Polaroid RF conversions to sheet film & roll film... [Archive]

bmattock

05-13-2006, 17:49

I've known of several companies that do such conversions - Four Designs, Razzledog, and Littman, but this was a new one on me:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Deacon-says-CONVERT-A-POLAROID-TO-ROLL-FILM-MORE_W0QQitemZ7619118902QQcategoryZ4204QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The fella has an interesting blog as well:

http://consignedtome.blogspot.com/

I find myself interested - I have a Polaroid 110a that I bought for the lens (but perhaps I could put it back on).

Anyone done this? Gordon? Grayhoundman?

Anyway, kind of an FYI - and the Polaroid 110a and b are rangefinders, so it is even on topic (for a change).

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

remrf

05-13-2006, 18:53

I can't say the examples of photos on the listing did anyting for me but the idea has intrigued me for some time. Certainly a compact 4x5" rangefinder if done correctly. Small and light is good.

Then you could buy a Polaroid 545i back and........wait a second. :D

bmattock

05-13-2006, 19:31

Sure, but Polaroid quit making film for the 110a and 110b decades ago - so a conversion is about the only way to put these excellent rangefinders and very sharp lenses back into service. Even a 4x5 back with a 545i and thence back to Polaroid is not as crazy as it might seem at first...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

DougK

05-13-2006, 20:13

Thanks for the link Bill.

A compact 4x5 rangefinder would be a heck of a lot of fun to shoot with and a conversion would be a lot easier to carry around than a Graphic... and almost as stylin'.

bmattock

05-13-2006, 20:34

Glad you liked it. Just to give equal time:

Littman - the most 'top-end' system conversion, very expensive, but very nice:

http://www.littman45single.com/

Eastcamtech:

http://eastcamtech.com/POLAROID.htm

Four Designs:

http://www.fourdesigns.com/

Australian Wild Man, Razzledog (reminds me of our own g-man):

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/

And of course, the fellow that I mentioned in the first post.

By the way - the photos on that person's blog may not be that hot technically - but paper negs? Come on, when film is all gone bye-bye, this guy WILL still be shooting! I'm sure the quality level can be brought up - might be worth a look - just in case...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

StuartR

05-13-2006, 20:39

The problem with shooting 4x5 on location is not so much the size, but the fact that you need either a bunch of film holders, or you need a changing bag to load sheets in the dark (this is a total pain). I really wish roll film came in 4x5. I wonder why it doesn't? It seems like there are still a lot of studios and landscape photographers using 4x5, and 10 or 12 shot rolls would be really convenient. I suppose this is the niche that quickload fills...

StuartR

05-13-2006, 20:41

And while I am at it, can I say that Polaroid Type 55 p/n film is just fantastic. It scans really beautifully.

bmattock

05-13-2006, 20:43

bmattock

05-13-2006, 20:44

And while I am at it, can I say that Polaroid Type 55 p/n film is just fantastic. It scans really beautifully.

Another thing I want to try someday - if it lasts long enough...sigh!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Wayne R. Scott

05-13-2006, 21:13

StuartR

05-13-2006, 23:53

What I really need is a trained spider-monkey to load the film for me...

vodid

05-14-2006, 00:33

The ultimate polaroid, if anyone is interested, is the Konica Instant Press. The camera that Polaroid shoulda built.

jonasv

05-14-2006, 00:37

the RFF'ers that came to the Antwerp meet saw Wimpler using a Polaroid that takes 120 rollfilm.. he said it was a five minute job, and it seemed to work well (although it was a bit hard to load or so it seemed).

MikeyGaGa

05-14-2006, 04:30

Four Designs used take Polaroid 110s and convert them to POLAROID COLORPACK film. Many fashion and location photogs used them,because the Polaroid 180s were terribly expensive. In the pro shops in NYC,I have seen old colorpack camera with speed graphic lenses mouted on them.

