Did I get the correct back (Polaroid 545)?

Dorothy Blum Cooper · Jan 19, 2005

Guess it would have been smart for me to post this question prior to purchasing these two items, right? At any rate...I wanted to find out if I bought the correct back for our Crown Graphic. I wasn't sure what the 'Polaroid' back was for (at the bottom of the photo), but knew I needed the 545 for the Crown. Here's the link to what I just bought:

http://dorothyblumcooper.com/PolaroidBack545.jpg

As always...I appreciate your advice/help!

John Kasaian · Jan 19, 2005

The top is looks like a polaroid 545. It is for shooting 4x5 polaroid film in 4x5 cameras. I have a 545i ( newer version--more plastic) that I've used to good effect. It fits under the ground glass of my Crown. The bottom looks like the back of a polaroid camera that may accept polaroid pack film(the stuff that you get at walmart for polaroids) I doubt if it will fit under a ground glass.

rbarker · Jan 19, 2005

The "545" holder (top item in the image) uses single-sheet 4x5 Polaroid film, and slips into the back of your Graphic just like a conventional film holder. FWIW, it looks like the one you got is actually a 545i, and made of plastic. The plain 545 is an earlier model and made of metal. The 545i (and the new 545pro) can also be used with both Kodak Readyload and Fuji Quickload single-sheet films. Some of the earlier metal 545s have problems with the Kodak and Fuji film sleeves.

The lower holder may be a back that uses pack film, somewhat smaller than the single-sheet 4x5 Polaroid, and may attach via a Graklok interface. Your Crown may or may not be Graklok equipped. If you have little slider bars that hold the back on the camera, that's the Graklok part. No slider bars, no Graklok.

Dave Parker · Jan 19, 2005

The top one is one of the more current ones that will accept the current polaroid film, it slips under the ground glass just like the regular film holder, the bottom one does not have film available for it anylonger and is pretty much a useless, I have converted a couple of them to allow my 35mm gear to be attached to the back of a 4 x 5.

Dave

Dorothy Blum Cooper · Jan 19, 2005

FWIW, here are images of our camera (the one we own). If it makes it easier to tell if the back I purchased will work with our Crown.

Thanks for all the info so far! I really appreciate it!

http://dorothyblumcooper.com/GraflexA.jpg

http://dorothyblumcooper.com/GraflexB.jpg

http://dorothyblumcooper.com/GraflexC.jpg

http://dorothyblumcooper.com/GraflexD.jpg

http://dorothyblumcooper.com/GraflexF.jpg

rbarker · Jan 19, 2005

Based on those images of your Crown, Dorothy, you do have the Graklok back. That means you can use regular film holders, the 545-type Polaroid holders like the top one you bought (both of which slip under the ground glass), and various other types of film holders designed to use the Graklok attachment method.

Sounds like Dave is familiar with the other Polaroid back, and has found that the Polaroid film for it is no longer available. If you open it up, there may be a label inside that says what type of Polaroid film it takes (or, took).

Dave Parker · Jan 19, 2005

Polaroid stop making film for the bottom holder several years ago, it was the film that has the tail on one side that you had to put in the metal warming holder and hold under your coat to develop it, I have about 12 of these backs that I have picked up over the years and have tried to figure out a way to make them useful, they are from the mid 60's which is to bad as they we built like a tank I really wish I could find away to make them usable..

The camera looks very nice, it is a crown without the rear shutter which is not the press model, the press model has the rear shutter, I have several of these and they are very good image makers and I am sure you will enjoy it greatly.

Let me know the serial number and I should be able to find the year of manufactur for ya.

Dave

Dorothy Blum Cooper · Jan 19, 2005

Thank you all again for posting the information that you did. It is more than helpful!

Dave...I appreciate your willingness to help me on this. What I have on my Crown (purchased from ebay about 2 years ago) is as follows:

Crown Graphic

Kalart Synchronized Range Finder

Wollensak 135mm f/4.7 No. 925159

Serial No. 891293

Graflex, Inc.
Rochester 8, New York

Thanks again, Dave!

John Kasaian · Jan 19, 2005

Dorothy,
Check out www.graflex.org for more info on these cameras. Its a very helpful resource for things graflex.

Will S · Jan 20, 2005

There is lots of good information about all things polaroid at Dead Link Removed There is an entry in the FAQ describing how to use the older polaroid backs. These older backs (like the #500) work just fine and are a lot cheaper than a new 545i. I bought one for $8 for example.

Best,

Will

Dorothy Blum Cooper · Jan 20, 2005

Will, John, Dave and Ralph...thank you again for all of the information posted here. Very informative and quite helpful!!!

Did I get the correct back (Polaroid 545)?

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