Polaroid Thread

Do you have a cold clip? Im sure they can't be much on the 'bay. Just keep it in your back pocket, let it get warm. Once you shoot an exposure sandwich it in the cold clip and throw it back in your pocket.

With peel apart (fuji) I find that temp isn't as much of a factor. Just try not to keep it extreme. Like leaving a shot to develop in -10c or something. Or walking around for hours in freezing cold with your camera out chilling away.

In my experience a little cold isnt going to hurt the film. You have much more temp sensitivity with the older impossible films than the fuji peel apart.
 
My Land Camera has a cold clip on the back I can use. I also have a padded wind resistant messenger bag I use in the winter to carry my gear, I could add a neoprene sleeve to it that is small enough to hold some film and keep it from getting too cold.

I don't know how often I'll go out in really cold temps but I do shoot out in the winter semi-regularly. I've not had instant/Polaroid access previously, just film.

I pretty much use the Fuji peel apart stuff for the most part but I do use some Impossible films (which I hate to use since they are so pricey) and I carry expired 600 films with me for artsy stuff since they are usually too expired to be functional for proper photos.
 
Maybe on those really cold days keep a hand warmer on standby to throw in the bag to keep the temp inside the bag above freezing?
 
That's a good idea! Since the bag is closed most of the time it would keep the temp in there nice and warm. I'll have to do some temp tests to figure out the best location for it so it doesn't burn or melt anything including the films. I haven't used a hand warmer in a while but i remember them getting pretty warm. I've considered carrying them for my coat pockets when shooting so my fingers warm up and can work the buttons on the camera.

But that's a great idea for the camera bag!
 
Godfrey said:
Batteries for the Polaroid Land 350 arrived yesterday.
Shutter and exposure meter seem in perfect working order.

Loaded my test pack of Fuji FP-3000b. Pack jams. Bit of tweaking around, lost a frame or two, and was able to make four test exposures. RF works fine, seems to be in fine calibration. Exposure control seems to be in good working order too.

Looks like I have to remove the spring from the camera back, and maybe the electronic timer. First doesn't bother me at all, but it would be nice to keep the second for cosmetic reasons.

How sensitive to developing time are the Fuji FP-3000b and FP-100c pack films? Can you see real differences in the image if you let them 'cook' too long?

G
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I recommend removing the spring, it definitely helps. And make sure your rollers are clean! Dirty rollers are the other common cause of film problems.

It's usually just the first two or three pictures that are hard to pull. One trick is to open the back latch and crack the back open a tiny bit to relieve the pressure while you are pulling those first few pictures. This also helps when you are pulling the pesky black paper that initially covers the pack. If it rips, just open the back a little and keep pulling. Opening the back a little will not fog the film.
 
vdonovan said:
I recommend removing the spring, it definitely helps. And make sure your rollers are clean! Dirty rollers are the other common cause of film problems.

It's usually just the first two or three pictures that are hard to pull. One trick is to open the back latch and crack the back open a tiny bit to relieve the pressure while you are pulling those first few pictures. This also helps when you are pulling the pesky black paper that initially covers the pack. If it rips, just open the back a little and keep pulling. Opening the back a little will not fog the film.
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I cleaned the rollers before I loaded the camera and tested that they rolled smoothly. I'm learning ... ;-)

Yes, by exposure 5 I was able to pull the tab and film/developer bundle pretty smoothly. Camera seems to be working well, although I notice that I needed to adjust the exposure to Lighten by two or three notches for average scenes.

Taking the empty pack out of the camera, I was amazed to see how flexible and flimsy it is. Don't notice that when it's full of film, I guess. I've now removed the back spring. I'll have to get to the store over the weekend and pick up another couple of film packs.

G
 
The Fuji films are great and are self terminating. You can leave them for hours but I try not to because they may not peel apart properly.

I bend my tabs flat with a tool that I made:
PFL_4451-M.jpg


Cleaning the rollers should be done each time you change packs. I use an alcohol swab to do that. Pulling the film out cannot be too slow, you get undeveloped lines on the print or to fast and you get undeveloped splotches. Freezing will totally ruin your film so be careful:

If you use expired Polaroid film, who knows what you will get:
img008-M.jpg
 
Yesterday while out and about, I stopped at the resell shop across town that has a nice selection of cameras. They always have a few Polaroids for sale, usually OneSteps or similar. Yesterday they had 2 of interest, one was a HUGE monster that literally weighed as much as a small person. A very old tan/grey Land Camera Electric Eye 850 I believe. I think it used old rollfilm. It was so huge I was considering buying it just because of the hugeness even if it would not work for me since the film isn't available.

He also had a ProPack sans the front cover for $5. I tested it and it seemed to work so I grabbed it, because, $5. It looks ugly since the front cover is missing but it works. And I am a collector of used and working cameras, so I won, right? :D

I also have now started a collection of Fuji films in my fridge. My freezer is full of 35mm and 120 film. So it's only fitting that my fridge be filled with Polaroid/instant films.
 