A mechanist could probably take lets say a polaroid back for a MF camera and graft it on to a color pack body.

BTW,I remember(you guys know what an old photo-fart I am)using a polaroid film holder for 4x5 cameras which took COLORPACK film-the obvious advantage of which is economy).

If anyone is interested,I have a few colorpack camera lying around,as well as two 4x5 Grafmatics. These are push-pull operated 4x5 film holders which have 6 septume to hold 6 sheets of film,and are not much bigger than a standard holder(but heavier for sure)

Polaroid55PN was a fabulous film(Is it still available?). If you have the old Ansel Adams books you can read how he used and liked it. I recall,however that it was extremely delicate;prone to scratching,and it curled like mad-I think I had to use an Anti-Newton ring glass carrier for enlargements.

MIKEY GAGA

Simon Larbalestier

05-14-2006, 05:03

There was Polaroid type 665 film (120) which could be used on 5/4's and various 120 RF's including most of the Polaroids (185/190's 250, 350, 400 series), Mamiya Press, Linhof and Horseman - if you had the 600 Polaroid Back. Also you could get for Hassy and Rollei and some 35mm's including Nikon f3 however had to have specially made Polaroid adaptors often very expensive. Unfortunately i read that it is now being discontnued. I wonder how long Type 55 will last.................

StuartR

05-14-2006, 07:09

Simon -- it is a real shame about 665. I was thinking about getting a polaroid back for my hasselblad, but when I heard that they are stopping 665 this year (they may have already...), I decided against it. For what it's worth, polaroid's website specifically says that while 665 is being discontinued, type 55 is NOT going to be discontinued. I guess it was some machinery that was phased out and too expensive to replace. In any case, I have a feeling that Type 55 will last as long as the company itself, as it is a fairly unique offering and something that I think is still popular.

Gordon Coale

05-14-2006, 20:51

Bill -- You are a very bad man. But I think you alread knew that. :)

You got me looking at my wife's Polaroid Automatic 250. My wife wanted to know what I was doing with her Polaroid. I told here this is neat thing where you can convert old Polaroids to use 4x5 sheet film. I won't repeat what she said other than I will remain much healthier if I leave her Polaroid alone. So I started googling for Polaroid conversions. The one to convert is definitely the 110b. I found this lovely one mentioned in this thread: My first Conversion, Polaroid 110b to 4x5 (http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00FHzi&tag=). Do check out the link to the pictures of the conversion. Beautiful. I definitely want a Graflok back on a 110b body. Not only can you use sheet film holders (I have 15), but also a Grafmatic back (I don't have one yet) and a Polaroid back (I have one of these) so you could use some of the fine 4x5 Polaroid. And a Graflex roll film back will attach easily (I already have one of these) although I think putting a roll film back on a Polaroid is perhaps time not well spent given the fine multitude of existing 120 roll film holders.

Anyway, I did purchase and download the files Bill mentioned at the top of this thread. They were only $6.95 so I figured I could afford to loose that much. I did. I don't think it's worth the $6.95. He shows how to JB weld a Graflex roll film back onto the Polaroid. It's pretty crude and his concept of how to use a 4x5 film holder is even cruder. Not real usefull.

Now I think Razzledog (http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/index.html) has something worthwhile. He has a CD that he describes: 'My bi-polaroid disorder' cd, a wealth of ideas, more than a hundred and fifty images, several conversions, techniques and advice regarding polaroid cameras spanning over 5 years." I plan on getting it when an extra $45 presents itself. I can use a Graflok back 110b. Oh, yes! He also claims to have converted a Polaroid to 6x17. I want one of those too! And he also has done 6x12. Those two formats would be worthwhile for a conversion to roll film.

Damn you Bill. Here I thought I had all the cameras I needed. Little did I suspect!

Goodyear

05-15-2006, 01:10

Tne tircks Eastcamtech are upt to with a 250 look... tempting.

