My Polaroid 900/160 Conversion

[keytarjunkie]

Well, I figured it was time to start my own thread.

First, a photo of the camera itself:



It folds up nice and neat, a very compact package:





The back of the camera was entirely designed by me (which is why it looks so rough! LOL), the most important part is the grips which hold on the standard double darkslide, but I'll talk about the design in a minute.



There's also a secret storage compartment, I wish I had a light meter or something convenient that fit in here...



Okay. I guess I'll start with the design. This camera has no tilts, shifts, etc. and cannot accept any other back than a standard double darkslide. Some people might think this is crazy. But, then again I don't think a 4x5 rangefinder is for them. In my opinion, the whole idea of a 4x5 with a proprietary viewfinder is to be as convenient as possible. You don't want a system that requires you to use ground glass for every photo. If you did, you'd be shooting on a tripod with a viewing hood and all sorts of crazy stuff. And that's cool, I like shooting 4x5 that way too.

This camera does not belong on a tripod. I think that's the most important part for me. I'm a young photo student (well, not even a photo student) and I still find shooting 4x5 to be a little uncomfortable. I love the quality but I'm not a fan of the time it takes. Don't get me wrong, I love taking time to make the photograph (example), but for certain things it's just not practical at all. I wanted a large format camera that did away with all of the conventional aspects of large format photography, and was simply just a camera. So that's why the back is small enough to only accept double darkslides...it's one of the smallest backs I've seen designed for this type of project. Most people bolt a graflok on there and it's really bulky. I used springs (scraps from the camera back) and attached them to L-shaped aluminum pieces, and attached those onto the back of the camera. They stick out a bit, but it's the best I could come up with.

I'd also like to talk about the process of building the camera.

I started with your typical Polaroid 160 camera:



And a Polaroid 900:



The 900 has a wonderful rangefinder (not by Leica standards, but just in the sense that the rangefinder and viewfinder are actually in one window), but the body has an electric lens and is a bit crappy. The 160 on the other hand, as a crappy viewfinder and a really nice body. The 110A and 110B are best, but hey this is what I had. I also had a few lenses in mind, but the only simple way to do this is to stick with the stock 127mm Rodenstock so that you don't have to modify the cam to fit with a different focal length. So I stuck with the Rodenstock.

I took apart the 900's rangefinder:



And started to scrape away at the 160's sticky leather:



And gutted the inside of the 160:

[keytarjunkie]

The film back is made out of some obscure olympus 4x5 microscope adaptor, a $20 ebay score:



Once all the leather was off, I cut down the back of the camera and started to get a sense of where I wanted the film plane to be:



I built the front standard (this was before I found the Rodenstock):



Aaand found some spraypaint



Cut down the 4x5 back and measured it to be where I wanted it:



Applied some freakin strong glue! And attached the new leather.



Designed the clamps:



Made a few test shots:



And then basically decided I was ready to go! Here are some of the images I've taken with it over the summer. Unfortunately I'm still waiting on my ground glass screen which I cracked so the rangefinder isn't calibrated, but I just scale focused.











The Rodenstock has enough sharpness to be acceptable and yet is so dreamy wide open at short distances! I can't wait to calibrate the rangefinder and use this on people. It will be so much fun.

I probably spent a grand total of $100 on this project. And many, MANY hours. But it was worth it. I'm not a very technical person, but I set my mind to it! Hope you enjoyed the photos.

[planetjoe]

KJ:

That's a sweet little conversion, and you used the right cameras for it. The door-mounted knob of the 160 is the key to ease of use, IMO, and it's the only 100-series that has the right RF post for direct swap.

I think the secret to doing one of these is finding a back donor like you did; I'd never seen the Oly adapter before! Was setting the film place/infinity a difficult task? I suppose you set it with ground glass focus?

Right now I'm seriously thinking about simply fabbing my own graflok plate (groove, traps, etc.) because eBay has become a $#@!show when it comes to "$$$*** P0laroid C0nversi0n! ***$$$" parts.

Nice images, too, by the way.


Cheers,
--joe.

[keytarjunkie]

Originally Posted by planetjoe

KJ:

That's a sweet little conversion, and you used the right cameras for it. The door-mounted knob of the 160 is the key to ease of use, IMO, and it's the only 100-series that has the right RF post for direct swap.

I think the secret to doing one of these is finding a back donor like you did; I'd never seen the Oly adapter before! Was setting the film place/infinity a difficult task? I suppose you set it with ground glass focus?

