Well Frank, by bringing Yugo into the discussion, you raise the topic to a new level. Do you know the last two additions added to the Yugo in the last year of production. An ashtray in the rear seat, and a rear window defrost. Interestingly, it turns out the advantage of the rear window defrost was really played out in keeping your hands warm when pushing your stalled Yugo to the nearest mechanic, leaving the rear defrost unit turned on.
Perhaps a heated ground glass, or something similar on a Littman might intrigue some buyers.
I have been carving on Polaroid Pathfinders off and on for some time. It's kind of a cathartic mental masturbation combined with a peaceful complacency during long evenings. (actually achieving orgasm has been elusive).
I've narrowed it down to the fact that the Rodenstock Ysarex 127 is perhaps the best option for the Pathfinder. It is a much higher quality lens than most would admit.
I've also decided that people are trying to use WAY TOO MUCH of the original pathfinders. The door, front standard and struts, and the bellows section are the only really useful parts toward building a totable, yet mediochre camera that would attract a price of sorts. So I've cut down my most recent pathfinder to this:
Now this, with a hunk of Walnut and a set of carving knives, in front of the TV for many nights and a setback simple Graflok system, would allow for an infinity focus camera, handheld, or tripod with GG viewing. Eventually I need to actually finish one of these projects. NOTICE: I have bypassed the rangefinder. Messing with the rangefinder cam is far too labor intensive for the return.
Don't get me wrong...... I have nothing against Dean/Razzle, Alpenhouse and others getting the prices they do for their creativity. I've actually been impressed with the variety of mods that Dean has come up with. Littman is a whole nother animal of course.
And with all these people stockpiling unmolested Pathfinder camera's until the "stale date" runs out and they must be converted, it's only natural that someone would come up with a way to use up all the Polaroid Automatic camera's which is the case with the Chamonix Saber. Soo much inventory out there... is there enough time?
Bookmarks