On this episode I do a quick comparison between my Arca Swiss 8×10 and the Chamonix 8×10 Wooden Field Camera.
Both are great tools, and the best way I can describe it is that the Chamonix is a bit like driving a restored vintage Porsche 911, while the Arca Swiss is a built Formula 1 race car.
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yourpalmarcus
WEBSITE: https://www.marcusubungen.com
CAMERA GEAR I USE: https://bit.ly/ArcaSwissUSA
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Two beautiful machines 😍
That Arca-Swiss is about as close as a monorail gets to a field camera and for the money it should be as precise and solid as it is. I still enjoy my Chamonix with all its movements by feel. Really enjoying the channel, especially for the story telling aspect, keep up the great work!
some other differences, the monorail can extend longer, and, as the standards are thinner, they can collapse into themselves more, so giving a greater lens choice, from 37mm right up to 360, 400 or more, all depends on the length of extension, and the number of "extensions" purchased; I say this, as I own a s.i.n.a.r. F2 which can do this, also adding extra standards/bellows means you can adapt a lens hood out of basic parts, so no need for an expensive compendium shade. Another advantage of monorail vs field (flatbed) designs is that mono's are more likely to have grafflock fit backs, so can fit anything from a lomograflok back (INSTAX Wide), a calumet C2 6×9 roll film back, standard double dark sheet film holders instead of a spring back common on field designs, limiting the film stock option mainly to standard holders (the gap {gape} between the ground glass and the frame, when open doesn't exceed 1/2" so Can't fit the other options)- or are of a special size, like Linhof tech iii 5×7" single dark holders the frame is specially designed for it, a ledge with a hinged glass, so no other holders can fit.
Another great video. Thanks. I only have a Sinar monorail, shooting 4×5. All movements are also geared and self arresting.
one other advantage of a monorail vs a field camera is that the bellows are removable, I mentioned about the extension possibilities already, but I forgot one thing, this allows an aux shutter (sinar, Packard, electronic {rollei, with electric lens control},e-shutter{phase One}) to be placed in front / behind the front standard, so Barrell lenses can be fitted (aka the Dagor, Petzval, etc.) with NO shutter attached, so they can be used here, as well as enlarger lenses, microscope lenses, etc. as this shutter lets you use them, seeing as no copal shutter is included with them (standard LF lens setup).