Looking for a Polaroid camera

pevelg

pevelg

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Hi,

The last few months, I have been satisfied with my collection of photography equipment and concentrated my GAS on music and audio equipment. With the release of the Impossible Project film though, I remembered the excitment I had in using Polaroid film with the Hassy 500cm and 4x5 Crown Graphic cameras I used to own. While I do not want another MF or LF camera that does great with film, I want one that will be dedicated to Polaroid, preferably the FP-3000B film. While I loved the results from Type 55, I do not want to pay an arm and a leg for film that is outdated and doesn't always develop perfectly. I would like the camera with be ability to use as much of the realstate of the Polaroid as possible (unlike the 500cm). So.... What camera do I need? I want to stay BELOW $300 and as close to $100 as possible. This is going to just be a FUN camera, to take snapshots that I can hand out. All manual mode and no meter are fair game for me. Flash is a nice but unimportant option. Easily hand holdable (Crown Graphic is too large) and ability to focus are important functions. What is the advice of this forum? Thanks!
 
Polaroid SX70. I have 2, they're great. You should be able to find them on ebay. It uses the new Impossible Project B&W film (PX 100). You could also consider the 600 camera, but it's not as classic as the SX70, however it's cheaper and probably more widely available. It uses the higher speed version of the new film (PX600).

Ernst
 
Get a Polaroid 250, 350 or 450 land camera. These are the ones with the Zeiss rangefinder whereas the other, cheaper models have a seperate rangefinder and viefinder).

You should really be able to get one very cheaply. I think I paid around $30 for mine and it wasn't necessarily a bargain. Mine actually didn't work when I got it because the wires were corroded but I found someone who fixed it and at the same time modified it for more commonly available batteries. I don't think it's very hard to do so any hobby electrician should easily be able to do it.

If you want to spend a little more you can get a 180 or 190 camera. They have a faster lens and better lens (I think around f3.4 instead of f8.8) and a manually controlable mechanical leaf shutter instead of an automatic electronic shutter. I don't know how much they go for these days, though. Definitely not cheap.
 
While you are looking for a good deal on a Mamiya Universal or Polaroid 600SE, get a 250. I've picked up a few for $10. It is auto-exposure, but a film-dial has setting for a few slower/faster emulsions that polaroid never got around to producing, so you do have a bit more control with 100 ASA packfilm. These extra ASA settings were eliminated in later models. Also, the 250 was the last of the 50's to have a steel frame.
 
I went and got a Polaroid 600. What is the difference between this model and the 600SE model? Is it just the lack of interchangeable lenses?
 
Jamie123 said:
Get a Polaroid 250, 350 or 450 land camera. These are the ones with the Zeiss rangefinder whereas the other, cheaper models have a seperate rangefinder and viefinder).

You should really be able to get one very cheaply. I think I paid around $30 for mine and it wasn't necessarily a bargain. Mine actually didn't work when I got it because the wires were corroded but I found someone who fixed it and at the same time modified it for more commonly available batteries. I don't think it's very hard to do so any hobby electrician should easily be able to do it.

If you want to spend a little more you can get a 180 or 190 camera. They have a faster lens and better lens (I think around f3.4 instead of f8.8) and a manually controlable mechanical leaf shutter instead of an automatic electronic shutter. I don't know how much they go for these days, though. Definitely not cheap.
Click to expand...

I agree here, they use film you can easily buy and they are top of the line and one level below. If you want to start more cheaply the Automatic 100 is a good call. I use one and it isn't as sharp as above but still it has been zero problems. Even the conversion to AAA batteries was easy.
 
Pavel, according to this web site, the 600 is the international version of the 600SE, with fixed lens.

http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landdcam-pack.htm

I've got a Mamiya Universal that I use just as you do, shooting Fuji 3000B, mostly for fun, but four of my pictures have been accepted into juried gallery shows as well.

Another nice inexpensive option is a folding Polaroid camera (like a 100) with a good-quality shutter and lens mounted. It makes for a very portable camera with good quality. Several people sell these conversions on Ebay, but I made my own and took it with me on a one month bicycle tour of spain:
4350928507_a2b67b71bf.jpg
 
I have two Model 250, and im quite happy with both. One is filled with FP-100C the other one with B&W or Sepia.

The 250 are easier to handle, i have tried a 350 (or was it a 450?), which is basicaly the same but with a built-in timer. It was quite hard to pull the film out of the one with the timer, but no prolem with the 250.




And just recently, i got infected with the idea that i need a 195... here at RFF. :)
 
The 250 has a three-element Glass lens, roughtly F8. It is an automatic camera.

The Model 180 has a 4-element, Tessar formula 114mm F4.5 lens. It is all-manual exposure, shutter speeds from 1sec to 1/500th. It is going to run between $200~$300.

The Model 195 has an F3.8 114mm Tessar... Is about 10 years younger (~1975), and runs a bit more than the 180.

The Electronic Timer of the 350, 360, and 450 can jam up the Fuji Packs.
 
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i just got my Polaroid 240 that i scored for $1 and it has to be the best dollar i've ever spent!

take everyones advice with the x50 pack cameras! amazing results! i'll post a new thread with my results.
 
Thanks everybody for the advice!!! I put the land cameras out of the equation as there was no variable aperture or manual controls. The 180/185/190/195 were great options, but were running at over $200 on ebay. I got the Polaroid 600 SE (but without interchangeable lenses) and after lots of cleaning and adjusting the rangefinder, the camera preforms exceptionally well. Got it for $117 plus shipping. Out of photography gear, this is the purchase I am most happy with when related to the cost vs satisfaction. After burning through six packs of film, two of which were color, within two evenings, I can say this is the funnest camera I have EVER used. I recently counted and I've owned and used over 12 manual film cameras. I don't have a flat bed scanner, so I'll try using a digi to post some of my results.
 
I have a 100 Land Camera that I've yet to get going - it cost $5- from a thrift store. I've picked up a pack of FP3000B, so just need to sort the battery. I'm trying to decide between modifying for AAA - getting 3 batteries in there looks tight, or getting the right battery from Freestyle ($11- ea.). Also, I hear there are issues with the tabs breaking, but somewhere I recall there's a simple mod with a hairpin to fix that - has anyone tried this?
 
meeker said:
I have a 100 Land Camera that I've yet to get going - it cost $5- from a thrift store. I've picked up a pack of FP3000B, so just need to sort the battery. I'm trying to decide between modifying for AAA - getting 3 batteries in there looks tight, or getting the right battery from Freestyle ($11- ea.). Also, I hear there are issues with the tabs breaking, but somewhere I recall there's a simple mod with a hairpin to fix that - has anyone tried this?
Click to expand...

I've put many AAAs cases into 100s. You just have to snip all the plasticky tabs out of the battery compartment. It takes a while and it's messy.

If you want to go the 4.5 volt battery route (there are cheaper ones online) just check that the existing battery terminals are in good shape. If they are gunky and corroded, I would just snip them off, strip the wires, tape the wires to the battery and start shooting.
 
Vince,

Thanks. Do you know a source for 3xAAA battery holders that will fit in the compartment? I realize such a beast might not exist, and you must chop down a 4xAAA.
 
Did I read that correctly,a 600 for 117$? I wish I had been that lucky.

Last weekend bought a 195 for 150E, it is beautiful but I have yet to shoot it. Also got a 103 automatic for 16E, the focus mechanism is funky and it is VERY musty. It looks salvageble though.
 
Bingo, my son works at a university and one of the departments is getting rid of 40 packs of 667 film. He is bringing them to me tomorrow, moral: befriend someone in the science dept. or at the university recycling center. I'll keep you posted.
 
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