fuji packfilm in Polaroid Automatic 100

[HLing]

Just got the Polaroid Automatic 100 today. It came with the original case, instruction manual, even the flash gun and spare bulbs.

I was wondering if 1) the camera must have battery juice to function? There IS a 4.5 volt battery in the camera, I just didn't know if it needs to be changed. (the shutter clicked)

2) the fuji packfilm (FP-100 C) with its 10 instead of the polaroid's 8 sheets is cause for jamming?

Recently I had used the FP-100 B in a $5 Polaroid Minute Maker, and loved the B & W. There were no problem with the film pack. Today, with the Auto 100, (I cleaned the rollers and surrounding area) I kept feeling like I've either loaded it upside down, or...something isn't right.

Any tips and signs to look for? Looking straight on at the camera, I can see the number of the shot on the tap sticking out. Is that how it should be?

Thanks for your guidance!

 

[rjbuzzclick]

Yes, the camera needs a battery to function. The shutter will still click with a dead battery, but wont open. Open the back and look through the lens while pressing the shutter button to see if it opens. Alternately, (with a good battery) you can also hold a finger over the photo cell lens and you should get a single click (shutter opens) when you press the shutter button and a second click (shutter closes) when you pull your finger away from the photo cell. I think you can still get those batteries online somewhere. I retrofitted mine to take 3 AAA batteries which are much easier to find and cheaper too.

I've never had problems with the Fuji packs in mine, but I've only used it a few times. I have heard that the first sheet can be snug to pull out on the cameras with the timers on the back (the Auto 100 doesn't have one), but even that wasn't an issue for me on cameras with timers.

 

[charjohncarter]

Someone on the Internet had a great way of changing the the 'not available battery' to three AAA batteries. I did it and it has worked great I have two 100s and the one that I have converted is perfect. The other had a battery that is still working (unbelievable). Polaroids, unlike same camera companies (Canon) seemed design cameras that did not suck the life out of batteries.

I couldn't find the site, but I'll try again tomorrow.


I clean the rollers on mine after every pack. I don't know what you mean by upside down. If you are really that worried, I'll email you a photo on mine (just PM me). By the way FP100b is the best B&W Polaroid every made (in my opinion).

and FP100b in pinhole (homemade not an Automatic100;

The Fujifilm packs are slightly tighter so you have to be very careful with the tabs on the first couple of sheets of film.

EDIT: Here is the site just keep continuing through it and you will get to the batteries. There is a lot of other valuable information there too.:

http://www.instantoptions.com/conversions/100/

 

[aaronvb]

If you can cut and tape wires, head to radioshack and grab battery holders and tape them up and connect it to the contacts. As long as it equals 4.5 total.

Here's a photo of how I did it:

 

[rjbuzzclick]

aaronvb did almost the same thing that I did except I used a 4 AAA holder and just soldered a wire across the 4th battery slot. The only drawback to my version is I had to snip out some of the battery compartment plastic to get the new holder to fit. The door on mine still latches securely, but only closes about 98% of the way. Here's a shot of a 340 I modified the same way.

 

[K14]

Here is the site

Here is the site

Still in stock at Freestyle. ;-)

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/19531-Exell-PX19-531-Battery-4.5V-Alkaline?cat_id=201

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Mackinaw]

You can buy batteries for old Polaroids here:

http://www.filmphotographystore.com/products.asp?cat=49

BTW, the Film Photography Project folks offer a decent podcast for film users.

Jim B.

 

[HLing]

Thank you all for your replies!

EDIT: Here is the site just keep continuing through it and you will get to the batteries. There is a lot of other valuable information there too.:

http://www.instantoptions.com/conversions/100/

This is indeed well written how-to, especially with the color arrows, in keeping with how some Polaroid manuals are written. I had wanted to clean the viewers and now I might have a clue. Thanks charjohncarter!

rjbuzzclick and aaronvb, someday, I will attempt the battery conversion.....someday... yours look great!

Since I've been wanted to get a 675 battery, too, and some for fuji peel-apart film, I decided to go with K14's suggestion of ordering from Freestyle Photo.

I'd never seen the Film Photography Store site, (Thanks Jim B), but please tell me it isn't true...that Fuji is discontinuing FP-100 B !?! I have only just started with Polaroid, and this film WAS the reason.

 

[one90guy]

HLing I know how you feel, I just converted a Polaroid 110 to use pack film. The 100B was my favorite Polaroid film. And all my ordering sites are aready out of stock.

 

[HLing]

Someone on the Internet had a great way of changing the the 'not available battery' to three AAA batteries. I did it and it has worked great I have two 100s and the one that I have converted is perfect. The other had a battery that is still working (unbelievable). Polaroids, unlike same camera companies (Canon) seemed design cameras that did not suck the life out of batteries.

I couldn't find the site, but I'll try again tomorrow.


I clean the rollers on mine after every pack. I don't know what you mean by upside down. If you are really that worried, I'll email you a photo on mine (just PM me). By the way FP100b is the best B&W Polaroid every made (in my opinion).

and FP100b in pinhole (homemade not an Automatic100;

The Fujifilm packs are slightly tighter so you have to be very careful with the tabs on the first couple of sheets of film.

EDIT: Here is the site just keep continuing through it and you will get to the batteries. There is a lot of other valuable information there too.:

http://www.instantoptions.com/conversions/100/

By the way, Charjohncarter, those shots you took with the homemade pinhole camera are beautiful!

Ironically, now that I got the Polaroid Auto 100 working (the battery came in the mail), I could not find any FP100-b film any where. I loaded the FP100 C, but did not get any shot because I jammed it and wasted the whole pack. Next I tried the FP3000 b, which seem to have potential, but I'm a bit confused about the settings and am still in the middle of testing:

On the Automatic 100, there are 4 settings for speed: 75, 150, 300, and 3000. According to the manual, the 150 and 300 are for "future" possibilities. Are they in fact different though? It seemed to me that there are differences in the 4 shots that I took (3000 was way too dark, 75 was too light), but I wasn't very exact with the development time.

In any case, the automatic 100 is a lot nicer than the minute maker!

 

[charjohncarter]

By the way, Charjohncarter, those shots you took with the homemade pinhole camera are beautiful!

Ironically, now that I got the Polaroid Auto 100 working (the battery came in the mail), I could not find any FP100-b film any where. I loaded the FP100 C, but did not get any shot because I jammed it and wasted the whole pack. Next I tried the FP3000 b, which seem to have potential, but I'm a bit confused about the settings and am still in the middle of testing:

On the Automatic 100, there are 4 settings for speed: 75, 150, 300, and 3000. According to the manual, the 150 and 300 are for "future" possibilities. Are they in fact different though? It seemed to me that there are differences in the 4 shots that I took (3000 was way too dark, 75 was too light), but I wasn't very exact with the development time.

In any case, the automatic 100 is a lot nicer than the minute maker!

Thanks, the pinhole is tricky as you have to adjust the time manually. Leave the 3000 on for 3000 film, and then adjust with the lighten/darken knob. Each big line is a full stop. I have to go to about lighten 1.5 stops.

 

[HLing]

Thanks, the pinhole is tricky as you have to adjust the time manually. Leave the 3000 on for 3000 film, and then adjust with the lighten/darken knob. Each big line is a full stop. I have to go to about lighten 1.5 stops.

So..can you give me an idea of roughly what setting that (3000 at 3000, and 1.5 stop lighter) is equal to in terms of shutter speed and aperature for, say, a 400 ASA film?

Thanks!