SUN FOTO (Shen Hao) cams at MPEX

Alexz · Sep 27, 2005

Shen Hao still poses a hard to beat choice among field models in my list.
Recently noticed SUN FOTO cams at MPEX which looked pretty much similar to Shen Hao. Inquiring Jim at MPEX, he confirmed that this is just a Shen Hao with the name changed to SUN FOTO (sold by MPEX as a SUN FOTO) in order to allow selling them at lower price point (100$ less then Shen Hao).
Does anyone have experience with this SUN FOTO ? Anything to bear in mind in this regard ?
Any reason to spend those additional 100$ to stay with original Shen Hao sold by Badger ?

Thanks, Alex

celluloidpropaganda · Sep 27, 2005

Check the forum at largeformatphotography.info, I remember a couple of posts from someone who got a Sun Foto camera instead of a Shen-Hao (from MPEX) and had to send it back for quality-control issues.

It sounds like they're Shen-Haos meant for the domestic (Chinese) market, with more problematic fit and finish.

Jeremy · Sep 27, 2005

I have a 2004 Sun Foto Shen-Hao camera and have zero problems with it! No quality control issues with my camera.

djolicoeur · Sep 28, 2005

This is my own opinion from reading other post on several other forums. I bought mine from Badger, and I would suggest if you want a Shen-Hao buy it there, again my opinion. I have read too many post about MPEX, and the quality of cameras coming out of there. They are a New York based warehouse distributer, where Badger is a family run Business. Check out some of the threads on the Shen-Hao website and read some of the horror stories that came from both the largeformat.info also. There are several people who could not believe what a real shen-hao looked like after returning theres from MPEX. I have no affiliation with Badger, just a very satisfied customer.
Regards,Dan

luvmydogs · Sep 28, 2005

Dan,

While I have no experience with Shen Hao or Sun Foto cameras, I have to beg to differ re: your opinion of Midwest Photo. Jim is a terrific person to deal with and comes highly recommended by many LF shooters. His prices are fair and he makes sure that you are satisfied. He will answer emails around the clock as well. I don't know about Jim's business being a NY-based warehouse - I thought his business was in Ohio. At any rate, I know many many satisfied customers who deal with Jim. I have heard equally good things about Badger, so I'm not knocking them by any means.

ineffablething · Sep 28, 2005

Midwest Photo is not based in NYC. They are always good to deal with and their prices have always seemed reasonable to me and sometimes even better than reasonable. I would recommend them highly.

djolicoeur · Sep 28, 2005

Excuse my mistake on there location please. I know allot of people indorse them or they wouldn't be in bussiness. I do not however like the practices they have pulled rearding the shen-hao. There have been a few pople who thought they where buying a Shen-Hao and recieved a Sun-foto. All the post say Jim was kind enough to refund the money. Well my question is why did he try to pass the camera off as something it wasn't? I don't want to start a big deal about this i'll shut up.

Good Day!

Donsta · Sep 28, 2005

Jim is simply an outstanding person to deal with. As is Jeff. Dan's obvious ignorance on the subject should just be ignored.

Paul Sorensen · Sep 28, 2005

Funny, I just went to their site and they have what looks to be the same camera on their inventory listing twice, once for $495 and once for $595. Both listings say that it includes an aluminum case and lens board. Hmmm. For $495 that actually saves you at least another $30 for the case and possibly $30 on the lens board. I just looked at Badger and can't tell from their site if the camera includes a board. Actually very tempting since I have also had nothing but very good dealings with Jim and Midwest Photo Exchange.

Paul.

luvmydogs · Sep 28, 2005

Paul,

Just goes to show how dangerous a place APUG is (at least for our wallets). Now ask yourself...do you need another 4x5? Oh, I forgot. I guess this has nothing to do with need...

Paul Sorensen · Sep 28, 2005

luvmydogs said:
Paul,

Just goes to show how dangerous a place APUG is (at least for our wallets). Now ask yourself...do you need another 4x5? Oh, I forgot. I guess this has nothing to do with need...

Good point. I am actually thinking of selling the 4X5 I just got along with another thing or two to fund this. I am not really happy with my current camera and this seems like a good way to go. Of course, that is all just probably rationalization!

Paul.

Scott-Tx · Sep 29, 2005

dan, before slandering someone, check your facts. jim is in columbus ohio, not new york, and is anything but a warehouse-based distributer. he is the most accessable, amicable, and fair person i've ever dealt with in the entire photography industry. until this thread, i've never seen anything but praise for him or MPEX.