I have a 103 here I've been planning to hack. I like some of these ideas.

Kevin

05-15-2006, 02:56

I have been thinking of getting a larger format camera and this looks very hot indeed. That littman is beautiful. What to do?

Kragmeister

05-15-2006, 03:31

At one time I used Kodak 4x5 Tri-X "film packs". These had 16 4x5 shots, each one on a paper backing and the film base was like roll film. I still have one in my freezer with a 1989 expiration date, don't know why I didn't shoot it. When Kodak discontinued these I got a couple of Graphmatic film holders, each would hold 8 shots of standard 4x5 sheet film. Regular sheet film is easier to deal with in the darkroom because the base is thicker than that of the film packs. Still, it was really convenient to use them.

Oh yeah, RFF content, I used to use this stuff with a 4x5 Speed Graphic with Graflok back and side mounted Kalart RF.

Later,
Greg

Kevin

05-15-2006, 04:38

At one time I used Kodak 4x5 Tri-X "film packs". These had 16 4x5 shots, each one on a paper backing and the film base was like roll film.

That sounds fantastic. Can you still buy these film packs? Tri-X is one of my favorite films. If you can still buy such packs, which Poloroid conversion would be best for me? The price differences from those sites Bill mentions are large. I love the 35mm-FL on my Leica. Which lens would be similar in 4x5? 40mm is also good.

Best Regards,
Kevin

bmattock

05-15-2006, 05:21

Bill -- You are a very bad man. But I think you alread knew that. :)

[SNIP]

Damn you Bill. Here I thought I had all the cameras I needed. Little did I suspect!

Gordon, sorry, bud! I could not help thinking of you when I saw this stuff online. I've been aware of Razzledog, et al, for awhile, but then I saw the guy on eBoy and thought I should post something - hey, at least it's a rangefinder!

I'm sorry the fellow on eBoy has a disappointing download - now I feel bad. I hope you'll let me buy you a beer someday!

I've got a garage - I fear power tools but I suppose I'll have to learn to use them someday - and I guess I'll have to saw a Polaroid or two in half and see what can be done with the remnants...it calls to me...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock

05-16-2006, 05:22

Check this out!!!

http://binrock.net/cms/entries/780

Polaroid 250 with Zeiss rangefinder, lens & shutter from a Polaroid 110a, Grafmatic 4x5 film holder, man, this is living large. LF rangefinder photography, this guys is some kind of mad genius.

And a photo...

http://binrock.net/photos/p/10563

Gordon, you may continue to hate me now...I'm a VERY bad man.

And I am officially looking around for a $5 Polaroid 250. I have the 110a lens...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Fedzilla_Bob

05-16-2006, 05:36

Fedzilla_Bob

05-16-2006, 05:39

Bill, could this be due to the subliminal influence from "Good Eats?"

I've seen Alton's home kitchen set with the old Polaroid hanging out in the background and wondered about it. As much as I am wondering about the food in the show.

bmattock

05-16-2006, 05:41

How'd you know I've been watching "Good Eats?"

Oh oh, the MIB are watching me again...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Fedzilla_Bob

05-16-2006, 05:49

There was a thread last year that I remembered.

You can take off the foil hat. It's just that I have great long term memory and crumby short term. Sucky RAM.

bmattock

05-16-2006, 05:53

There was a thread last year that I remembered.

You can take off the foil hat. It's just that I have great long term memory and crumby short term. Sucky RAM.

Oh, gotcha. Yep, Alton has a Polaroid 800 on a shelf that you sometimes see when he's talking to the camera. Pretty cool.

Oh, by the way, I found the guy's 'how-to' photos - they explain much more:

http://binrock.net/photos/?rid=686

Guy's got a pretty good sense of humor, too. Another Stella brother, no doubt.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock

05-16-2006, 05:54

Bill,
I found the address. You have a 250 on the way. :)

What? Dude, you da man. Now I *have* to do this. Somehow.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Fedzilla_Bob

05-16-2006, 05:58

bmattock

05-16-2006, 06:00

Having looked at the link, I have just one comment "phenolics"

Instead of fiberboard and plywood, use black phenolic. Just wear a dust mask when cutting. The stuff cuts easily, is already black, and is more rigid.

