For Sale FS: Polaroid 545i back for 4x5

[usuthu65]

I have this Polaroid 545i back but sadly I can't go out and buy Polaroid 4x5 Anyone want one?

What ARE these worth now? Someone PM me with a reasonable offer!

 

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[rkmiec]

These can be used with Fuji quickloads,cheap way to try them out. If they still have quickloads available.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Are you sure? I heard the 550 holders accepted the Fuki Ql's but they didn't work with the 545's. Just wanna be clear.

 

[usuthu65]

I've done some poking around and found threads like this one:

http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00R2f3

I haven't tried Quickloads myself but it appears that things would work with potential flatness issues (but some seem to have no issues at all). Have the Quickloads changed design in the last few years and all the comments apply to older designs?

Perhaps someone with direct experience will chime in.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

The 550 is for pack film, so it won't work with quickloads. I do know folks who used these for Kodak Readyloads, no idea about Fuji specifically, however. I have also heard that they are not ideal for the Kodak film due to flatness issues.

 

[Marc B.]

The Polaroid 545-545i backs were intended for use with the now, long discontinued, single sheet, sleeved, instant film from Polaroid. Fuji does not make single sheet, sleeved, instant film. Never did IIRC.

Fuji "pack film" does not work in the "single sheet," 545-545i backs. Never did.


Fuji still does make one "pack film," FP100c45, color 4X5 film, 10 sheets a pack, that will work in either the Polaroid 550 backs, or the Fuji PA-45 backs. These backs sell at a used price, well north of $150/USD, and new Fuji PA-45's sell for about $225/USD.


This is a huge expense for shooting a 10 image pack of instant film that sells for about $26-32/USD. And, as of just recently, it does appear that Fuji [has] discontinued production of B&W, instant pack film, in 4X5 size, though there still exists some remaining stock of the 4X5, B&W pack film, at some mail order retailers.


If the B&W, FP100b45 and FP3000b45, has been discontinued in 4X5, how much longer will the color, FP100c45, be produced in 4X5 instant pack film?

As others have mentioned, users have met with limited results when trying to use the remaining Fuji Quickloads in 545-545i backs. In reality, there aren't any/many more Kodak Readyloads out there, as these were discontinued some time ago.

So, to answer the OP's original question; How much are 545-545i backs worth?
Answer; Nothing!
And, they are completely and totally useless for instant photography today.

I suppose one could try using the rollers to make a pasta press.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Well, they do seem to sell at a pretty fast clip on eBay for about $10 to $20 each plus shipping, so your statement that they are worth nothing seems a bit strong. The film is available on eBay for about $100 per 20 count box, so someone is still buying it and I guess they need holders. I am sure that at some point rather soon there will be no market, but there is still a market now, however weak it may be.

 

[Josef]

My Polaroid 545i seems to work with Kodak Readyloads, so far. The Fuji Quickloads do need to be used in the Fuji holder, only.

 

[Marc B.]

I don't want these posts a bit strong, I want them, Up In Your Face strong.
I won't tolerate any gray area on this subject; no sugar coating here.

Unsuspecting newbies are being outright lied to by some sellers of these backs, or when asked about the compatibility with available instant film, they are being misled. I suspect a large number of these backs are being sold to people that think Fuji "instant" film will work in these backs. I arrive at this conclusion after reading the feedback of those that have purchased these backs. It is alarming how many have been purposely duped. I challenge these sellers on the Bay, and anywhere else someone tries to dance around the compatibility issue with these backs. I've been at this little photo gig of ours for over 30 years now, and I won't tolerate anyone's BS.

If I can prevent only a handful of people from being duped, that will be a relief, but I will doggedly challenge anyone presenting these backs as being compatible with instant film available today. So yes, my posts on this subject are strongly worded. They will continue to be strongly worded.

There also has been no reliable, or confirmed information made available, from the folks at The Impossible Project, that they have any future plans to produce single sheet instant film in 4X5. I do see that they are working towards this goal in 8X10, but not 4X5. If you or anyone else has information to the contrary, then please post the URL to that thread.

I have seen sellers of 545-545i backs falsely elude to this possibility when trying to sell their backs.

I do earnestly believe in the statement, Buyer Beware. Well, I am going to make as many potential buyers of these backs, thoroughly aware, that these 545-545i backs are totally useless for instant photography.

Concerning whether these Polaroid backs can be used with conventional emulsion, Fuji Quickloads. Why would you want to when there are still used, and some new Fuji backs, readily available for that purpose for which they were designed? These backs can be had for about $65-80/USD, and they basically work flawlessly with the Fuji Quickloads.

I'm not going to sugar coat this issue, nor will I accept anyone else trying to mislead people on this subject.

Every year, every time a film school empties out their storage room of old equipment, another batch of these useless backs hits the auction market. It seems to be a never ending cycle.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Yeah, and if you think that the OP or others of us here discussing this back and whether it works with Quickloads are engaging in any kind of deception you are barking up the wrong tree. You are the only one in this thread who has mentioned using pack film with this back, no one brought it up at all except for me stating that the 550 is for pack film and would not work with readyloads or quickloads. Maybe you didn't understand what I was saying or what someone else was saying, but I really don't see any kind of attempt at deception here.

I would agree that if folks are using such deception on eBay that this is reprehensible, but that was not happening here. This is exactly the kind of place where someone might happen to have a box of unused type 55 (as I just realized about a week ago) and want a back to use it with. Perhaps the OP was not clear enough for your tastes, but I understood what was meant when he or she said that they were not able to buy 4X5 polaroid any longer.

 

[usuthu65]

I am the OP. I would respectfully encourage Marc B to tone it down about 50 notches, and the implication that I am somehow trying to 'dupe' people is not appreciated AT ALL. Your ability to read into posts things that simply are not there is quite impressive.

My original post was simply an admittance that I didn't have the time to research whether the 545i is useful for anyone. I was well aware of the death of Type 55 and other 4x5 formats, but as Paul has mentioned thought maybe someone would have a stock of older film that they might want to play around with using this back.

To those reading this thread: you now have enough technical information to decide whether this item is of any use to you. If it is, please contact me and we'll go from there.

And maybe next time, we can have a more even keeled discussion.