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Sauve design's Vest -Vs- walter Klassen's Vest


Buster Arrieta

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Watch what you say Eric. If Daniel were to read this I think he would be quite irate at your comment. Daniel really came up with the concept. He is a steadicam operator, Walter is a world class special FX guy who also specializes in custom leather work and started off making custom harnesses for flying rigs like suspending actors in mid-air etc.

 

Daniel approached him about making a back mounted harness and they worked together for I think the next 5-7 years? Daniel really conceptualized and Walter actualized. Ultimately this meant that Walter has ended up making Harnesses of his own design since they split.

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apart from the politics though.......

 

what is your opinions on the differences? etc, the new vest is a walter. the one everyones getting (low profile arm etc)? and daniel suave is still making vests? still the same one as before?

 

im confused now.. maybe i should google this one......

 

que passa?

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Thomas,

 

Walter Klassen's company makes two "harnesses" - or vests. The Original style one, and the newer Walter Lite version. The Walter Lite version is lighter (obviously) and has a more simple door design for entry/exit. As far as I can tell, the low profile arm (with the 45 degree bend in it) is available for both vests, and can be purchased for older vests as well.

 

There was some talk of the Walter Lite not giving enough support on the upper back area, and I believe Walter has addressed this or is adressing this issue by making the upper back area of the Lite wider and closer to the profile of the original style. Other than that, I believe the Lite version does not employ an air bladder for the lower back part of the vest either.

 

Finally, the Walter Lite is less expensive than the original, due to less carbon fiber and other materials used (leather, etc.), and I assume quicker construction time. These vests are all hand made to the operator's specs/measurements.

 

I could be wrong about any and all of this. I'm going from memory, and I'm too lazy to look it up on Walter's site. You can find all of this info there though.

 

http://www.walterklassen.com/

 

I have the original style model (# 94 I think), and I love it. I only wish I could retrofit it with the lower profile arm, but I can't see spending $1750.00 or so to do it. This is the temporary price if they re-use some of your original carbon arm fittings. It's still more than I can see spending after the original $9000.00

 

Ah well... there's always something better :(

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cool...

 

so the original - the one u have - is the one still made by DSD and walter makes that as well and his new one... wicked... cheers wentwest

 

yeah there is always something better... but its because of our obsession with gadgets were in this game let alone on this forum in the first place.

 

just got a new mobile... gonna play with that now

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That should be under Vests...

 

Anyhow,

 

I think I have to jump in here...

 

ALL and I mean EVERY single one of the DSD Harnesses ever build have been build by Klassen F/X. Daniel had the idea and Walter made it happen. As the set up was up to the split, Klassen F/X build the Vest and DSD bought the Vests from Klassen and Sold them under the DSD (Daniel Sauve Design) logo.

 

Still the Maintenance, Repair and Sale was done/managed by Klassen F/X.

 

The Latest Vest Design "the Deluxe" and "the Lite" are evolutions of the original design and are sole owned by Klassen F/X. (The sliding back, the new style Carbon fiber arm, the bladder, etc.)

 

The latest that I heard was that Daniel will come out (very soon as I was told) with his own version of the Backmounted Harness, still named the DSD Harness. Then there will be 2 choices for Backmounted Harnesses out there...

 

Klassen F/X, as the original Manufacturer of the original Harness, will honor all warranties and repairs on the original DSD Vests, as well as, of course, all Klassen Deluxe and Lite...

 

Just a note...

 

Erwin "Don't make me come back..." Landau, SOC

www.landaucamera.com

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
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Hi Guys

 

In fact all the Klassen vests have airbladders in the back - these alone make such a big differnce in the overall comfort. (the Deluxe - the Lite and the Genesis)

 

We (MK-V/Klassen) have also devolped the entry level Genesis harness - this harness also can be used for body mount shots with the 'Far out' System and also as an "easy rig" type support for hand held work.

 

These will be on demo at Cinegear 2004 - you are very welcome to come and try the whole range of vests.

Hope to see you all soon.

All the best

 

Howard J Smith MK-V

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  • 5 months later...
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Erwin:

 

Not true about all vests being from Klassen.

 

Daniel built a vest for me that he delivered January 2004. This was well after the split with W.K.

 

Daniel worked very hard to deliver on a tight schedule and produced a very handsome product.

 

Regards,

 

Neal Norton

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Hi Neal!

 

Erwin, unfortunately no longer contributes to the forum....(He might still only read from the forum though??? I'm not sure). He's another victom of a flame war. I'll mention your post to him though so he at least knows you posted.

 

Fortunately both Erwin and Dan Kneece (another op who no longer posts here) almost never miss a Steadicam Guild Gathering.

 

BTW: Dan Kneece, IS NOT RETIRED! Someone started that rumor.

He's Yeeears away from that.

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