Old Polaroid rangefinders anyone use?

Rob · 07-08-2004

I have been playing around with the old Polaroid rangefinder
cameras like the model 250 I had, and 101 which I have now.
They fold out with a bellows and have auto exposure.
I find these dirt cheap locally. The 101 cost $8 with instructions
and hard carrying case. Usually the batteries have died but both
of mine had good batteries. They take a weird one
you can still get, or you can convert them to a modern battery.
I have tried color film in it and the colors are pretty muted and I dont care for it.
I tried some of the Negative/positive B&W film and it is pretty
neat. It gives you a print(not the best resolution) and a
huge high resolution negative at the same time.
Just wash the goop off the negative and soak it in some chemical
to harden it and its done.
Amazing that this technology is about 40 years old!
Anyone else using these cameras?
Rob

Brian Sweeney · 07-08-2004

About 10 years ago these cameras filled the thrift stores at $1-$10 each. I picked up almost about a dozen or so... But the ones that I use have the Zeiss Finder that your model 250 had. I even found that a Zeiss finder could be put on the Model 100. The 100 has that "indoor without flash" setting. I even keep a 100 with close-up lenses at work for use in the Lab.

At home I still use my "Pack Camera", and have the (almost) top-of-the-line Model 180. It is all-manual with an F4.5 Tominon Lens. Found it and all of its accessories for $100 in an antique store. I also use my Model 450 with it's "focus-Flash"; but I am almost out of GE High-Power Flashcubes.

Polaroid makes a higher-contrast, type 690, color film for the pack cameras that you might try if you do not like the standard "669". I have a Ritz outlet near the house and can typically get 669 film for $4 a pack.

Rob · 07-08-2004

I will check out that 690 film but no way can I get it locally
for $4 a pack! They got any B&W polaroid at that Ritz outlet?
Oh the B&W negative is about 6x7 aprox in size..
Wish I had a way to scan it, it looks sharp. I took a picture
of my 1953 Zenith tube powered Trans-Oceanic radio, looks neat.
The best of these cameras had metal bodies, tripod mount,
zeiss rangefinders and glass lenses..

Todd.Hanz · 07-08-2004

Check out these sites for alternative ideas

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

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/polaroid.html

and especially this one -http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landhome.htm

I passed on a 110B converted to Pack Film with a Rodenstock lens a week ago, I think it went for around 275.00. These cameras use current polaroid film. Type 665 gives you a print and a negative in 4x5. When I was shooting a lot of 4x5 I would use this film and scan the negatives, they are amazing when comapred to even Med. format negs.

Todd

Brian Sweeney · 07-09-2004

Only Polaroid would change the neck strap on a camera and give it a new model number.

I have also seen the automatic Pack cameras converted to manual by replacing the CDS cell with a manual variable resistor.

Rob · 07-09-2004

I just looked on Ebay to check the prices of Polaroid 110b
rangefinders. They used to go for cheap money, now a
non converted one goes for $150! I know where there is
a 4 designs converted one I could get for about $200.....
Hmmm....anyone shoot the 110 series converted camera?
Does it take the regular size prints or 4x5 prints?

Todd.Hanz · 07-09-2004

I think it takes 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 size prints on type 665 film. If you want to go 4x5 and you have the money check this out http://www.littman45single.com/
A little pricey for me but it is set up right. I thought about converting one of mine but with all the cutting and grinding and recalibration and sealing and yada, yada, yada you might as well buy a Speed Graphic or an old folder in 6x7 or 6x9 format. I still would like one of the converted 110B and will one day get one, once you dabble in large format negs it's hard to go smaller.

Todd

Rob · 07-09-2004

I just found a website for a camera repair shop that uses the
back from a Polaroid model 250 or similar, cuts the back off a
110b and attaches it to it. Looks simple enough...
Now to find a 110b, I find many old polaroids like the 250 all
the time...

hughjb · 07-09-2004

I believe that the reason because those are are starting to get pricey is that Polaroid is now offering the NPC 195 pro camera, is takes 600 type film but is has a view camera lens.

Last month I purchased a 195 (old model), which was a 250 with a Rodenstock lens, the quality of the images was truly amazing from al old unit, later on I returned the camera because I also found a Linhof field camera that I really wanted with a polaroid holder so the took the polaroid 195 at full face value.

The camera if you wanted is still at Penn Camera at the Vienna location in VA. The address is www.penncamera.com

One little caveat, I like to shoot polaroid negative BW film, which is a little hard to scan due to the odd size of the negative.

Regards

Hugh

Rob · 07-09-2004

I see that the NPC 195 sells for about $750 new.
I see that the old 195 sells for $200-$600 on Ebay.
I could get a 4 designs converted 110b for about $200 locally.
Or find a 110b and make my 101 back fit it for cheap.
That negative is too big for my enlarger but I could print a
6x6 section so in camera cropping I would have to remember,
or get a scanner that can handle a neg that size. Or a bigger
enlarger(not likely). Thanks.

Todd.Hanz · 07-09-2004

Epson 2450 and it's succesors have a 4x5 neg holder and does a great job on med-lrg format negs.

hughjb · 07-09-2004

Todd,

I have the 2450, the MF adapter is too small and the 4x5 too big,

, the film size is somewhere between a 6x7 and 4x5, you can solve the problem by cutting the neg to size with a rotary trimmer, an x-knife or customizing a holder for it.

Hugh

hughjb · 07-09-2004

Rob, the difference on those is going to be on the lens, the one that I got was the "195 Pathfinder", it come with a Rodestock 127mm 4.5 lens and the shutter assembly is all house on the lens.

I paid 350.00 for it.

Hugh

jdos2 · 07-09-2004

I have a Polaroid 110 B that someone converted back in the 80's- by hand. It's ugly, to say the least, but extremely functional. I like to bring it out in groups of people- it seems to epitomize the old fashioned camera mistique, and people are genuinely interested in seeing the pictures from it- even those that typically don't like their picture taken.

Oh! And it was a package deal- I got a regular 110 with it (still roll Polaroid) for $40.

It's nice. I've heard that there's a magnet in the shutter on some that have lost their magnetism, but don't quote me on that. I must say, though, for a 45 year old camera, I'm lucky to have one that works very, very smoothly.

JD

Rob · 07-09-2004

The NPC and the old 195 seems to have Tominon? lenses.
The Polaroid Pathfinder 110b that is converted has the
Rodenstock 127mm F4.5 lens on it with shutter assembly
all housed in the lens. Here is one conversion using two
cameras to make one.
http://www.eastcamtech.com/Pol110B_Work.htm