My Polaroid 110A / 600SE conversion

[Ezzie]

A friend sent me an old 110A, believing I could revive it to actually taking pictures again. I pondered on many 4x5 conversion solutions, ending up looking long and good at Noah Schwartz´low profile back, very slick. I did however end up taking an easier route, grafting a Polaroid 600SE back adapter to the 110A, making it almost as versatile as anything with a Graflok back, only slightly smaller Can now mount just about anything up to 6x9 in 120/220 with the right adapter, not to mention Polaroid backs (like the CB103 pack film back on her now), and even 4x5 (though not covering the frame completely).

The hardest part was manufacturing the adapter plate. I made one that both functions as a mount for the adapter, but is also the side wall of the camera (where the end has been chopped off). The film plane has as a result of the plate and the 600SE adapter been moved back an inch or so, so the end stop for the lens has been moved back correspondingly.

The camera was a bit worse for wear, so she´s been given a good going over. The Ysarex in Compur #0 shutter was a bit gummed up, so exchanged for a Tominon in Copal #1 press shutter. Needed to widen the mount for that. I recovered her in Cameraleather green composite leather (comes in sheets). The top cover has been chopped too, filled, sanded and painted cream. I think she looks quite nice.


Polaroid 110A conversion front #2 by Eirik0304, on Flickr


Polaroid 110A conversion front #1 by Eirik0304, on Flickr


Polaroid 110A conversion back #3 by Eirik0304, on Flickr


Polaroid 110A conversion back #2 by Eirik0304, on Flickr


Polaroid 110A conversion back #1 by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[OlliL]

Stunning conversion!
Great job

[timor]

Ezzie, would you be willing to contact me ? I am trying to convert Land Camera 700 to take 4x5 holder and I would have a few detailed questions ?
My e-mail: timorttt@gmail.com
Thank you.

[beyond]

Beautiful.

[Ezzie]

Thank you.

Found great inspiration from Nate's creations (Option8, Polaroid Conversions). He is also a very staunch advocate of the fact that these cameras were built to take instant film and any conversion should keep this in mind. In a sense I agree, which is why I finally landed on doing a conversion primarily to continue using it for Polaroids.

Also got advice and the CB103 back from Tony Sansone, a great guy. Buy anything from him and he'll not only supply you with the goods in as new condition, he'll give you explicit intructions on how to use it and where it fits in the greater scheme of things (the Mamiya Press / Polaroid 600SE 'verse). When I need more adapters and Polaroid backs, rollers etc, I know who I'm going to call.

[shadowfox]

Eirik, you don't happen to have a spare darkslide for the 405 back lying around, do you?

Beautiful conversion.
I never get around to cut and put the hinged grip back on mine.

[Ezzie]

Thank you Will. Sorry to say I've not a darkslide the 405. I see they do pop up on ebay, but often for much more than they are worth really.

[Ezzie]

Originally Posted by timor

Ezzie, would you be willing to contact me ? I am trying to convert Land Camera 700 to take 4x5 holder and I would have a few detailed questions ?
My e-mail: timorttt@gmail.com
Thank you.

Hi there

If you have questions, send me a PM - no problem. Though I'm not sure I can help. I've not performed a 4x5 conversion yet, though I have read up a bit on the subject.

[Ezzie]

Second test shot:


Mailboxes by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

I think FP3000B with a lens with minimum aperture f45 and 1/125s shutter at its fastest can be a bit of an challenge without a filter or two. Daylight at 1/125s requires apertures of f64 and more it would seem. That and the fact that I think the 1/125s is more like 1/60s. Need to do some testing evidently as most of the shots from the first pack are over exposed.

[Ezzie]

With FP100B it shines. Even if I did miss the exposure a bit. Could have done with a stop more to avoid the blacked out shadows. But then again, would have left me with a blown sky.


Umoe by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

A recalibration of the rangefinder was needed. Scale focusing at f16 and above worked fine, accurate focusing for larger apertures missed the mark.

Though shot at 1/15s handheld, I think this shows I have got it more or less right. Focused on the clutch of leaves growing out of the leg. DOF is approximately 6cm at this distance and at f4.7.