I am all over anything called 'phenolics'. Is this going to be like "The Graduate?" Will Mrs. Robinson be involved?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock

05-16-2006, 06:10

I'm digging the carpenter's square, the hammer and the nylon plumbing screw and bolt. Real barebones camera hacking going on in this guy's garage.

Makes me want to go back to Targét to get that cheapo 1.2 megapixel camera I saw and slap it into one of the extra camera bodies I have.

CrazY! (sounds of rummaging in a gritty old tool box)

This guy did it...with Legos. Wowzer. There are a lot of very sick people out there. And that makes me a happy guy.

http://www.foundphotography.com/PhotoThoughts/archives/2005/09/polaroid_95a_12.html

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Fedzilla_Bob

05-16-2006, 06:19

I can see it now... a forum for 'roid haxors.

I like that camera in the last link. The Legos appeal is there too.

bmattock

05-16-2006, 06:21

I can see it now... a forum for 'roid haxors.

I like that camera in the last link. The Legos appeal is there too.

Well, I have to hack one first. Right now, all I have is a disassembled Polaroid 110a, a Model 800 that I dropped and broke the viewfinder/rangefinder, and (thanks to G-Man) a 250 on the way. That and Dremel moto-tool and a big mouth.

Now I'll have to see if I can actually manage to do anything with it.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock

05-16-2006, 06:26

If you want to go with standard 4X5 holders. I have a design for that. :)

Yes, please!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

kbg32

05-16-2006, 06:40

I have a friend up in Rhode Island who used to work for the famous Marty Forscher and apprenticed to his technical wizard Buddy. He does 4x5 conversions from Polaroids. Here's a link to his Pnet bio and examples - http://www.photo.net/shared/community-member?user_id=762847.

bmattock

05-16-2006, 06:58

Man, you guys...I may weep openly.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Gordon Coale

05-16-2006, 08:07

Gordon Coale

05-16-2006, 08:16

I just bid on a 250. Now, don't go and drive that price up! There are plenty to go around. :)

bmattock

05-16-2006, 08:17

Take a look a this page (http://www.photo.net/photos/Camera%20Conjurer) by kbg32's friend Noah Schwartz. Scroll down to see a modified 180, which is the same as the 250 but with a professional lens. There is a picture with a 110 in the background. They do seem to be bigger. Noah and Dean at Razzeldog seem to be snapping up the 110s on eBay driving the prices up. The 250 (cheap, cheap, cheap) does seem to be the machine if you stick a real lens on it and it has that wonderful rangefinder. Another lens option is the Kodak Ektar 127. They are plentiful. Also sold as a Wollensak. I already have one.

I've got the 127mm lens off my 110a, and we'll see if I can avoid destroying G-Man's 250 that he is sending me. I was born with ten thumbs, and they're somebody else's anyway, always flipping me off and stuff. But I'll do what I can.

I just ordered one of Razzledog's Bi-Polaroid CDs. It also has tips on converting a Polaroid J66 (also cheap) to 6x12 and 6x17. I already have a Wollensak 90 that will cover the 6x12.

Off to ebay to look for Polaroids, Grafmatics, and a Graflok back.

I have a Graflok back that I pieced together on eBoy some time ago, I still plan to put my Speed Graphic back together someday...right now it is in a tupperware container, crying and glaring at me accusingly. J'accuse...

On the bright side (get it, 'bright side'? I slay myself!) I did win an auction for a PAIR of Magic Lantern B&L petzval-style lenses. In barrel, not in shutter, but I really enjoy the look they give on 4x5. Just gotta figure this mess all out somehow.

