Any Razzle or other 'compact' 4x5 users out there?

Wow ... I forgot about this thread.

I seriously considered a Razzle for a while but eventually realised I really do like using my Crown Graphic for the occasional foray into 4x5. 🙂
 
Free model 95 + $61 in plastic and a back from Ebay:

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And Arista EDU ultra 400 (4x5):

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Has anyone done a Polaroid 4x5 conversion? I'm thinking about buying a cheap 900 model and modifying it (I would never pay $$$ for someone else to, and the 110B is pretty expensive but if I can find one at a thrift store or something I'll try one of those). I've been shooting some 4x5 with a speed graphic but I don't see the point of carrying that thing around when the movements are so limited. I've done a bit of research into how I would go about modifying a 900, but I'm not all that techy of a person, so hopefully it'll be a fun and educational experience. If anyone else has tried this, some advice would be great.
 
I'll soon be working on a Polaroid 800 9x12 cm conversion. Will post images when it's in progress. 9x12 (a bit smaller than 4x5 inch) is widespread here in Europe, and I suspect the film holder will fit the body nicely. There are some very nice conversions out there to get inspired by.

Keytarjunkie - a word of caution: I read that the 900 is not so suitable for conversion due to a focus bed that is different from, say the 150, 95, 800 and 110. Don't take my word for it. But check it out before buying.
 
Alpenhause converts as well and theirs look pretty slim, well slimmer than other conversions out there. He can also mod them so they focus closer but the rf patch can be tricky to use if this is done.
 
mgd711 said:
Dean (Razzledog) sell's kits now to make the conversion even easier. Send him a mail, I believe they are not so expensive.
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Still waiting to hear from Dean, I'm not interested in buying a camera from him (college student budget) but having some parts to make it easier to do myself would be great.

RFH said:
Keytarjunkie - a word of caution: I read that the 900 is not so suitable for conversion due to a focus bed that is different from, say the 150, 95, 800 and 110. Don't take my word for it. But check it out before buying.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I don't like the dual-style window of the 110A (and 800 I think?) but a 110B is out of my price range unless I can find one locally. I'm thinking I'll buy a few cheap ones - a few 900s and a few 110As - and throw them together. If that's possible. I'm probably going to rip out most of the camera when I get it anyway, I know the rangefinder is a tricky little tool to work with, but I'd rather make the focus bed myself (or use parts from the 110 series), I don't even know yet. It'll be a fun project haha. 😀
 
Well, an update: Dean no longer sells kits or any spare parts, he's only doing conversions. And I bought a 160 and stripped it down today; I'm going to transfer over a 900 rangefinder and possibly a 110-series lensboard so I can easily mount another lens on there. I really hate the idea of using a graflok so I'm going to just have some kind of small mount for a double holder. Does anyone know if there's such a thing as a focusing screen in a box the size of a double film holder? Just so I can get the focusing down, or if I need to use a focusing screen. Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68C8YlnegOM&feature=related#t=3m47s
Maybe I'll start a new thread if this project really goes somewhere.
 
Don't forget the 120....

Don't forget the 120....

If I recall correctly (Iv'e had 2) the Polaroid 120 is equipped the same as the 110B, but it has a Yashica Yashinon lens, which is equally good compared to the rodenstock ysarex. It's also a 127mm focal length.
 
I posted on this thread a year ago and have owned the Razzie for a bit over a year. The Razzie really is the perfect 4x5 camera if you only do full length portraits. To really appreciate the Razzie you really need to have spent time doing portraits with a traditional large format camera. Handheld is no problem at all. But if I want sharp I still use a tripod.

My other folder is a Voigtlander Bessa RF which is a 6x9 roll film camera. The Bessa will do the same thing as the Razzie unless you want to do 4x5 contact prints. If you scan and ink jet output then i don't see the need for handheld 4x5. The reason i want to shoot 4x5 is for the quality and you can't get it by shooting handheld but if the kind of quality you want is not sharpness but tonality then this is a must and to fully appreciate all that b/w goodness there is not other way but to contact print.
 
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kuzano said:
If I recall correctly (Iv'e had 2) the Polaroid 120 is equipped the same as the 110B, but it has a Yashica Yashinon lens, which is equally good compared to the rodenstock ysarex. It's also a 127mm focal length.
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It seems as if the 120 is even rarer and more expensive than the 110-series! But thanks, I'll keep it in mind in case one pops up. Really, I'd take anything that can mount onto those rails.

Ray, do you have any photos you've taken with the Razzle that you'd like to share? 🙂
 
I'm posting updates to my polaroid project on my website blog, here.

Yesterday I cut down the lensboard and front standard, and fit a Rodenstock 150/6.3 Geronar onto it:

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I also cut off the back and the left side of the camera which both just get in the way of operation:

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The hardest part is going to be recovering it with leather....no wait, it's going to be designing and attaching the 4x5 back...no wait, it's going to be calibrating the rangefinder....😉
 
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