We started our Summit camera design in 2020. We listened carefully to what our experienced users told us. Due to their choice of subject matters and their photographic styles, many of them rarely use lenses in the 600mm range with their 810 cameras. That means, at least in theory, that they should not bear the extra weight and dimension of the camera which has that capacity. 

Our Alpinist 810 camera is a very capable and light weight camera. With our Summit 810 camera, our design goal is to trim one lb from its weight and 40% from its folded dimension. This means the Summit 810 camera will be the thinnest and the lightest Chamonix 810 camera. 

Our Summit 810 film holder which to be paired with this camera has also reached our goal. It is the thinnest and the lightest 810 film holder. Summit camera + Summit holder is an enclosed system that walks away from the traditional standard. It means that if you decide to give up the use of your 600mm lens and your traditional film holders, we will create an unparalleled user experience for you. 

Large format wooden cameras with double extensions were famous for a while in the past due to their light weights and compact folded sizes. Historically, many double extension cameras were advertised as traveling cameras. It indicated that photography was not the only goal of your journey and you should bring your camera to your business trips, holidays, even honeymoons. Your traveling camera should be packed in your luggage and to be used when needed. Or imagine another situation: you have one or a few shots in your mind and you have to use your 810 camera, but you are unable or unwilling to bring your heavy tripod and your big gear bag with all your lenses and holders for various reasons. 

When folded, our Summit camera has no protruding knobs or buttons. It uses a Linhof size front which allows but does not encourage the use of Copal #3 shutters. We are not trying to tell our users which camera to choose, but our design hints that our Summit camera is a very unique system and a special tool. 

This system shows some stubbornness in its rationality. It has made its careful decision what to lose in order to keep what it needs. Lightness and rigidity are the goals that Chamonix has spent the last two decades pursuing. Our Summit 810 camera is another milestone for us. 

There will be two models: Summit X with a convertible back and Summit 810 Horizontal model. 

Here is the tech data of the Summit X convertible model: 

Max bellows draw: 550mm

Min bellows draw: 95mm

Front swing: unlimited

Front shift: 38mm on each side

Rear swing: 10 degrees

Rear shift: none

Rear tilt: 90 degrees forward, 15 degrees backward

Folded size: 310mm x 320mm x 59mm

Weight: 2,450 grams

Front standard takes Linhof size lens board

Bellows: fixed

Tech data for the Summit 810 horizontal only model: 

Max bellows draw: 470mm

Min bellows draw: 95mm

Front tilt: 30 degrees forward and backward

Front swing: unlimited

Front shift: 38mm on each side

Rear swing: 10 degrees

Rear shift: none

Rear tilt: 90 degrees forward, 15 degrees backward

Folded size: 310mm x 268mm x 59mm

Weight: 2,180 grams

Front standard takes Linhof size lens board

Bellows: fixed

Summit horizontal model is limited edition with 9 cameras and Summit X is an unlimited edition. 

The price for both models will be $5,500 USD with FedEx shipping.

Both Summit models can only be used with our Chamonix Summit film holders, not regular 810 film holders. This is actually a set of five ultra thin holders. Each holder has a weight of 285g and a thickness of 4.8mm with its thickest part of 6.2mm. This set of five holders has its carbon fiber carry bag. The carry bag has a weight of 293g. The price of our Summit 810 holder set is $4,100.