Mongo · Sep 29, 2005

I purchased my Shen-Hao HZX45-IIA from Jim at Midwest about two years ago. At the time he was providing the camera and case for the same price as Badger was providing the camera. (This, by the way, was the deciding factor for me to go with Midwest rather than Badger. I've had great dealings with both of them over the years and would happily buy from either. I figured I'd get the case thrown in for free.)

I got a perfect example of the Shen-Hao from Jim, and after two years of fairly heavy use it's still working wonderfully. (The case, by the way, isn't worth much. It's a very well made case with a lock, dense foam lining inside, an aluminum exterior, and a nice heavy-duty handle...but it is just big enough to hold the camera and nothing else. It's fine as a storage case, but who stores a 4x5?)

When I was considering a Fuji GA645Pro, I saw one on the Midwest site that was listed as condition 8+ for an unbeatable price. I emailed Jim and asked him what made it an 8+. I got back an email describing every mark on the camera. I decided to order it, and when it arrived it was in much better shape than I'd thought it would be. Marks that Jim had mentioned were very hard to see, or not nearly as bad as he'd made them sound. His rating and his description were extremely conservative.

I tell you all of this because it leads to a pretty simple way to solve the dilema: Ask Jim to tell you any and all differences between the two cameras, including any difference in quality. I'm sure you'll get an honest answer. In my opinion, both Midwest and Badger want happy customers, and would rather lose one sale than lose a customer. Their return policies are both generous, they both answer questions quickly, and they can both be counted on to help when you have questions.

(I have no connection with either Midwest or Badger, aside from being a very satisfied customer.)

Best of luck.
Dave

MikeK · Sep 30, 2005

MidWest and Jim simply rock. I have had nothing but great experiences with cameras, lenses and accessories. I just purchased an 8x10 to 5x7 reducing back for my Tachi. Jim said it was used and the price he quoted had me almost fall out of my chair. It arrived, in its original packing and was in better than pristine condtion.

Nuff said

Mike

brimc76 · Sep 30, 2005

Paul Sorensen said:
Funny, I just went to their site and they have what looks to be the same camera on their inventory listing twice, once for $495 and once for $595. Both listings say that it includes an aluminum case and lens board. Hmmm. For $495 that actually saves you at least another $30 for the case and possibly $30 on the lens board. I just looked at Badger and can't tell from their site if the camera includes a board. Actually very tempting since I have also had nothing but very good dealings with Jim and Midwest Photo Exchange.

Paul.

Paul, I just bought my Shen Hao from Badger and it does come with one board which I believe it says in the ad for the camera body only. The package deal comes with a lens which would be mounted on a board already.
I've also dealt with Jim and have had no problems with Midwest but this time I dealt with Badger. I am more than happy with my Shen Hao and just ordered and received a new bag bellows for it.

djolicoeur · Sep 30, 2005

I also have purchased from MPEX and have had no bad experiences at all; I think I did apologize for the miss statement on location also. My statements are from 2nd hand post from more than one forum about shen-hao cameras purchased there only; and I should have also clarified in the recent past year. I dont believe there was any problem before that, and almost purchased mine there. Shortly after that I had read that Badger and Robert White made some kind of deal with Shen-Hao. That being said, dont you think it would be wise for any high volume retailer to carry this low price camera even if they are taking a bath on it? It is not the camera they are going to make money on anyhow but rather the accessories. Sorry I dont have dates, being as ignorant as I am. I would also say again that this was read 2nd hand and I have no 1st hand knowledge of any arrangements. I don't believe I slandered them at all, nor did I slander anyone on this forum, nor there choice of cameras. I have not called any of you ignorant on a public forum, but do find some of you very close minded not to listen to others experiences on camera purchases. If you look at the following link they, being Midwest photo have an excellent review. http://www.photo.net/neighbor/subcategory-index?id=2&limit=f
I have had enough of this place so you will not have to listen to me again,
Regards to you all, and happy shooting for those of you who do.

Steve Hamley · Sep 30, 2005

Just a couple of comments, one is that I'm sorry if anyone's feathers got ruffled, but that happens from time to time on any forum. Don't take it personally.

It's probably a mistake to associate manufacturing quality with any retailer or distributor, and I really doubt the quality of Shen Hao cameras from MPEX is any better or worse than those from Badger.

Now some facts. I did have a conversation about Shen Hao quality with Jim at MPEX, standing across the counter from him. He said Shen Haos have more quality problems than the Tachiharas, and dealer support is more difficult than Tachihara. He has a Shen Hao with a back that leaks light sitting on the counter as a demo the past few times I've been there. I thought about buying it as a potential winter project but the price wasn't right - and so the conversation above got started.

