Chamonix 45F-22007

History

Chamonix Camera Company was founded in Xi'an, China in the mid-2000s by a small team of craftspeople seeking to produce high-quality large-format field cameras at a lower price point than Japanese competitors such as Ebony and Toyo. The 45F-2 was one of the company's early production models, designed to compete directly with the Wista SP and Tachihara field cameras on price while offering comparable or superior build quality.

The use of carbon fiber was the defining material choice. Where older field cameras used solid hardwood throughout, the Chamonix replaces structural panels with carbon-fiber composites, retaining wood only where it contributes to aesthetics or where machining wood is more practical than fabricating composite forms. The result is a camera that weighs substantially less than a comparable all-wood design while matching its rigidity under bellows tension.

Chamonix subsequently expanded its range to include 5x7 and 8x10 models, and continued refining the 45 line. The company developed a reputation in the Western large-format community through online forums, where users noted the finish quality relative to price.

Why It Matters

The Chamonix 45F-2 demonstrated that high-quality large-format field cameras could be manufactured in China at competitive prices without sacrificing material standards or movement precision. It entered a market that had been dominated by Japanese makers (Ebony, Wista, Tachihara, Toyo) at various price points and established a new lower tier combining modern materials with traditional design.

For photographers concerned about pack weight on extended field work - hiking, backcountry, or travel - the sub-kilogram body weight is a meaningful practical advantage over heavier metal or all-wood alternatives. The Chamonix is often cited in backpacking photography contexts alongside the Intrepid MK4 as a lightweight 4x5 option.

The camera also introduced many photographers to 4x5 who might otherwise have found entry-level all-wood cameras (Tachihara) or heavier Japanese technical cameras (Wista 45) less appealing for their intended use.

Lenses & Accessories

The Chamonix 45F-2 uses Chamonix's own lensboard standard, which is not directly compatible with Linhof Technika boards. Adapters to Linhof-format boards exist as third-party accessories.

• Schneider Symmar-S 150mm f/5.6 - standard 4x5 lens; Copal 0 or 1 shutter
• Rodenstock Sironar-N 150mm f/5.6 - popular alternative standard lens
• Fujinon W 150mm f/6.3 - compact Copal 0 lens well-suited to travel use
• Schneider Super-Angulon 90mm f/8 - wide angle; image circle clears 4x5 with movements
• Nikkor-W 210mm f/5.6 - medium telephoto for portrait and landscape
• Bag bellows - required for lenses under ~75mm; standard bellows cannot compress sufficiently
• Fresnel screen - optional brightening screen for ground glass; aids composition in bright outdoor conditions
• Roll-film backs - 6x7 and 6x9 backs on 120 film fit the standard Graflok back

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Adopted by backpacking large-format photographers in North America and Europe as a lightweight alternative to heavier Japanese wood-field cameras for wilderness work.
• Gained a following in the large-format online community (Large Format Photography Forum) beginning around 2008-2010 as user reports of build quality spread.
• Used as an affordable entry point into 4x5 for photographers transitioning from medium format who found second-hand Graflex or Wista bodies less mechanically reliable.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Chamonix