Mossy tree by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

Just a picture to show the advantages of having interchangeable backs. Both Polaroids taken on the same walk, 5 minutes apart.


Lucy the hybrid #2 by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[lynnb]

Wow, Eirik. Beautiful looking conversion, and great results.

[Ezzie]

Thank you Lynn.

[3rdtrick]

Erik,
Great job on the conversion. I just picked up a mint Model 800 with the thought of converting it. Unfortunately it seems that the 800 is not the best choice for conversion. That is OK, I only paid $3 for it. Still it gives me a good feel for that style of camera. With the hand strap, there is no way to carry it around your neck or over your shoulder. What do you do on your walks?
Thanks,
Pete

[Ezzie]

Hello Pete

I use the hand strap only. With the camera open the fingers reach around the front and into the well. Quite comfortable really, its still heavy but not that bad. Even with the CB-103 back the camera is a far sight lighter after the conversion, you wouldn´t believe the amount of metal that has been binned. I will post a shot of some of the parts removed, chopped off etc. At least a pound or so of steel and aluminium.

[Ezzie]

Been working on the cabin all summer, so little time for photography or much else. Will start work on adapting a Graflex 23 to mate to a 600SE mount during the next few weeks. Until then I am still happy with FP100B, FP3000B and as here, FP100C:


Storm brewing by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

Rear view of the Graflex 23 Graphic back on camera. An adapter plate for 600SE (and the bigger Miniportraits and Polaroid copying cameras) mated to the back. Needed to grind out a 3.2mm deep trough in the adapter in order to get the film in plane. A bit of work, but not difficult.


Lucy with 120 back by Eirik0304, on Flickr


I've been asked why I just didn't get hold of a G-mount and an RB67 back, or an M-mount and a Mamiya S shaped 6x7 or 6x9 back. No work needed. Well, I wanted a 6x9 back, and the S shaped Mamiya backs are very good, but they would get in the way of using the viewfinder. And the RB backs only go up to 6x7. Hence this workaround.

[Ezzie]

Works too. Kodak Portra BW 400CN, 8 years over expiry, in Caffenol-C-H (a first too).


6500:3 by Eirik0304, on Flickr


Summer has gone #20 by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

From the Tominon in a Copal press shutter. Two issues really. Not particularly sharp, as it is optimised for copying, not field work. The press shutter, though has nice self cocking feature, is slow. Not only is the top speed 1/125s, but it was indeed more like 1/60s in real life. One word for that: ND filters.

So swapped it for an Ektar in Synchro Compur shutter, which goes up to 1/400s (in theory).


Lucy with Ektar by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

Not sure I´ve been able to collimate her 100%, but at least she works very nicely from f8 to f32.

Delta 400 in Caffenol

Outhouse by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[Ezzie]

Indeed focusing was off, back focused quite a bit. Evident on slower films because of the bigger apertures needed.

Moved the lens forward by a single mm. And performed the following test.


Focusing test by Eirik0304, on Flickr

The back of the Photography Encyclopedia is in plane with the bottommost Asterix volume, The Lord of the Rings with the 5th volume, the outer two volume 10 and 13 respectively.

More background data:
The volumes are tiered 10mm in from the one below, 130mm in total bottom to top.

Shot a f4.7, distance 91cm from front of lens, 107cm from film plane (approx). DoF approx 58.3mm, 28.4mm in front of subject distance, 29,9mm behind. Which should mean that the same number of volumes are in focus above and below the one IN focus.

A bit dark (my two kids got bored of holding the dark background up - made do with the one shot), but can you guess which Asterix volume I focused on, and did I get it right?

[paulfish4570]

this stuff is so stinking cool ...

[Ezzie]

Thank you Paul. My everyday camera. Not the easiest to use, not the most compact (or light), not the most convenient focal length, not the best results, but I do like it. It's versatile, sort of. With interchangeable backs, both 120 and Polaroid, it can do things others can't. May look into adapting it for interchangeable lenses. But then again I'm working on a Super Wide which can use the same backs. Could be quite a pairing.