Hack and destroy! Rend and sunder! Argh!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Gordon Coale

05-16-2006, 08:19

Bill -- I've been wanting a Petzval. Would you be willing to part with one of them? Or are you planning on a Petzval stereo camera?

bmattock

05-16-2006, 08:38

Bill -- I've been wanting a Petzval. Would you be willing to part with one of them? Or are you planning on a Petzval stereo camera?

Well, I just paid for them (Item #7617505259), so I don't have them yet. But let me get them into the lab, and see what's on the slab, and (oh wait, I'm channeling Rocky Horror again) and we can talk. Who knows, they may not even have glass in them.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

kbg32

05-16-2006, 09:12

Good luck Bill. Don't forget, a few good deep breaths before surgery always calms the hands. A good shot of scotch wouldn't hurt either.

Gordon Coale

05-16-2006, 09:56

I just bought a $5 250. The madness continues.

You don't need to have your eye right up to the rangefinder on the 250. It's nice and large. The picture is from Noah's Low Profile 4x5 Polaroid 180 Camera Project (http://www.photo.net/photos/Camera%20Conjurer) (scroll down). The 180 is the same as the 250 but for the lens. I don't think there is any reason to move it.

bmattock

05-16-2006, 10:05

Good luck Bill. Don't forget, a few good deep breaths before surgery always calms the hands. A good shot of scotch wouldn't hurt either.

Bourbon is my tipple, but yes. Sometimes I get so steady, I can hardly move.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock

05-16-2006, 10:29

Now, what about colors, coverings. LOL

Hammertone grey, of course. Hey, I'm color-blind and have no imagination.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock

05-16-2006, 10:39

Can we call it something else? That word 'roid' has kind of a negative connotation...

Maybe a Polastein?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Gordon Coale

05-18-2006, 08:51

Here is a post in my blog (http://www.electricedge.com/greymatter/archives/00006780.htm) on how this Polaroid madness has changed some of my directions in photography.

Fedzilla_Bob

05-18-2006, 08:58

Can we call it something else? That word 'roid' has kind of a negative connotation...

Maybe a Polastein?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Yeah, 'roid Haxor sounds messy

2maneekameras

05-18-2006, 11:06

I was just getting ready to take my M3 apart to fix its jammed shutter, and while it was apart to graft on the guts from my cell phone so I could have a leica phone camera WHEN I FOUND THIS THREAD LINKED ON GORDY'S Blog. I have a 110a that I hadn't gotten around to converting to a colorpack back yet. I like the graflock back idea much better. I'll be clearing off my milling machine, dividing head and rotary table to machine one of these things before I *******ize my Leica. The J66 polaroid has the same body as the 110b sans rangefinder, with a different lensboard( more like the newer colorpack cameras). These are really cheap to buy. A person could get one of these, practice adapting to graphlock without damaging a valuable camera in a failed attempt. If the conversion went well, install a better lens.

bmattock

05-18-2006, 11:25

I don't know if this information is useful, but I bought a box of old parts for a Polaroid MP-3 copy camera a year or so ago - just wanted the Tominon lens, as I recall. Anyway, I got a raft of fun parts with it that I've never found a use for, but might now. One is a 'reflex viewer hood' that has a mirror in it, converts the reversed image on a ground glass to a 'rightside up' image. I saw Horseman sold something like it for a couple thousand dolars - this was 10 bucks plus shipping. Also, the box o' crap contained a 'roll film back' for the MP-3, which appears for all the world to be a Pathfinder 110a body (heavy steel) without rangfinder or mechanism (flat top) and no door/bellows/lens/etc up front - just a rectangular opening where one could presumably mount a cone-shaped device in lieu of a bellows and then a fancy-schmancy wide-angle lens. Convert the back to 4x5 as so many have done, and it seems this would be just like Razzledog's 9x12 camera, except you don't need to cut the snout off, it is already off.

