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Buying from China?

Posted: 02 Feb 2015, 18:02
by Oscar
I'm tempted to buy a new Shen Hao or a Chamonix. I've been waiting for a good used one to turn up locally for the right price, but no luck. (I know of one for sale locally, but the price isn't that great.)

Has anyone here bought directly from either of the above, or would it be better to buy via one of the bigger online dealers (eg Badger, etc)?

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 02 Feb 2015, 19:07
by Walter Glover
I am currently considering a purchase from Camonix. I have an acquaintance who has bought a camera from the guy (Hugo if I recall correctly) and has nothing but high praise for the whole affair.

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 02 Feb 2015, 19:20
by Lachlan717
I've bought several cameras directly from Mr Zhang at Shen Hao. No issue whatsoever.

In fact, I've not simply bought the cameras; I've sent design ideas to him and he has then built these cameras. They now make up part of Shen Hao's range (XPO and 6x17 panoramic).

I've got another idea brewing, and might get Mr Zhang to build me a third camera...

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 02 Feb 2015, 19:40
by Oscar
Thanks for the feedback. I might go ahead and start pricing out some options.

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 02 Feb 2015, 20:40
by Lachlan717
If there is anything you want added/changed, make sure that you ask him. He's very open to suggestions.

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 02 Feb 2015, 20:43
by Oscar
Lachlan717 wrote:If there is anything you want added/changed, make sure that you ask him. He's very open to suggestions.


Other than the AUS/USD exchange rate, their products sounds very nice to me already :)

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 03 Feb 2015, 08:51
by Nathan Everett
Was it a 4x5 or larger you were after? I was considering putting my Shen Hao 4x5 up for sale in the near future...

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 03 Feb 2015, 20:12
by Oscar
Nathan Everett wrote:Was it a 4x5 or larger you were after? I was considering putting my Shen Hao 4x5 up for sale in the near future...


Too late; I've placed an order (for a 4x5). Sorry about that.

Some time in the future (depending on continuing gainful employment which is by no means certain), I'd still like to also get an 8x10 field camera because I love the idea of contact prints, and 4x5 contact prints aren't quite big enough.

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 04 Feb 2015, 06:13
by Lachlan717
This is the one that I'll end up with if I can't make a decent one for myself:

ShenHao810.jpg
ShenHao810.jpg (30.87 KiB) Viewed 6113 times


Not the lightest; however, compared to carrying the 7x17" it won't worry me!

Re: Buying from China?

Posted: 13 Feb 2015, 06:51
by Oscar
Just an update to this thread; I've now received my new Chamonix. The purchasing process was painless and fast. Now I'm going to spend the weekend working out all the different adjustements, it's quite a different beast from my Sinar F2 :)