will be in my hands by tomorrow afternoon. I checked FedEx tracking and he's right. It shows it's supposed to arrive in Lake Station by 4:30pm. Wow, now that's fast shipping from halfway around the world. My hat's off to FedEx International and Chamonix for a first class act. The only problem I have are my lens boards haven't arrived yet, but they are on the way.

 

[grat]

Congrats!

I certainly never cut a lens board out of thick cardboard because I didn't want to wait the extra day to see what the image on the ground glass looked like. That would have been irresponsible, and could have led to damaging my lens. Fortunately, it didn't.

Then I 3D printed one, and that held me over until my lens boards (also from China, also held up) arrived.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Congrats!

I certainly never cut a lens board out of thick cardboard because I didn't want to wait the extra day to see what the image on the ground glass looked like. That would have been irresponsible, and could have led to damaging my lens. Fortunately, it didn't.

Then I 3D printed one, and that held me over until my lens boards (also from China, also held up) arrived.

Yes, a day or two more isn't unbearable. If I were at my home I'm sure I have one in my stash somewhere, but I'm at my cottage and the resources are a little thin here. I'll just patiently wait like a good boy.