So, if interesting, just do a eBoy search for the MP-3 roll film adapter back. I can't do that from work, but when I get home, I can post a model number / photos if anyone is interested.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Gordon Coale

05-24-2006, 16:42

My Polaroid 250 arrived. Here it is with the Graflok back and Kodak Ektar 127 that will end up on it. The 250 is quite a bit smaller than the 110b. The Graflok back is usually trimmed to fit on the back of the 110b. The ground glass holder in the Graflok back is about the height of the back of the 250. I want to keep the Graflock back untouched so it's going to extend a bit above and below the 250. Now to start taking things apart and to send the Ektar 127 off for a CLA. And then figure out how it's all going to go together. It even had nice lugs for one of my neck straps (http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/).

Gordon Coale

05-24-2006, 16:57

3 fingers -- would that be on both hands?

remrf

05-24-2006, 17:17

Very cool. I think I'm feeling just the slightest onset of GAS . A compact folding rangefinder in 4x5" . OOOOOh!.

Is it done yet???????????

bmattock

05-24-2006, 18:08

I think this is going to be interesting. Bill has his. I just hope we don't end up calling him 3 fingered bill. :)

That would have been my great-grandfather, K.C. Jones. A carpenter by trade, he would not put away his power tools just because he could no longer see the boards he was cutting...

I'll try to be careful.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Gordon Coale

05-27-2006, 16:30

I spent some time today destroying my Polaroid 250. The first picture is as it was, with the back and lens that will be installed on it. The second picture are the tools needed to take it apart. There were very few screws. Some slotted and some Philips. Mostly it was drilling out rivets. And the pile of parts taken off.

Gordon Coale

05-27-2006, 16:36

Here it is ready to be transformed into a 4x5 rangefinder camera. First I will need to get the lens a good CLA then get it mounted. Then I can find where infinity focus will be and go from there. I have a good idea of how I'm going to get there but mounting the lens will give me some specifics.

The Kodak Ektar 127, on 4x5, will be equivalent to a 36mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Gordon Coale

05-27-2006, 17:07

I suspect that putting it all back together is going to take a wee bit more time then ripping it apart.

DougK

05-27-2006, 17:22

Too cool, Gordon! I can't wait to see how this comes out.

Gordon Coale

05-27-2006, 18:36

Too cool, Gordon! I can't wait to see how this comes out.

Neither can I!

Fedzilla_Bob

05-27-2006, 18:43

This is definitely a fun thread to watch. :)

2maneekameras

05-28-2006, 18:35

Here is some information about a modified polaroid 250 I got about 12 years ago. I bought it for the 90mm lens someone had installed.This lens was originally a wide angle lens for a 4X5. I took the lens off to use with my view cameras and replaced it with an old kodak anastigmat mounted in a compur shutter. There are two ways to focus this camera. The lens has a rim focusing front element. I prefer to move the lensboard rather than move lens elements to focus. I installed a temporary groundglass, made and calibrated a focus scale. I have attached a picture noting the modifications on this camera. I also have two shots of this camera next to a polaroid 110A nad a J66 for comparison.

2maneekameras

05-28-2006, 18:54

I got so excited seeing Gordy's dismantled polaroid that I just had to make one myself. I have had a modified polaroid for over 10 years and never reaaly thought much about its uniqueness. When I wanted polaroids I used my polaroid 545 filmholer with one of my 4X5 viewcameras or a speed graphic. I was in the middle of a project making a new mouthpipe for a sousaphone, when this urge hit hard. I didn't have the patience to drill out all the rivets, so I just taped and wired averything together. Here are the results: a polaroid 250 attaced to a crown graphic 4X5 body with a 260mm ƒ10 process nikkor lens. Two bellows gives lots of bellows draw, two ways to focus as well. Attached are: camera picture, groundglass image and the actual photo seen on the groundglass. Notice the graphmatic and polaroid 545 filmholder in the picture( both can be used with this camera).

