MF Film Packs (frame coverage)

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kiss-o-matic

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I gave a few (3) polaroids a shot over the last couple of years and couldn't seem to ever win. The cameras all had quirks and I just gave up. Before Fujifilm's instant film is totally unavailable, I'd like to give it a shot on a medium format camera w/ a polaroid back.

I need some clarification though.

Will a 6x7 cameras cover the whole frame? I know the square ones will chop it off on the sides a bit, and whether it's centered depends on the pack. I’m somewhat clueless other than that. Looking at used prices, I'd say Mamiya or Bronica is probably going to the best bang for the buck - I have Rangefinders for both and am happy with the quality. Contax and Hasselblad unfortunately out due to cost.

Any other pro tips? I'm all ears... (or eyes I guess).

Cheers.
 
No, Polaroid is 3 1/34 x 4 1/4. 6x7 is smaller. Even 6x9 is smaller, but closer.

In the Mamiya Universal system, the Model P focusing screen is an interesting accessory. It has frame lines for all these formats. From Mamiya documentation:

With the Polaroid Land pack film holder, use a Polaroid a-exposure, 3 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄4 inch Land film pack. For color photography, use Polaroid Polacolor® film type 108 or 668, for black-and-white photography, use Polaroid Land film type 107, 665 or 667

By attaching the focusing hood model P, direct focusing through the ground glass focusing screen of 3 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄4 inch format (effective picture size of 2 7/8 x 3 3/4 inch, 73mm x 95mm) becomes possible. On the ground glass focusing screen are 6 x 9 and 6 x 7 format indicating lines
Click to expand...
 
For your shopping list you might also add the Pentax 6x7, as you'll find some on the market modified with a Polaroid film-pack back, should be inexpensive.

Film gate is 55 x 70mm (2 1/4 x 2 3/4), about typical for 6x7 format cameras.
The 100-series Polaroid film-pack is about 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches, so not all the area is imaged.
 
I guess it's worth mentioning that I'd be using the Fujifilm FP-100C & FP-3000b films. I guess anything that exposes a 7cm x 7cm square (centered) is the most aesthetically pleasing... or maybe that's just my taste.

Is there anything different in the Hasselblad world if I go that route? It's never not on the list of things to check out, but at the moment not super realistic. This is a kind of grungy project I'm thinking of. Hence, the cost awareness.
 
After some research, the Mamiya Universal/Press seems like an affordable solution, if I can find the Polaroid Pack. I'm heading to Japan soon, and can get the camera substantially cheaper considering the weak yen. The Polaroid Packs not always having model numbers seems to make this a trick. Any tell tale signs I should look for?
 
+1 to the Mamiya Press.

I've shot with the Polaroid back for the Hasselblad and shooting a 6x6 shot on an (effectively) 8x11 frame is disappointing. You miss too much of the frame.

The Pentax 67 looks interesting but I think you'll run into the same issue.

Also, the Mamiya Press has lots of reasonably priced lenses and looks to be a great system.


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Cheers for that. I'm leaning towards it. It's cheap and as retro as it gets. I'll bet I could pull the fairer sex with that beast! Now to find the proper polaroid pack.
 
Perhaps of help? This thread has scans of pack film as shot using medium format (6x6, 6x7) and large format (4x5) cameras: http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00XHvV

Do you need interchangeable lenses? I can highly recommend a Polaroid 180/185 or Polaroid 190/195 if you are looking for a reasonably fast, ~35mm equivalent lens and manual aperture/shutter speed. They even have x-sync flash!

Here are some example shots taken with my 195: http://www.instantgratis.com/
 
I should have mentioned... I am doing my best to stay away from anything that folds... I also like the idea that I can throw on a 6x9 back an have that... the format I'd like but don't have. So, I think the Mamiya Universal w/ the rather hard to find but still out there P-Adaptor is going to win.

Thanks for the links though - will check them out!
 
Go for a Polaroid 600SE -- if you can find one. They also take roll-film backs via an adapter (mine has 6x7 + 6x9) and interchangeable lenses (I have 75mm and 127mm). I have no real idea what they go for, though.

Addendum: I'd sell you mine if you wanted it, but it's too much hassle to get it to Chicago from rural France. There must be someone nearer who's got one.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Go for a Polaroid 600SE -- if you can find one. They also take roll-film backs via an adapter (mine has 6x7 + 6x9) and interchangeable lenses (I have 75mm and 127mm). I have no real idea what they go for, though.

Addendum: I'd sell you mine if you wanted it, but it's too much hassle to get it to Chicago from rural France. There must be someone nearer who's got one.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

The Mamiya Universal is the prototype of the Polaroid SE... Polaroid commissioned Mamiya to build it, but they have zero interchangeable parts. The Mamiya has more lens choices (but for Polaroids the SE has way less hassle). I would get one but they are far less common in Japan (and the US even maybe). I'm going back for a visit next week, and I've already pulled the trigger on a used one and had it shipped to a friend. Getting the polaroid back was trickier, as I got one attached to a "junk" unit. Hopefully it's hassle free.
 
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