What should I do with my obsolete Polaroid cameras?

J

jbrubaker

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I'm cleaning house lately and discover that I have several Polaroid peel-a-part style cameras ranging from model 250 - 450. Since I will not spend what it costs to buy the scarce discontinued film, I don't know what to do with the cameras. I always hate to throw cameras in the trash, but are they good for anything else? I also have a few model 110a, 110b and 900 series, that I was always going to convert to pack film or 4x5. I always seem to get excited about projects like this , but don't follow through! thanks ---john.
 
I can take and deliver them to the Goodwill Stores. I may keep one for converting it to 4x5. It is very easy. You can buy the back of a Graflok on eBay and get couple of springs and attach it to the back. Or you can do your own back with wood to host the film holder. Piece of cake.

Click here to see the conversion.
 
Every antique store in the US has a number of Polaroid cameras for sale. Sometimes the prices are amazing high, especially for the folders.
 
pepeguitarra said:
I can take and deliver them to the Goodwill Stores. I may keep one for converting it to 4x5. It is very easy. You can buy the back of a Graflok on eBay and get couple of springs and attach it to the back. Or you can do your own back with wood to host the film holder. Piece of cake.

Click here to see the conversion.
Click to expand...
I followed the Flickr link - Interesting conversion. I have a Graflok back that I bought years ago, so I would probably try to use that. After I sort through what I've got, I will sell the usable camera bodies. I just don't know what to do with the pack film cameras.
 
jbrubaker said:
Yes, but are the pack film cameras actually good for anything now that the film has mostly gone away?
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A lot of folks loaded up on the Fuji pack film before it was discontinued and the later models like the 450 with it's Zeiss rangefinder are still in demand. Many of the 110s' have been converted to take either pack Polaroid or 120. Don't forget the collectors who are looking for models they may not have.
 
jbrubaker said:
Nice job! Do you have any other photos that show how you made it?
Click to expand...

No, but you can see a box that moves the focal plane back about an inch and a quarter. I had to do this to get full 4x5 coverage. This caused the lens stops to be moved and that was a tricky work around. Still it wasn't hard to do just plastic and glue and a few small bolts and nuts.
 
Just load them with single sheets of paper negatives. You’ll need the manual to reference the shutter speeds and apertures on the lens, then match the settings to your meter.
 
Here is a possible stupid suggestion. Keep them in case some company brings back pack film. I have 6 packs of film and once they are gone, I will just store my polaroid 100 away just in case.
 
There's a company that converts them to Instax Wide film, quite expensive though... or one could hack that oneself, a dude on youtube has done it.
 
I've just about hacked all of mine to pieces except the 250

I have a bin of Zeiss RF's I will eventually sell to DIYers on eBay.

I've been working on two of them for years will limited success. One has a nearly complete instax wide conversion and the other will be a UWA 4x5 assuming I ever find the time.

I consider them worthless I have never paid more than 10$ for any polaroid.
 
retinax said:
There's a company that converts them to Instax Wide film, quite expensive though... or one could hack that oneself, a dude on youtube has done it.
Click to expand...

Said company no longer offers instax wide conversions since Lomo discontinued their belair instant back.

I've been in touch with them recently.
 
B-9 said:
Said company no longer offers instax wide conversions since Lomo discontinued their belair instant back.

I've been in touch with them recently.
Click to expand...

Oh that's too bad. Said dude on youtube converted one with the rear of a regular instax wide camera though. I'm pondering something similar now with an old 6x9 folder or a little field camera...
here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88i-85m_jE
 
I have a 340 (originally it was my father's 340) and when my stock of Fuji films will be finished I'll just keep the camera as memory of how nice and rewarding for me was to use it!
Yes, still hoping someone will make film for it even if I'm conscious it's a non realistic hope!
No more news from this CatLabs project :(

robert
 
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