Right now I'm seriously thinking about simply fabbing my own graflok plate (groove, traps, etc.) because eBay has become a $#@!show when it comes to "$$$*** P0laroid C0nversi0n! ***$$$" parts.

Nice images, too, by the way.


Cheers,
--joe.

The Olympus back was really my lucky day. Without it, I don't know if I could have really done this project! I don't know how common they are but I haven't seen another one starting at 0.99. There is one on ebay right now with a viewing hood thingie for $125 or best offer. I think you could find another one for cheap eventually, and I'm sure olympus wasn't the only one to make 4x5 microscope adaptors.

In order to properly set up the film plane, I figured out about how far the flange focal distance was, then figured out where the film had to go in order to not really be vignetted by the polaroid's smaller bellows, and then once I attached the back I readjusted the front standard to be a bit farther back (with ground glass of course). I would have liked to have the front standard and the back of the camera farther forward (so that the back doesn't stick out as far), but the closer it gets to the bellows the more area you lose around the edges of the film. I don't think I'm losing any right now, which is how I want it!

[pinkarmy]

always want one like this.
i wish i am as handy.

[Harry S.]

My gosh! Im very impressed. A 4x5 folder RF would be a camera Id buy in a heartbeat if someone was crazy enough to mass produce that!

[Atom]

Love this! Makes my old speed graphic a honkin' beast in comparison! Great work on making a wonderful camera. Awesome potential, looking forward to seeing more images. Any chance a Polaroid back will fit in there? I forget if they are thicker than a standard film back.

[MikeL]

Nice work Keytarjunkie! I have a Razzle 900, and I've been thinking about converting another to have some tilt and shift. I like the back clips. Might be easy to modify/adjust to handle a Grafmatic?

As for this:

Originally Posted by keytarjunkie

There's also a secret storage compartment, I wish I had a light meter or something convenient that fit in here...

You might check out some ideas mentioned here:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/989437/

[planetjoe]

Originally Posted by keytarjunkie

... I figured out about how far the flange focal distance was, then figured out where the film had to go in order to not really be vignetted by the polaroid's smaller bellows, and then once I attached the back I readjusted the front standard to be a bit farther back ...

Awesome, awesome. Yes, more photos, please!

There are folks (Dean Jones/Razzle is one) who have made a handy living making really very nice pieces of kit using these techniques. Their gear is very expensive, and generally you get what you pay for (well, sometimes; Dean's stuff is very nice, and may be an exception).

The irony, though, is that the conversion is actually quite simple in practice, and doesn't have to look great in order to work well. Your example here, though, shows a lot of care. Nice leather work, etc.!

Summary: anyone who wants to do this probably can. And should.


Cheers,
--joe.

ps. I realize that I'm stoking the fires of a price rush on Polaroid gear, which I regret as an unapologetic collector of said gear. Oh, well.

[Jamie123]

Looks great! I have a 110A on the way which I want to do a packfilm conversion on. Unfortunately I think I overpaid on it as the lens doesn't seem to be in the best condition. I might have to get another one further down the line and replace the lens.

[keytarjunkie]

Originally Posted by MikeL

Nice work Keytarjunkie! I have a Razzle 900, and I've been thinking about converting another to have some tilt and shift. I like the back clips. Might be easy to modify/adjust to handle a Grafmatic?

As for this:


You might check out some ideas mentioned here:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/989437/

HAHAHAH! Thanks for the ideas.

If I had a Grafmatic, it would be perfect! I could definitely modify or create a different attachment piece that accomodated for the size of the Grafmatic. Just gotta be able to afford one first...

[RFH]

Good work and a very nice result.

[CK Dexter Haven]

Originally Posted by Harry S.

My gosh! Im very impressed. A 4x5 folder RF would be a camera Id buy in a heartbeat if someone was crazy enough to mass produce that!

Me too.
Every few years i convince myself i'm going to get a Razzle, and then the idea fizzles away.

Well done, though, friend. I wish i had the ingenuity and skill to make one myself.

[keytarjunkie]

Thanks guys. This camera is so fun, I regrettably haven't had a lot of time to use it, but I'm going out today with three sheets of film and two 4x5's so hopefully at least one sheet will be with the rangefinder

[Matus]

You did a great job. Do I see it correctly that you shortened the body? The Rodenstock lens - is it the Geronar 150/6.3 ? Looking forward to see more results

[citizen99]

Awesome and inspirational!

[keytarjunkie]

Added a cable release today!