Yes the 850 is a rollfilm camera and was the first electric eye auto exposure rollfilm camera. It is not as common as the similar 900 camera and would make a nice shelf queen if you are looking for that. All the rollfilm cameras can be converted to use packfilm but it is not easy and can be expensive so the 850 may not make a good candidate for conversion.

Good deal on the ProPack. It is a plastic lens camera but still should take good photos and like you said, "It Works" and should have no problem with the Fuji film packs.
Pete
 
Godfrey said:
I cleaned the rollers before I loaded the camera and tested that they rolled smoothly. I'm learning ... ;-)

Yes, by exposure 5 I was able to pull the tab and film/developer bundle pretty smoothly. Camera seems to be working well, although I notice that I needed to adjust the exposure to Lighten by two or three notches for average scenes.

Taking the empty pack out of the camera, I was amazed to see how flexible and flimsy it is. Don't notice that when it's full of film, I guess. I've now removed the back spring. I'll have to get to the store over the weekend and pick up another couple of film packs.
Click to expand...

Status update: Ok, I picked up some more film. Loaded the Land 350 but the dark slide was still jamming. So I pulled out the dremel moto tool and cut the rivets, pulled out the electronic development timer. After that the dark slide pulled without any problems and the two test exposures pulled the same. I left the timer dial in place so the camera looks cosmetically original from the outside.

Using Fuji FP-100c with the film speed set to 75, the aperture set to "Indoors", and the exposure control set three notches to the Lightem side, color prints come out about right. With color in the camera, it's an outdoors or "add lighting" machine. FP-3000b makes it an indoors capable piece.

fun fun fun ...
G
 
Great you have it working now G. I find that most cameras need a few notches to lighten but once you get it set it stays constant. A regular PC cord will fit in the flash socket. It is actually M sync for the bulbs but works ok with an electronic flash.
Pete
 
I'm just stunned about the quality of the Fuji 100C film.

How can I shot it? I meant, what camera for a good quality and depth should I buy? I really love this thread.
 
Bruno, there are several options for shooting Fuji FP-100c instant film:

Polaroid 250, 450, and Automatic 100 are folding Polaroid pack-film cameras that have glass lenses, an aperture setting, and make good quality images. They don't have manual exposure controls.

Polaroid 190,195, are the same type of camera, with full manual control and better quality lenses. Very expensive.

Mamiya Universal and the Polaroid 600SE (basically the same), are press-style cameras that give full frame instant images with full manual control. Mamiya Universal has several lens options, all excellent.

Lastly, you can put a Polaroid back on almost any medium format SLR (Bronica, Hasselblad, Mamiya), though this will not give you a full frame image. You can also shoot this film in a 4x5 camera, using the Polaroid 405 reducing back.

good luck!
 
I should get out and shoot more instant. Right now I only really use FP-100c as test for my slide stuff. Basically what it was intended for.
 
I do like the FP100C and also the FP3000B is great and you can scan the B&W negative.

This was the Auto 250 and Portrait Kit
Polaroid-2-L.jpg


Bruno, any of the metal body Land cameras have glass lenses and can shoot the Fuji films with minor modification. I often find them cheap at Flea Markets but I think you have "Boot Sales". You can either buy the correct batteries online or convert them to standard AAA batteries. I personally like the model 250 because it has the Zeiss finder and is easiest to work with Fuji film packs.
Pete
 
Scanned a few of my Polaroid A Day captures over the weekend. This was the second frame made successfully with the Polaroid Land 350 and FP-3000b film before I modified the camera to work properly.

​

The Polaroid Land cameras' film produces a radically different picture quality compared to the Impossible Project SX-70 and Spectra films. Much more in the "traditional" mode of sharpness and feel.

Quite a lot of fun! I'm glad I've got this camera working now.

G
 
Godfrey, Did you give him the print? The fun about instant photography is giving away the print. You can take a second for yourself or scan and recover the negative.
Pete
 
3rdtrick said:
Godfrey, Did you give him the print? The fun about instant photography is giving away the print. You can take a second for yourself or scan and recover the negative.
Pete
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He lives here so he can have the print any time he wants. But he has no interest in physical prints. He's already scanned every photograph he's ever taken and keeps them archived digitally.

I haven't worked through everything I need to do in order to successfully complete a project of people photos with Polaroid. People like getting the prints, and I have no problem with giving away prints. But even if I take two exposures, I have lost one un-reproducible frame if I give it away before I scan it. I can't build a project that way. So, ultimately, I have to work out a methodology where I have the opportunity to scan before giving the print away, but doing that separates when the recipient gets the print from the event ... not the same thing. Of course, with the Impossible Project color film, it takes 30-40 minutes for the print to be "done" enough to enjoy so there's already a time separation involved.

Tricky game... ;-)

G
 
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