4x5 Polaroid back recommendations?

[C_E]

I've got my grandfather old 4x5 graphflex SLR and id love to get a instantfilm/Polaroid back for it, can anyone recommend one and educate me about them a little bit?

Thanks,

Cole

 

[rulnacco]

Errrrr, good luck with that. *No one* makes 4x5 instant film anymore, since Fuji stopped producing it in any variety. Maybe we'll get lucky and that Kickstarter program to resurrect Type 55 film in 4x5 will actually get off the ground.

 

[z.bruce.li]

You can still use packfilm 3.25"x4.25", but there is only Fuji FP100C and limited amount of Fuji FP3000B left. Polaroid 405 holder is what I have and works.

 

[Mcary]

Pretty sure what you need is a Polaroid 545 Land film holder which can be found on ebay.

 

[rfaspen]

Yup. It is an absolute crying shame they don't make 4x5 instant film anymore. I'm not sure why either. It was plenty popular (and useful) for "professional" studio photogs as well as "landscapers". I know I used it and loved it. I would use the type (52?, 55?, can't remember) that provided me both a print *and* a negative. You would have to expose differently to optimize the quality of the print or the negative, but you'd still get one of each from each exposure that could be used. Of course, I would optimize for the negative and use it for printing later (I think most of us did that).

The Polaroid 450, 500 and 545 backs are for the discontinued 4x5 instant films. I'm fairly certain there were some others too that were 4x5 only.

I think the Polaroid 405 back will accept the still-produced pack films. The image size will be smaller than 4x5, but its still plenty useful. I don't think there's a pack film that provides both a negative and print.

Fuji also made backs, analogous to the Polaroid versions (for both 4x5 and pack film formats). You can find any/all of these backs today. In fact I think Fuji still produces their pack film back so you could get a brand new one. Otherwise, lots of used backs out there. Obviously, the 4x5 format backs are dirt cheap, and the pack film backs are rather spendy.

I really wish they'd bring back the 4x5 instant films. I have a 500 and a 545 back, both in great condition (oh, you will want to pay close attention to the rollers on a used back. They MUST be perfectly clean and free of defects -- smooth and shiny). Anyway, if the film comes back, I'm prepared to start shooting more large format. Have yet to use the 90 SA on a "real" subject. I think a 90mm on a Crown Graphic or Speed Graphic 4x5 makes a quite nice "field camera" for landscapes.

 

[Dwig]

Pretty sure what you need is a Polaroid 545 Land film holder which can be found on ebay.

• Polaroid 545 holder: used the extinct (as far as I'm aware) single sheet films (e.g. 55, 57, 52, 55, ...). Fits Graphic Spring Backs and Graflok backs along with compatibles.
• Polaroid 500 holder: same as 545 except wider roller gap and worked poorly on films sold after the early 70's.
• Polaroid 550 back: held the extinct 4x5 pack films. Fits Graflok backs and similar backs, but will not fit Graphic Spring Backs.
• Polaroid 405 back: held the 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 pack films (108, 107, 105, 668, 669, 665, 667, ...) and the similar Fuji films. Fits Graflox back and similar only. Will not fit Graphic Spring backs.

Both of the pack backs are rather thick and will not fit Graphic Spring backs nor will they fit other brand spring backs made before the early '70s. Some other brand spring backs made after the early '70s will open wide enough for the pack backs.

The Graflok backs of any age will open wide enough to swallow the pack backs and, when the ground glass is removed will accept all of the Polaroid backs holding them with the slide locks. Personally, I recommend using the slide locks even when you slip the backs in under the ground glass if you are going to pull the film through the rollers while attached to the camera. This prevents light leaks occurring during the pull.

The Graflex SLR cameras were sold with one of 3 backs. Some had a Graflex back that will not accept any of the Polaroid holders. Others were sold with the Graphic Spring back and a few with the Graflok back. Graphic Spring backs have a semi-permantly attached ground glass panel with black leaf springs screwed to the body. They only accept thin sheet film holders. The Graflok backs have chrome arms with coil springs attached to the ground glass panel and the arms can snap off from the body allowing complete removal of the GG panel so that thick roll film holders, and others, can be attached using the slide locks.

 

[vdonovan]

The good news is that you are entering a new era of 4x5 instant film. New55 PN has just become available, which is a positive/negative instant film for 4x5 cameras. It works ONLY in Polaroid 545 and 545i holders. The product is so new that it is not always in stock, but it will soon be regularly available:
http://shop.new55.net/collections/frontpage/products/new55-pn

The New55 website has resources for using and maintaining the Polaroid 545 backs.

 

[rfaspen]

Whew. The old Type 55 was expensive, this new one is possibly more expensive.

I think the best bang for your buck was 107 (no negative, but a nice print that allowed you to gauge composition and lighting). But I think it had a very high ISO (sensitivity). Am I remembering that correctly?

 

[Dwig]

...
I think the best bang for your buck was 107 (no negative, but a nice print that allowed you to gauge composition and lighting). But I think it had a very high ISO (sensitivity). Am I remembering that correctly?

Yes, the x7 and xx7 films are all B&W print only with an ISO of around 3000.

 

[EdSawyer]

in the post above, the Polaroid 505 holder mentioned is actually called the Polaroid 550 holder. The fuji versions are: PA-45 = Pola 550 holder, PA-145 = Pola 405 holder.

 

[Dwig]

in the post above, the Polaroid 505 holder mentioned is actually called the Polaroid 550 holder. The fuji versions are: PA-45 = Pola 550 holder, PA-145 = Pola 405 holder.

Thanks for the correction.