Gordon Coale

05-29-2006, 09:56

I've obviously had too much time on my hands this weekend. Some more progress on the Polaroid project. I dropped in on 2maneekameras yesterday and we got the front element loose on my 127 Ektar 4.7. The slow speed range isn't working. The shutter hangs open. One option is to send the shutter out for a CLA and that needed the lens cells to come out. That was easy but the wooden lens board seems to have swollen from being in a damp storage. I will keep it in a warm dry place and see if it shrinks and I can get the board off.

I thought I would pull off the front cover to see if there is anything obvious to account for the slow speeds not working. I looked and fiddled and then quickly put it all back together. I will be sending it off to Carol Miller (http://www.flutotscamerarepair.com/). It will be $50 for a CLA and it will come back with a list of actual shutter speeds. I takes 3 to 4 weeks so it will be another month or two before I can mount the lens on the Polaroid.

In the meantime I will be filing away on the Polaroid lens board to provide clearence for the Ektar. The Kodak 127/4.7 Ektars are pretty good lenses and can be had for a reasonable amount. A 4 element Tessar that was popular on press cameras. They can be had, with some patience, for under $50 on eBay. This one was on my 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 Speed Graphic (http://www.electricedge.com/greymatter/archives/00005945.htm) that I've had for a long time. The 4x5 Polaroid will be more useful than the Speed Graphic. Not as pretty, though.

Gordon Coale

05-31-2006, 09:34

greyhoundman -- Good work!

My lens is still stuck on it's old wooden lens board. I can't get the retaining ring off and I don't want to destroy the lensboard -- yet. I'm hoping that keeping it in a dryer area than it was will help. I posted about this project at APUG and received a post letting me know that the lens on the 250, and related cameras, was a 114mm lens and that the rangefinder might not work with the 127. After a night of despair I received an email from someone who mounted a 127 on a 350 (a plastic version of the 250) and got it to work: Pink Panther Special 4x5 Rangefinder Coupled (http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00FJ7R). My despair has turned to elation. Now to get back to removing metal on the Polaroid lensboard and trying to get the lens of the old lensboard.

2maneekameras

05-31-2006, 21:15

I stripped one of my colorpack cameras yesterday. I took more parts off than Gordy. I have devised a rising front and a sideshift mount for the front standard, also a filmholder groundglass. I will probably remove the randgefinder and install an accessory shoe and use an auxillary self-contained rf that I have. the first pict shows parts removed and tools used to do so.

DougK

06-01-2006, 06:54

I love this thread... camera hacking at its finest. :)

Gordon Coale

06-01-2006, 06:57

I thought it was camera abuse.

bmattock

06-01-2006, 12:51

RF unit mounted on new film back. Made adjustable with slots in mounting plate.

RF arm on camera extended to reach new position of units lever.

Interesting that you decided to move it 'back' and not 'over' to one side. I think your solution is more elegant, since there should be no play in the coupling. How's it working?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

2maneekameras

06-02-2006, 01:53

I made the rising front hardware tonight. I used the originial fastener(3-48 screws)

2maneekameras

06-02-2006, 01:59

Here is the rising front in action

2maneekameras

06-02-2006, 02:08

The next step, fabricate the side shift mechanism. Then modify the lensboard to fit the 135mm ƒ4.5 tessar in a compur shutter. Then back construction and finally make the teak hand grip. The film may be instant the the camera making isn't.

Gordon Coale

06-02-2006, 10:23

greyhoundman,

Bill's description is right on -- elegant. Simple is always better. Now to see how the rangefinder tracks with the ground glass but you have great adjustability with that slotted top plate. I got to thinking about it and that back design would take a Grafmatic. It just may need a little more spacing for the thicker Grafmatic. Great solution.

