Can an Early Polaroid 95 Land Camera be converted

[Steve Ruddy]

I have my fathers 95 and would love to shoot with it. I heard that if I put a film back on it I would be able to shoot 4x5 sheet film and 120 roll film. Does anyone know if this is true? If so are there any sites showing the process? I'm having no luck searching.

 

[xayraa33]

I have my fathers 95 and would love to shoot with it. I heard that if I put a film back on it I would be able to shoot 4x5 sheet film and 120 roll film. Does anyone know if this is true? If so are there any sites showing the process? I'm having no luck searching.

The roll-film Polaroid 110 series and the 900 Polaroid camera bodies have been converted to 4x5.

The lens on the 95 will most likely not cover 4x5 film at the film plane and shutter speeds are limited on that model and selecting them and the aperture worked by selecting an EV type number. The lens is so-so on the 95.

The 110 series would be my choice for conversion and that Tomioka made lens is top notch and worth while on 4x5 film.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

I think I'll keep mine original and pray someday there will be film made for it again. I think I'll buy one of those new production 4x5 cameras. I think it will be cheaper and better than a converted Polaroid. I'm surprised to hear that you think the 95's lens is so so. I found B&W photos taken with mine using off camera flash and they are sharp as a tack. They blow away any current instant film made today.

 

[xayraa33]

I think I'll keep mine original and pray someday there will be film made for it again. I think I'll buy one of those new production 4x5 cameras. I think it will be cheaper and better than a converted Polaroid. I'm surprised to hear that you think the 95's lens is so so. I found B&W photos taken with mine using off camera flash and they are sharp as a tack. They blow away any current instant film made today.

The 95 lens is so-so when compared to the lens on the 110 series, but both Polaroids have better quality lenses then what is on most current made instant film cameras.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

The 95 lens is so-so when compared to the lens on the 110 series, but both Polaroids have better quality lenses then what is on most current made instant film cameras.

When you say most current t cameras, which would be the exceptions with very good lenses?

 

[xayraa33]

When you say most current t cameras, which would be the exceptions with very good lenses?

Well, the best now would be the Fujifilm Instax series of cameras and Lomography seems to make a decent one with a good lens... but I have never used these cameras so I cannot say how good their optics are. But something tells me that they are no match for the old Polaroid 110 series or the mighty Polaroid 600 SE with those great interchangeable Mamiya made lenses.

The 600 SE model is very hard to beat for pro quality in build or versatility or image quality for a stand alone Polaroid camera of any era.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

Well, the best now would be the Fujifilm Instax series of cameras and Lomography seems to make a decent one with a good lens... but I have never used these cameras so I cannot say how good their optics are. But something tells me that they are no match for the old Polaroid 110 series or the mighty Polaroid 600 SE with those great interchangeable Mamiya made lenses.

The 600 SE model is very hard to beat for pro quality in build or versatility or image quality for a stand alone Polaroid camera of any era.

Cool, thanks for the info, much appreciated. I have an older Fuji Instax 210 and not it’s no even close to the quality of the not so good model 95. My nephew is purchasing a 300 so I’ll be able to see what it can do. Maybe I’ll try a 600SE and try and use the new 600 instant film assuming I can get it to work.