Note I'm not bashing the Shen Hao, AFAIK all the problems do get resolved if you have one.

My only complaint with Midwest is that they're so popular stock gets depleted. I told Jim I used to reminisce by reading MPEX ads in old issues of "View Camera"; Heliars, Dagors, all at prices we now dream about. JIM, BUY MORE STUFF!

Steve

Nick Zentena · Sep 30, 2005

Steve Hamley said:
It's probably a mistake to associate manufacturing quality with any retailer or distributor, and I really doubt the quality of Shen Hao cameras from MPEX is any better or worse than those from Badger.

The problem is MPEX is selling a Sun Foto or whatever it's called. Not a Shen Hao. Maybe somebody should ask Digidurst about the camera she got. The one from Mpex versus the other one from Badger. IIRC she had some problems.

Digidurst · Sep 30, 2005

I bought a Shen Hao from Jim at MidWest that turned out to be a Sun Foto camera. It had quality issues and the fact that it wasn't a true-blue, labeled Shen Hao bothered me a great deal. Jim was great about the whole thing and really tried to make sure I was a happy customer. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again.
My new Shen Hao came from Badger and the difference is like night and day. So, if it were me, I wouldn't touch a Sun Foto with a ten foot pole but that's just me.

Paul Sorensen · Sep 30, 2005

Well, I just ordered one. Of course, I wasn't trying to order a Shen, I wouldn't want to get something else instead of what I ordered either. I bought one that Jim had used as a tester and he discounted it to $425 and threw in a spare board. He also told to use it for a month and if it wasn't up to snuff, he would take it back for a refund. Since I am very comforatble with him, I decided to go for it. It was cheaper than I could find any sort of modern camera, so it seems like a no lose proposition.

luvmydogs · Oct 1, 2005

Paul - Congratulations on your camera! You did it after all!

Mongo · Oct 1, 2005

Paul Sorensen said:
Well, I just ordered one.

Paul-

I'm sure we'd all appreciate hearing your impression of the camera when you receive it. I hope that the camera turns out to be a great alternative in the 4x5 realm...competition helps keep people on their toes.

Be well.
Dave

Paul Sorensen · Oct 1, 2005

Mongo said:
Paul-

I'm sure we'd all appreciate hearing your impression of the camera when you receive it. I hope that the camera turns out to be a great alternative in the 4x5 realm...competition helps keep people on their toes.

Be well.
Dave

Absolutely, I will let everyone know what I find out. I am hoping for the best, and comforted by Jim's commitment to the product. I am also comforted by Digidurst's experience. It is good to hear that a potentially bad situation got resolved to the extent that she is saying she would have no problems working with them again.

The only issue I will have with reporting back would be that I have never seen an actual shen. If anyone has one in the Denver area, or is coming this way, and wants to get to gether to shoot and compare cameras, let me know. It would be fun and informational!

Paul.

Ruvy · Oct 2, 2005

Other than original post I didn't read the entire thread so excuse me if I am repeating or negating anyone.
Few month ago I have considered same issue. Since there is no importer to Shen Hao where I live I have established a direct contact with the manufacturer. Camera cost in China were tempting but than shipping made it not worthy. I have contacted Jim and he told me the same as he told you. He was honest enough to tell me that it is not a really recommended camera and had some better ideas as what to buy. His Sun Photo camera shipped here ($40 for shipping) was easier to get and nearly same as wholesale price of Shen Hao with their shipping ( $200 just for shipping). Things didn't compute so I have checked with Shen Hao and they have told me with no doubt that they don't manufacture nor sell any camera under any other name and Sun Photo is not a Shen Hao but an inferior product. Well, I don't know what is the real difference and I never trust one manufacturer negative opinion about another but be careful. I know at least couple of people who have returned the Sun Photo because they had problems, replaced them with a Shen Hao and are happy. I have contacted Jim at that time, informed him of my finding. He had nothing to say. I am surprised at this one seller who I trust and like (and will continue buying from him) that this information is still recycled. I am assuming that either his suppliers ill inform him or there is more than one manufacturer in China that is exporting under the umbrella of Seagull and they mix things up before it gets to the States. (my information is that neither Shen Hao nor Sun Photo have export license so they use a larger company license)

Chazzy · Oct 2, 2005

Are these Sun Foto cameras available in any sizes larger than 4x5?

SUN FOTO (Shen Hao) cams at MPEX

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency