The modern design of Chamonix 8x10 aims to achieve a perfect balance between light weight and stability. This handmade camera using wood and carbon fiber composite has special aesthetic appealing to its users.
It has a light weight of 3900g. But to the generous use of carbon fiber, it is a very rigid camera. To keep its weight as light as possible, we have eliminated some rarely used functions. It is not a perfect camera for all occasions, but it does have its unique charm and character.
Much of its lightness comes from its T shaped and specially designed base plate which has a unique and complex structure like a bridge.
While use of carbon fiber gives the camera extreme rigidity, all wood parts are carefully
selected and hand polished and painted by experienced craftsmen using traditional techniques. Hand crafted objects usually are the most beautiful. Only a handful of master craftsmen are qualified for the final procedures to keep each camera achieve a general unity with other cameras while not losing its uniqueness.
As much as we strive to reduce every gram of weight from the camera, we have added
a unique part to the Chamonix 8x10 camera: a bellows support frame. When used, it will
raise and support the bellows to reduce the bellows shake in windy conditions and it will
also prevents sagging bellows to block the ground glass. Chamonix has adapted this from
old camera design for modern use.
The metal part of Chamonix 8x10 camera is anodized aluminum with black finish. The wood choices are Canadian maple and black walnut. Different wood will cause a slight different weight of the cameras. The walnut version is about 5% heavier than the maple one and a little hard too. Maple is softer and more flexible and shock resistant. Of course, these differences are only detectable by testing instruments. In practical use, we can hardly feel any difference except aesthetic ones like colors and veins in the wood. Both woods have beautiful veins which change charmingly in different light or when looked at different angles.
Chamonix 8x10 camera uses Sinar lens board.
After few years in production, Chamonix made few changes to the new 8X10 camera.
Here is the summery of changes:
1. Unibody carbon fiber base board
2. Increase rear frame thickness by 5mm
3. Bail back like operation of inserting film holders
4. Front rise and fall lock
5. Weight increased 1kg (2.2 pounds)
All other specs remain the same.
New 8X10 pictures:
