Chamonix Saber . . .anybody have one?

[Drew Bedo]

Am I late to stumble onto this? Looks good to me.

Does anyone have one of these cameras? Is it a whole new camera or do they use parts as Littman and the other conversions do?How does it compare to the Polaroid 110 based convwersions?

http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/saber.html

[lbenac]

If you do a search on the forum there is a whole thread about it by owners like myself.
Or in case you could not serach here is the link:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?84183-Chamonix-Saber

Cheers,

Luc

[AtlantaTerry]

Polaroid should sue for design patent infringement.

[Drew Bedo]

Luc: Thanks for the link. I'll rread through that.

Terry: I think that issue got worked over in the 2ks during the raging discussion ons the Littman vs everyone else Threads here and on Foto dot Net. The upshot is that Polaroid doesn't care and doesn't have the wherewithall to make a legal challange. By 2008 it became evident to me that the total market for the 110 based conversions was too small to make any litigation worthwhile, from Polaroid or betwene any of those rebuilding them.

I am encouraged by this new effort at this type of camera. Even after conversion, the 110 bodies are still too big . . .no matter how much is cut away. I am hoping that eventually someone will make ahigh quality Grafmatic and a new-from-the-ground-up 4x5 folding camer focus coupled to with paralax corrected combined range-viewfinder; A 4x5 Bessa-II or a 4x5 Mamya 7, or any of the MF folding German RF cameras of the '40s..

[vinny]

Nevermind

[AtlantaTerry]

I am hoping that eventually someone will make a high quality Grafmatic...

If my aching memory bones are correct, did not a Japanese manufacturer such as Fuji make their version of a Grafmatic? I assume if that was the case that none are currently in production. :(

[Drew Bedo]

Was it "MIDO"?

[EdSawyer]

I have a saber, one of my favorite cameras by far! Hard to find now, I don't think they are currently making them...

[lbenac]

I have a saber, one of my favorite cameras by far! Hard to find now, I don't think they are currently making them...

No as far as I know that last batch was completed about a year 1/2 ago.
The only source is the used market unless Chamonix has a change of mind.

Cheers,

Luc

[Nicolasllasera]

Chamonix has on its main homepage an note saying they have a few in stock. At least the last time i checked.

[photonsoup]

just saw one on ebay today for $1600.00

[angusparker]

On Chamonix homepage today:
"We have a few Saber cameras available with 135mm Nikkor lens at $1,200. If you are interested in ordering one, please contact Hugo for details."

[lbenac]

While the Nikkor might not be the most existing lens, it is a very good price.
BTW mine came with a Symmar 150mm that i did not really liked and I replaced it with a Sironar-N 150mm as these two have a flange distance nearly identical within a few tenths of mm.
Cheers,

Luc

[EdSawyer]

Mine has an Apo Symmar 120, which supposedly is what this camera was designed around...

$1200 is a good deal, agreed, even given it's the Nikon 135.

[bracan]

I got mine Saber two days ago with 135mm APO Symmar and I must say....this camera is fantastic!!!! Weight ideal, handling ideal, finish ideal....Well done Hugo.
I just roll test with Polaroid 545 holder and Polaroid 55:)
Aperture was f8,5 and I use one flash head with fresnel.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/12840945933_274a2e71fc_c.jpg

[EdSawyer]

Nice work. It is such a great camera, no doubt!

[bracan]

Nice work. It is such a great camera, no doubt!

Thanks Ed, you know what im talking;)