Converted Polaroid 4x5 RF

[thegman]

Am I correct in thinking these are about the smallest way to get a handheld 4x5 camera? Particularly, one with a focusing method other than ground glass?

If so does anyone have any experience with polaroidconversions.com, or Razzle cameras?

I'm interested mostly in the lens quality, i.e. is the stock 127mm Rodentock lens good enough to make the most of 4x5, or would I likely get more out of my 6x9 with it's excellent Schneider lens?

Just wondering at the moment, probably won't buy for a while.

All the best

Garry

 

[Matus]

The smallest 4x5 RF I have seen so far were the conversions of polaroid (not the 'big ones') cameras by Chamonix called Saber (just google it). 127/4.7 Rodenstock lens (mostly), 1.5m close focus distance and weight under 1kg. That is what I call light.

All the 'known' conversions of 'big' Polaroid cameras are still quite large and heavy in my opinion, but do look great 😉

Browse a bit LFF forum - you will find some comments there too.

 

[thegman]

That Chamonix is beautful. Will check out LFF, cheers.

 

[keytarjunkie]

I've built one, and dealt with most of the people who build them professionally. If I were buying one, I would wait for a used Charmonix Saber, occasionally they pop up on APUG and large format photography forum classifieds. It is on a much smaller chassis (one of those weird looking Automatic Land cameras) and usually has a Nikkor 135mm f/5.6. The Rodenstock is just okay. I'm not ridiculously impressed by it, but it gets the job done. Dean of Razzle cameras has a flickr and he's uploaded some photos from his cameras, in fact if you search flickr you can find a few photos from similar projects.

 

[rhl-oregon]

I handled a 4x5 conversion with the 127mm recently, and got GASsy about it, but have not gone any further in that direction. However, the original owner (local in Eugene, Oregon) said that he'd be willing to sell it--in fact, may need to sell it for medical expense reasons, alas.

If you'd like to have his contact information, I can obtain that for you.

Robert

 

[thegman]

I handled a 4x5 conversion with the 127mm recently, and got GASsy about it, but have not gone any further in that direction. However, the original owner (local in Eugene, Oregon) said that he'd be willing to sell it--in fact, may need to sell it for medical expense reasons, alas.

If you'd like to have his contact information, I can obtain that for you.

Robert

Thank you for the offer, but I'm not looking to buy at the moment, probably won't be until next year in fact.

 

[newsgrunt]

Byrons have the most elegant design out there imo. Used an Alpenhause but not a Razzle so take my opinion for what it's worth. Didn't find the Alpenhause prescription glasses friendly (right eye shooter) but the built in ground glass is VERY useful. Workmanship was there though and his close focus mod adds to it's appeal. Heard nothing but good about Razzles (or Alpenhause and Byron)

I think for some use, there's no better option but the weight and ergonomics may not be everyone's cup of tea.

 

[thegman]

The Byron looks very good, I like the integrated film holder, it seems a lot thinner than the other types. A lot pricier though. I think for that sort of money I'd consider other types of portable field camera.

Very interesting though, thanks.

 

[EdSawyer]

I have a Chamonix Saber. It's a fantastic camera. Mine has a 120mm APO Symmar on it, which is the best lens to get for this camera. (It's what Chamonix designed it around, though others can be fitted,the APO Symmar is better than Nikon 135, et al.) Very small and light, quick to use, deadly sharp corner to corner @ f/11-16. I use it with a 6x12 horseman back, grafmatics and FP100C45 mostly. All 3 of those holders plus camera fit in a tiny bag, it's great. They are fairly rare and don't show up used very often but if they do, grab it - their value will only increase with time, as I don't think Chamonix is making them anymore, sadly.

-Ed

 

[kuzano]

As much as others "squeal" when I say this....

As much as others "squeal" when I say this....

I've built one, and dealt with most of the people who build them professionally. If I were buying one, I would wait for a used Charmonix Saber, occasionally they pop up on APUG and large format photography forum classifieds. It is on a much smaller chassis (one of those weird looking Automatic Land cameras) and usually has a Nikkor 135mm f/5.6. The Rodenstock is just okay. I'm not ridiculously impressed by it, but it gets the job done. Dean of Razzle cameras has a flickr and he's uploaded some photos from his cameras, in fact if you search flickr you can find a few photos from similar projects.

I am convinced from every picture I have seen of the Saber, that it actually uses the Polaroid Automatic chassis. After all, the Polaroid 185 and 195 high grade cameras were based on the same chassis. Those two models with the much better lenses still bring relatively high prices for a Pack Film camera without mods of any kind.

A relatively simple conversion... which others have done as well, I find the Polaroid strut system on the Automatic bodies (Three legged) somewhat flimsy, and see no way to take out the slack. Hence the Saber should be the same, and may well be a reason why Chamonix no longer makes them. By comparison to their B&B 4x5 camera's, a bit of a downgrade to the Saber.

 

[EdSawyer]

Actually, the Saber uses a completely new chassis. It's pictured on the Chamonix site. They use the 'roid strut system and rangefinder, that's about it. The strut system seems plenty rugged to me, without any appreciable slop. I believe the reason they aren't making them at the moment was the supply of donor parts was getting hard to come by (or so I heard.) It's every bit as well built a camera as any of their "regular" 4x5 models. Also, given their limited supply, values are only increasing.

FWIW
-Ed

 

[graywolf]

I would not give up the versatility of my Crown Graphic for one of those. Also the Crown is probably lighter than the ones built on the old Polaroid Roll film chassis. The ones built on the film pack chassis are probably lighter then the Crown.