I have been used it for quite some time. Here are my 2 cents.
This camera is a modification of Polaroid Land Camera.
1. It is a specialty camera, not your do-it-all LF camera.
If you intend to put it on your tripod, I would say forget about it, go get
a 45N2. IMO, Saber is best suited to shoot enviromental portraits. It is
never intended to be used to shoot architecture or serious landscape. I
think there are quite a few rangefinder experts here, so I will stop here. I
would say 85% /15%, 85% handhold, 15% on monopod, would be a good
distribution.
2. Why Saber?
There are quite a few folding rangefinders in the market. Start with 4X5s
Technika, Graphic that is in a different league.
For Polaroid modifications, there are infamous william litterman, and Razzle
. If your LD is as rich as AJ, go get a william litterman, otherwise razzle
is a good option. If you can not get a Saber, Razzle is as good.
Razzle pros: shift/tilt, when it folds, the lens are inside the body, finer
focus.
cons: a little bit bunky, weird focus mechanism (right hand reach out to the
focus knob away from camera body, left hand hold the camera)
Medium format folders
There are quite a lot folders in the used market, GF670 is one of them.
pros: almost everything, nice lens, quick work flow.
cons: It is medium format. No matter what ppl says, size matters. With 4X5 I
don't have to worry about grains while still enjoy the tone of my favorite
film.
I will let the experts on this board to chip in about the GF670.
One more thing Saber is certainly a very good conversation starter...(I
think it must have something to do with ZhuangBbility...)
3. Which lens to use on Saber?
In case you got one saber in the second run which will start very soon. My
suggestions is DONT use heavy/long lens, 120~135 is the range. I know Planar
135 is nice, but... Try to pick a small compact lens.
4. Will there be another run next year?
It is still up in the air, a lot of uncertainty.
Ok, to end this, I include a photo shot by Saber last summer.