Hasselblad polaroid back - what type of film?

Siompa · Dec 26, 2017

So ive been trying to get my head around this.

I just got a Hasselblad 503cx and would like to get a Polaroid back for it. Is it true that the only film that works is the discontinued fuji fp-100?
I’ve googled around and some say 600 film works as well?

If it’s only possible to use discontinued film it feels a bit pointless to buy one.

All the best - Simon

fdonadio · Dec 26, 2017

Yes, you're pretty much limited to FP-100C for the Hasselblad existing Polaroid back, as it is — or rather, was — the last pack film in Type 100 format. Impossible (now Polaroid Originals) and New55 don't offer anything like that and there's even a post on New55's website stating that they aren't able to develop that kind of product.

I am still waiting for someone to come up with a Fuji Instax back. It shouldn't be difficult to make one. Instax Square would be perfectly sized for 6x6 cameras. Instax Mini would work for 6x4.5 and there's also Instax Wide, which I wish was just a tad larger to be suitable for 4x5 cameras!

Edit: a quick Google search shows this project: Dead Link Removed. Unfortunately, it didn't get enough funding. I wish the creator would open source it, so we could 3D-print it.

Cheers,
Flavio

darkroommike · Dec 26, 2017

Polaroid backs for the Hasselblad, the most common is the type that uses type 100 film, including types 105 P/N and 108 aka types 665/669, at one time there were a lot of different films to fit this back. There was also, as I recall, a Polaroid 80 back that used the square format films, even longer discontinued (!). NPC made a lot of third party backs to fit Polaroid to a number of different cameras may have briefly made a SX-70 back for the Hasselblad, etc. My memory of it is 30+ years old. Mamiya had a CB-70 back, the problem is that the image is reversed, the SX-70 etc. have a front surface mirror to rright the image.

Siompa · Dec 26, 2017

fdonadio said:
Yes, you're pretty much limited to FP-100C for the Hasselblad existing Polaroid back, as it is — or rather, was — the last pack film in Type 100 format. Impossible (now Polaroid Originals) and New55 don't offer anything like that and there's even a post on New55's website stating that they aren't able to develop that kind of product.

I am still waiting for someone to come up with a Fuji Instax back. It shouldn't be difficult to make one. Instax Square would be perfectly sized for 6x6 cameras. Instax Mini would work for 6x4.5 and there's also Instax Wide, which I wish was just a tad larger to be suitable for 4x5 cameras!

Edit: a quick Google search shows this project: Dead Link Removed. Unfortunately, it didn't get enough funding. I wish the creator would open source it, so we could 3D-print it.

Cheers,
Flavio

Okay so no film that is still produced will go in a Polaroid back?

vdonovan · Dec 26, 2017

Siompa said:
Okay so no film that is still produced will go in a Polaroid back?

That is right.

FP-100c is still available (at a strangely good price) but it was discontinued by Fuji several years ago and the stock will eventually run out. After that is gone, there is no other film that will fit, nor are any manufacturers contemplating making film that will fit.

Siompa · Dec 26, 2017

vdonovan said:
That is right.

FP-100c is still available (at a strangely good price) but it was discontinued by Fuji several years ago and the stock will eventually run out. After that is gone, there is no other film that will fit, nor are any manufacturers contemplating making film that will fit.

Crap.. well let’s hope Polaroid adds 100 film to the mix

vdonovan · Dec 26, 2017

Don't hold your breath. I'm a HUGE fan of pack film, but I don't think it will ever come back. Everyone who has looked at it (Impossible Project/Polaroid, Lomography, CatLabs, New55) say that the market is too small to justify the huge expense of reformulating the film and building a factory.

Siompa · Dec 28, 2017

I might try to fit a Fuji Instax on a film back instead cheap square format film

PerTulip · Dec 28, 2017

vdonovan said:
That is right.

FP-100c is still available (at a strangely good price) but it was discontinued by Fuji several years ago and the stock will eventually run out. After that is gone, there is no other film that will fit, nor are any manufacturers contemplating making film that will fit.

Very sad about that. I have some FP-100c in the freezer and knowing it is the last... either use it in the next 1-2 years or sell it for a huge profit. :-D

BrianShaw · Dec 28, 2017

Doesn’t it suggest “do net freeze” like the Polaroid products suggested?

vdonovan · Dec 30, 2017

Polaroid's advice was don't freeze, but I've heard of people freezing FP-100c without problems.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2017

Freezing polariod type film could cause the chemicals to separate and then on thawing not reconstitute correctly.

ic-racer · Dec 30, 2017

I just ordered more FP100C from B&H as they lowered the price since last month. Also, maybe there is a Hassy sheet film back that holds Instax film. The Hassy film back I searched is said to hold 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 film, not 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 film (this may be not correct). So maybe the Instax mini film won't fit without modification. You can use Instax film like sheet film in other medium format cameras with 2x3in (6x9cm) film holders. Maybe the non-pod end of the Instax film can be cut?

It seems to me Instax film is perhaps the most commonly available consumer film in the USA today, and medium format sheet film equipment is considered useless by many. So very little money or effort would be needed for some experimentation.

Chris Livsey · Dec 31, 2017

There was a Kickstarter for Instax on a Hasselblad:
https://www.thephoblographer.com/20...camera-can-shoot-fujifilm-instax-square-back/

Didn't raise enough and was cancelled;
Dead Link Removed

David T T · Jan 1, 2018

You CAN NOT freeze Polaroid instant.

You CAN freeze Fuji fp100c. Everyone who has tested it, including myself, reports nothing but success. The was a blog that published tests, one after 10 days frozen, another after a year frozen. Success and success. And again, I myself have done so with no issues.

The reason the myth about the Fuji stuff is so prevelant is because people use the word "Polaroid" like they use the word "Kleenex." Something is being generalized falsely from a specific product to everything of its type. Let's please put this to rest.

PerTulip · Jan 2, 2018

David T T said:
You CAN NOT freeze Polaroid instant.

You CAN freeze Fuji fp100c. ....

The suggestions for long term storage by Fuji: "Below 10°C". That's it, no word on freezing. And I never had a problem.

Hasselblad polaroid back - what type of film?

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