Polaroid RF conversions to sheet film & roll film...

[bmattock]

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

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

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[Fedzilla_Bob]

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]

Originally Posted by Fedzilla_Bob

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]

Originally Posted by greyhoundman

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]

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.

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by Fedzilla_Bob

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]

Originally Posted by Fedzilla_Bob

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/Phot...id_95a_12.html

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[Fedzilla_Bob]

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]

Originally Posted by Fedzilla_Bob

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]

Originally Posted by greyhoundman

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

Yes, please!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[kbg32]

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/communit...user_id=762847.

[bmattock]

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

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[Gordon Coale]

Take a look a this page 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 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.

[Gordon Coale]

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

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by Gordon Coale

Take a look a this page 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]

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]

Originally Posted by Gordon Coale

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]

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]

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 (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]

Originally Posted by kbg32

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]

Originally Posted by greyhoundman

Now, what about colors, coverings. LOL

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

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[bmattock]

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

Maybe a Polastein?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[Gordon Coale]

Here is a post in my blog on how this Polaroid madness has changed some of my directions in photography.

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Originally Posted by bmattock

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]

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.