2maneekameras

06-05-2006, 08:25

I have finished carving the teak handgrips. I won't do the final installation until the back is finished. i decided to do the back wooden transition pieces out of teak also.

remrf

06-05-2006, 17:53

I couldn't stand it any longer. :bang:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7623140782

This is just too cool not to try.

I'm going about it a little differently but will end up at the same point. I'm using the "grafloc" style film back and ground glass from my Omega E model view camera. It uses a Grafloc style sliding mount to attach to the view camera body so I will replicate the sliding mount on the adapter plate to mate to the 250 body.

I haven't decided if I will use the lens from my Crown Graphic or if I will cruise the lf lens section of ebay for a 127mm as others are doing. The lens I have is a 150mm Optar which will need some rangefinder adjustment (and possibly some additional spacing of the film back) if I go that way. If I understand the process correctly this setup while trickey is not impossible to do and I have a pretty complete machine shop at my disposal (a basic one at home and a complete cnc setup at work).

Sigh....

A hacking Gas attack......

Possibly the worst kind. :rolleyes:

bmattock

06-05-2006, 19:00

Welcome to the dark slide, er side! I am way behind, my work waits for me. But I must sell all my other cameras first. Slow slogging. Anybody want to buy a Petri Racer?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

2maneekameras

06-06-2006, 07:12

This seems like a good time to display a way to modify the focusing linkage for those who want to use a replacement lens of a different focal length than the original one. The camera on the left has the bellows extension linkage in the original configuration. The camera on the right has been modified for use with a lens of a shorter focal length. Both cameras are set to infinity. Modifications to the camera on the right: The lensboard was removed from the struts and material was removed from the top to allow mounting of a better lens and shutter. A pc flash connector was also added to the lensboard at this time and later electrically connected the the flash contacts of the shutter. The new lens had a focal length of 90mm as opposed to 114mm. With the orginal set up, the bellows would not retract enough to focus at infinity with the new lens. The struts were shortened by removing material at the outboard end. The pivot point was also changed on the lens board. I temporarily installed a groundglass at the film plane and the lens was focused at infinity with the struts diconnected from the lensboard. New holes were drilled in the lensboard and modified strut ends, to retain the assembly at this position. The focus scale was then recalibrated for this modified linkage. A viewfinder off a Polaroid J66 was installed and oriented to match the groundglass image.

bmattock

06-06-2006, 07:20

That is some really intricate and detailed work! I'm in awe, I doubt my attempt will much more than a hatchet-job - I'll be lucky if it doesn't leak light. But I'm inspired by watching it.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

remrf

06-08-2006, 20:22

Durn!!!!!!!!

One of the machine shop programs running right now where I work is producing "scrap" aluminum plates that are 1/4"x6.25"x7.25". When I saw them it occurred to me that they were about right for the outside dimensions of the adapter plate I would need to make to mount the Omega film back/groundglass assembly to the camera body. And it would be free. They have a 3/4" hole near the center of the plate but that section would be milled away anyway.

But it ain't gonna' work. I just measured the Omega back and although I could make a plate that would just slip inside the back for a light seal there would not be enough material to make the sliding lock mounting system I want to use on the project. I want to leave the Omega back free to use with both cameras so the mount system has to be non permanent.

Durn!!!!!

I don't have the 250 yet so I don't know if the surfaces that are left after cutting away the back are sturdy enough to mount a locking system on them instead. Or if that is even possible.

Come on U.S.P.S.

pixelatedscraps

03-21-2011, 20:32

Is anyone still working on their Polaroid 4x5 conversions? I've only just recently dipped my curious toes into the LF world and went from looking up a Toyo 45CF (shudder) to playing with a Crown Graphic and then to finding out about a certain Mr. Littman and his circus, to now coming back here and finding there are users making their own Polaroid 4x5 conversions.

Needless to say, I'm looking to buy one. I am a street / portrait shooter with not much need for architectural / landscape tilt/shift/swing movements so one of these would be perfect for me. Any options other than Razzle or Eastcamtechs?