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my new LARGE FORMAT camera broke before I could even use it // CHAMONIX N2

Karin Majoka

8,725 views

In this video I am telling you the story of how my new Chamonix N2 4x5" camera broke - before I could even use it for the first time. After intense inspection and after taking the camera apart there was no way around it: I had to go out and shoot it to find out if anything else was damaged. I decided to go where everything started when I shot large format for the first time: meeting my friend Heiner in Rostock to shoot together.

0:00 - intro
1:13 - how my camera broke
3:46 - going to Rostock
5:33 - my 1st shot (FAIL)
7:37 - Heiner's 1st shot
8:47 - my 2nd shot (+ broken lens)
11:35 - my 3rd shot
13:30 - my 4th shot (FAIL)
14:44 - studio portraits with flash
17:15 - more solo shots
18:20 - committing to 6 months of black and white only

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Follow Heiner's work here:
https://heinerbeisert.de
https://www.instagram.com/heinerbeise...

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20 Comments

@tomwestbrook 3 years ago

I had a similar experience with an Arca-Swiss 4x5, but I’m the one who knocked it over while on the tripod. It is (still have it) metal, so it didn’t make it inoperable. I did have to send the front and rear standards to get them repaired and the bubble levels replaced. It was a learning experience and I’ve never had another drop since. Good luck with the 4x5! It’s great fun and very rewarding.

@randywaldron2715 3 years ago

This is my 1st time watching your channel. Got drawn in by the broken camera thing. Looks like you will weather that storm well enough and you even managed to create some good photos. Not bad for someone knew to large format. Good luck with the black and white. Look forward to seeing your results

@davidottman9501 3 years ago

Good work! It's great to see that your camera didn't suffer serious damage, only cosmetic. On the bright side, now that it's scuffed you won't be worried about taking it out and using it! :)

Your 90mm Super Angulon will cover 5x7 format so that will be fun if you decide later to go even larger, or if you just like playing with a lot of camera movements. Hope the shutter repair is something easy.

There is a very long list of mistakes we all make, especially in large format. Experience, paying extra attention, and using a checklist will help reduce, but never eliminate the chance of making mistakes. There's always some way for some weird thing to happen.

Thanks for posting and sharing your adventures! You're inspiring a lot of people you've never met. :)

@andrewhowarth4578 3 years ago

Karin, I am so sorry to hear about the accident but so happy with both your learning process and results. When I shoot 4x5 I follow the acronym FAST. Focus. Aperture. Shutter. THINK! I know it seems silly, but following an orderly process really helps me to visualize the order and gives me confidence that I’ve done each step carefully. If I think I need to reframe or adjust camera movements, I know that I have to return to the first step and go through them again. I’d previously reframed or adjusted movements, then forgotten to address the aperture or that changing the aperture required me to also adjust the shutter speed. I love every single one of your videos. Andy

@Narsuitus 3 years ago

You were very lucky. I am surprised your view glass did not break when the camera fell.

I am also glad that the cat did not take the blame for the damaged camera.

@seoirseosial 3 years ago

I enjoyed your video, Karin. You got some very nice results from your first couple of outings with the 4x5 camera. I particularly liked the image of the trees. Keep up the good work.

@perronegrofoto 3 years ago

loved this video. congrats on the photos, they're really great

@acmdv 3 years ago (edited)

10:17 "I've got that sinking feeling, flushing it away!"😁

@andyvan5692 1 year ago

at 6:29 a cardinal beginners' mistake, THIS is one of the reasons we get LF cameras, use the RISE, so you don't get verticals askew, OR, use tilt as well, to level BOTH standards, to get the subject in frame (called in-direct movements)- you move the bed/monorail as well as the standards to accomplish the move.

@markusklein6309 3 years ago

My suggestion when working with large format: create a checklist (like pilots have) of all the required steps in the required order (!) and then always follow this checklist. You will then never again forget to focus!

@kevinlack5634 3 years ago

Nice video Karin :)
Sorry your ‘new’ camera took a tumble before you could use it; when this has happened to me over the years (mostly with 35mm kit) I used think of it as now being ‘personalised’!
Good luck with your LF venture and look forward to seeing your future works in this format.
My favourites were ‘Portrait with Self Portrait’ and ‘Shopping Trolley’ :)

@sprocket_holes 3 years ago

Loved it as always! Really exciting about the bw challenge, I was thinking of doing something like this myself, you inspire me to go for it 😊

@marcushappephotography6342 3 years ago

Again a very nice video! I also have the Chamonix H1 and am very satisfied with it. Keep it up!

@tundrusphoto4312 3 years ago

Thank you for this video. I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to your upcoming black and white shoots and the results. All the best for 2023.

@RogerMunoz-ci7it 1 year ago

Hay, at least you got better! I enjoyed your photos and this video. BRAVO! I know a lot of people who just, gave up. Thank God; we haven't. Roger

@iNerdier 3 years ago

I was taught to load my film holders with the notches on the bottom left, that way you can always feel in a dark bag what is loaded if you need to(It also puts the notches on the top/right when you store them which somehow to my obsessive mind looks neater).

I also follow the most common pattern of white/silver side out with film loaded and black side out after taking the shot; as long as you're consistent it helps to avoid accidental double exposures. For holders that are only half loaded I leave the empty side with black out as if it was already shot.

Have you got into the weeds with bellows extension for images closer than infinity yet? That's another whole fun thing to learn.

Without knowing more about the 90mm I don't think I can try to diagnose the problem but the offer of a service is still there if you're willing to send it to London. It sounds as though the tensioning arm has jammed if I was to guess however, which wouldn't necessarily be hard to fix.

@rbrowning8088 3 years ago

I think you did just great !!! ..... and I commend your friend for assisting you ...

@andyvan5692 2 years ago

Karin at 6:28 one tip, to keep the door frame square, and the top straight, USE RISE on the front standard, Don't tilt the whole camera up!, it creates perspective distortions.( you can also raise the centre column of the tripod, but beware this can make the rig more rickety and prone to wind and vibrations).

@rjohnbernales 3 years ago

Ooooh can’t wait to see you take on the bw challenge for 6 months 🤩

@davidxflood 3 years ago

Nice video. I loved the self-portrait! For the 90mm lens, I have the same one and love it. It is a difficult lens to use as the largest aperture is f8. Regarding the problem with the shutter, you can remove the front and back lens elements and manually inspect the aperture blades to see if there is oil on them. You can also clean them but be gentle, there are a few YouTube videos on this. If it turns out to be something mechanical inside the shutter then I would recommend getting professional help. Best of luck and hope you stick with 4x5, I have been doing it for 15 years and love it!