Chamonix wet plate holders are a specialised, high-quality holder for large format cameras, designed to fit glass or metal plates used in the historical collodion wet plate process, though it can also hold modern dry plates or film with adapters. Made from lightweight carbon fibre and wood, these holders are lighter and more rigid than traditional plastic types and allow photographers to shoot ambrotypes, tintypes, or film using traditional large format camera bodies, often using reducing inserts for smaller formats.

All the wet plate holders (from 4X5 all the way to 20X24) are made to take plates of their film sizes. They will be a little smaller than the real size. If you order these wet plate holders, please measure the size of the film and cut the plates to that size.

The following are the openings of various sizes of wet plate holder. Your plates need to be 1-1.5mm smaller on each side:

• 045: 127mm x 100.5mm
• 057: 177.5mm x 126.5mm
• 8X8: 204mm x 204mm
• WP: 215.8mm x 166mm
• 810: 253.3mm x 203.2mm
• 1010: 253.3mm x 253.3mm
• 1114: 356.5mm x 280.5mm
• 1220: 508mm x 304.5mm
• 1414: 356.5mm x 356.5mm
• 1417: 432mm x 355.5mm
• 1620: 508mm x 406.5mm
• 2020: 510mm x 510mm
• 2024: 609.6mm x 508mm
• 2424: 612mm x 612mm

About Chamonix

Crafted and Designed for Photographers by Photographers

Chamonix View Camera was founded in 2003, by a Chinese photographer and mountaineer on a mission to design and build the lightest, most rigid, and most beautiful cameras for large format photographers. Now, our team of experienced craftsmen has grown from eight to fifteen in our small workshop in Haining city of Zhejiang Province, China. At Chamonix, cameras are designed by photographers for photographers. 

There is an old Chinese saying: A journey of ten thousand miles starts with the first step. 千里之行，始于足下。

We took our first few steps with encouragement and support from photographers all over the world. We are humbled and are very grateful for that support. 

Now, 21 years later, Chamonix View Camera builds 18 different camera models in formats ranging from 4x5 to 24x32. We carry the popular 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 cameras, as well as cameras with unusual formats such as 5x8, 6.5x8.5, 7x17, 8x20, and 12x20. In addition, we also make beautiful film holders and accessories for all the formats we build.

We make tools for photographers to release their creativity. Today, you can see our cameras all over the world. From Antarctica to the arctic coasts, and Mt. Everest to Sahara Desert. Glorious and beautiful images are created daily by our camera users today.

The Chamonix Approach to View Camera Design and Function

Chamonix cameras are composed of wood and carbon fibre composite material and are designed to be both light and durable while retaining the aesthetics of hand craftsmanship. Little-used view camera movements are omitted to ensure the slimmest, lightest build possible. The structure of Chamonix cameras overcomes some limitations found in traditional wood view cameras. The screw-focus mechanism and stainless-steel focus track make Chamonix cameras much more accurate and durable than traditional wood view cameras. The front standard of Chamonix cameras can be detached so that, with the extension accessory (see ACCESSORIES above) the bellows can be greatly extended as is possible with a monorail view camera. This feature is especially useful for lenses of long focal length and macro photography.

Materials Used in the Construction of the Chamonix View Camera

Chamonix cameras are constructed of carbon fibre, anodized aluminium 7075 or 6061, and teak.  Models' aluminium parts are finished in either titanium grey or black; see the information about colour at each model's page. Wood components are formed in either American black cherry or teak–chosen because both are extremely stable. The wood is finished with a clear coat to preserve the warm appearance of the wood and to protect it from weathering; see photographs of the various models.  Both woods are ideal for view cameras (see the information about these woods under the HOME tab above). The wood selected has a minor impact on the camera's weight. Teak is slightly heavier than cherry. Teak and cherry differ in appearance as well, but both woods have a beautiful grain that changes with light and angle of view.

The Work of the Craftsmen

The asphalt-based carbon fibre filaments used in Chamonix view cameras are combined in alternating horizontal and vertical layers with epoxy resin under intense heat and pressure. This process is done manually, sometimes leaving marks of handwork on the surface. These are not flaws, but rather a sign of the careful labour which goes into the construction of each camera. Such marks are offset by the beautiful glaze of the carbon fibre. Every stage of camera construction--from material selection, manufacture, and painting--reflects the exacting standards and superb techniques inherited from ancient Chinese craftsmen. After basic semi-mechanical construction using power tools, each camera is carefully handmade to give the finest appearance possible.  Only the most experienced craftsmen are assigned to this task.

Chamonix Innovations

Chamonix is the first to combine wood and carbon fibre by heat pressing. The resulting composite material is used for the bed and focusing module. This is the key difference between Chamonix view cameras and traditional wood view cameras--the core innovation of the Chamonix design--and embodies the Chamonix principle of light weight and high quality.

Update About Wood

Wood used to craft Chamonix Cameras and Film Holders are now made from teak and cherry. We have deliberately limited the woods we use because we have stringent requirements of stability in the wood used to build a camera or film holder. Both teak and cherry are woods of exceptional colour, grain and stability. woods are aged/cured for many years before use to ensure their stability. Thus in this website you will see cameras that are made of woods that are no longer available; we show these cameras to show you the very high standard of fit and finish that are hallmarks of the Chamonix team's work. 

Warranty

CHAMONIX 1-YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY

CHAMONIX products come with a Manufacturer Warranty for a period of 12 Months from the date of purchase with the following terms and conditions.

• The CHAMONIX Manufacturer Warranty covers material and manufacturing defects existing at the time of the purchase and during the first 12 months.
• The CHAMONIX Manufacturer Warranty only comes into force if a proof of purchase is presented during the warranty period, you will have the right to have any manufacturing defect repaired free of charge.
• The CHAMONIX Manufacturer Warranty is ONLY applicable to CHAMONIX products purchased from Authorised Dealers within Australia.
• The CHAMONIX Manufacturer Warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or deterioration as well as scratches or breakages due to physical damage, water or fire damage, loss, or theft.

For warranty claims or inquires please contact:

A: Unit 5, 37 Charlotte Street,
 Campsie NSW 2194

P: +61 2 8599 2858

E: sales@kudoscameras.com.au