Adapting an RB67 Polaroid Back to the RZ67 Mount - Crazy I know, but IS IT POSSIBLE???

[Nicholas W]

Ok - since you probably asked at least one of the following (reasonable) questions when reading the title -"why the hell would someone want to do that, doesn't this guy know peel-apart Polaroid film is dead?" or "does this guy know there's a native RZ67 Polaroid back?" let me address them both. Yes, and yes. As to why - read on!

I have been ̶h̶o̶a̶r̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ stockpiling discontinued Polaroid film types for about 12 or so years now. One lesser-known type which Polaroid produced in its twilight years is Polaroid Type 80, a square variant of the rectangular type 100 peel apart (a la FP-100c). Type 80 was an oddball film in that it was aimed at both the most casual of consumers (the only native Type 80 cameras which Polaroid produced were very rudimentary hardbody plastic, single shutter speed toy cameras) - but also at photography pros, for use in proofing backs (Hassleblad made a Type 80 back for the 500c and Mamiya made one for the RB67 - the image area of the film is roughly 6x6). Type 80 was killed off a few years before the mass extinction event of Polaroid film in 2008, and is fairly difficult to find these days. I've been saving every pack I buy for eventual usage in one of the more versatile professional options.

About 2 months ago, I finally pulled the trigger on an RB67 Professional that I found local to me for very cheap ($200). I primarily bought this for the sole intention of using my Type 80 film in. The 50mm lens is in good shape but the body and 120 back are both a bit rough, and of course it's the oldest model out there. I've been considering detaching the lens and selling the rest of the rig for parts, and in turn buying a Pro S or SD. Today, however, an RZ67 in very good shape popped up - the camera, Z series lens, 2x backs, WLF, the metered prism finder, and a pelican case, all for a very reasonable price.

I was ready to pounce on it when I realized this (admittedly very stupid) problem - Mamiya did not make a Type 80 Polaroid back for the RZ67, only a Type 100 one. The only Polaroid Type 80 back is the Mamiya M80 (+P Adapter), which is only usable on the RB67 platform. While I would definitely shoot roll film in the camera as well, as mentioned above my primary motivator for getting an RB/RZ is definitely using my Type 80.

So - my insane question is this: Would it be hypothetically possible to use one of the RZ67 Polaroid backs to modify the Mamiya M80 Polaroid back?

Thanks in advance for indulging me.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I kind of lost your point. I have an RB67 Polaroid back for my RB67. Are you saying there's instant film available for it that's expired and would work??

 

[Hassasin]

Ok - since you probably asked at least one of the following (reasonable) questions when reading the title -"why the hell would someone want to do that, doesn't this guy know peel-apart Polaroid film is dead?" or "does this guy know there's a native RZ67 Polaroid back?" let me address them both. Yes, and yes. As to why - read on!

I have been ̶h̶o̶a̶r̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ stockpiling discontinued Polaroid film types for about 12 or so years now. One lesser-known type which Polaroid produced in its twilight years is Polaroid Type 80, a square variant of the rectangular type 100 peel apart (a la FP-100c). Type 80 was an oddball film in that it was aimed at both the most casual of consumers (the only native Type 80 cameras which Polaroid produced were very rudimentary hardbody plastic, single shutter speed toy cameras) - but also at photography pros, for use in proofing backs (Hassleblad made a Type 80 back for the 500c and Mamiya made one for the RB67 - the image area of the film is roughly 6x6). Type 80 was killed off a few years before the mass extinction event of Polaroid film in 2008, and is fairly difficult to find these days. I've been saving every pack I buy for eventual usage in one of the more versatile professional options.

About 2 months ago, I finally pulled the trigger on an RB67 Professional that I found local to me for very cheap ($200). I primarily bought this for the sole intention of using my Type 80 film in. The 50mm lens is in good shape but the body and 120 back are both a bit rough, and of course it's the oldest model out there. I've been considering detaching the lens and selling the rest of the rig for parts, and in turn buying a Pro S or SD. Today, however, an RZ67 in very good shape popped up - the camera, Z series lens, 2x backs, WLF, the metered prism finder, and a pelican case, all for a very reasonable price.

I was ready to pounce on it when I realized this (admittedly very stupid) problem - Mamiya did not make a Type 80 Polaroid back for the RZ67, only a Type 100 one. The only Polaroid Type 80 back is the Mamiya M80 (+P Adapter), which is only usable on the RB67 platform. While I would definitely shoot roll film in the camera as well, as mentioned above my primary motivator for getting an RB/RZ is definitely using my Type 80.

So - my insane question is this: Would it be hypothetically possible to use one of the RZ67 Polaroid backs to modify the Mamiya M80 Polaroid back?

Thanks in advance for indulging me.

I won't comment on the whole thing, but I will say: anything is possible. The question will remain: is it sane to go that far?

You can likely find RB in better shape and the POL back for your Type80 stockpile, far fewer obstacles and cost not likely higher. RB kit is not likely to cost more than the RZ you have found. And if you intend to shoot roll film in it, surely stick with SD through and through (meaning SD film back as well).

 

[ic-racer]

I have been ̶h̶o̶a̶r̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ stockpiling discontinued Polaroid film types for about 12 or so years now.

I wonder if those are any better than the Fuji peel-apart. My last 5 boxes of the FP3000B were junk because I forgot about them and let them expire in 2018. Not a great loss because B&H were getting rid of them for only $15 each because they were going to expire in less than a year. Were there any with expiry after 2018??

Your idea is not too crazy. I actually bought a Polaroid back for my Horseman in 2015, not knowing the pack film would disappear so soon after.

I did save all the spent plastic cartridges and found they make reasonable holders for individual instax films which can be used in the Polaroid back.

 

[xya]

I don't have a Polaroid back for my RB67 (I shoot Instax Square film with it), but I do have plenty of old Polaroid gear https://www.instantphoto.eu/. 2 things to consider:

Most Polaroid backs are made of a standard holder part and a camera specific mount, in most cases just held together by screws. If you have the specific mount, you can swap the holder part.

There were holders and cameras that could take both formats, 100 and 80, there was a spring which held the 80 cassette and it could be pushed aside by the 100 cassette. In any case you can modify a 100 holder to take 80 film, just block the 80 cassette at the exit side. Should work on a RB67 as the camera doesn't use the whole surface.

I'm just curious: do you really have working 80 film? The last time I came across working 80 film is about 12 years ago...

 

[OrientPoint]

I have working type 80 film (fridged Polaroid Vivo holds up pretty well), and I've made a few shots with it on a Hasselblad, but only a few shots. My question is why bother? Neither RB67/RZ67 nor Hasselblad will fully cover type 80, and given the rarity of such film in 2023 it seems a waste to use it for a relatively tiny 6x7 image floating in a black border.

As far as I can recall Type 80 was originally for consumer cameras back in olden tymes, then kind of faded away, only to return in the late 90's as a smaller (and thus cheaper) proofing medium than Type 100.

xya's advice to modify an RZ Type 100 holder with a spacer is the way to go, I'd think. The RZ mount is quite different than the RB's, and even if you somehow got it to "stick" I'd be concerned about focus. Wedging the Type 80 cartridge firmly against the roller side of the back will be enough. Maybe look at how the Polaroid 195 does it (or one of those 100/80 backs).

 

[xya]

Or consider a ProPack camera which originally took both formats. Image quality is better than you may think. All these cameras are dirt cheap now, it's worth a try. And yes, I too would think it's a waste to use the film for a tiny format...

 

[OrientPoint]

Polaroid 195's run ~$100 on Ebay these days if you are patient. You get a nice lens and manual control. The only nicer pack film camera, in my opinion, is the Konica Instant Press, and that doesn't take type 80. (The Instant Press also still commands crazy prices, I guess because it's possible to convert them to 4x5?)

Seems well worth waiting for a quality camera with full coverage when the film costs $50+/pack.

 

[Donald Qualls]

If the tabs on the prints are long enough (might or might not be, I haven't handled a Type 80 pack in literally forty years), it might be possible to install adapter blocks in the Type 100 back for an RZ67 to center the Type 80 pack. The rollers are the same, pack thickness and film plane position are the same (as witness the ProPack cameras mentioned above) -- and this would surely be both easier and cheaper than trying to get the film plane correct with an RB67 back mounted to an RZ67 body without the P adapter.