Help with loading polaroid film into holder?

[Brad Bireley]

I have a Polaroid 405 holder for my burke & james 4x5 press. Can someone explain how to load the film pack into it?
Thanks,
Brad

 

[George Papantoniou]

I don't know if the 405 back is the one I know, but here's how it goes with the usual 4x5 back (hope it's the 405...):

you turn the lever on top of the back to the "L" position (this is for "loading). You slide the Pola sandwich in with the side that has a "cross in a circle" sign in the middle towards the lens (it also states "this side toward lens" somwhere on that side). You have to feel it click when it reaches the end of its trip. This'll mean that the metal bar that it has in the bottom end has been attached to the back. You place the back on the camera, close the lens and pull the paper tongue of the film sandich that protrudes from the top of the pola back all the way up until it stops. This should normally uncover the negative for the exposure to be made. Then you push the paper envelope back in and you turn the lever to the "P" position (this means "pull"). Then you pull the sanwich completely out of the back, by a gentle but firm movement trying to keep the speed of your hand constant and not to stop at any middle point. You wait for the recommended time (at the recommended temperature) and peel the sandwich.

You should pay attention at the following points:

When pushing the sandwich in the back, you should not fold it or press its surface with you fingers. Manipulate it by the edges.

When pulling the paper envelope for the exposure to be made, don't press a small metal button that is placed under the lever (when it's at the "P" position) because this would release the negative from the bottom of the back and the whole sandwich would come out.

You will make some mistakes in the beginning, the most frequent of them being to miss the "clicking" sensation of the sandwich when you reach the point that it should be attached at the back. This'll mean that the negative will not remain in place for the exposure and you'll get no image on the paper (black paper).

 

[David H. Bebbington]

I have a Polaroid 405 holder for my burke & james 4x5 press. Can someone explain how to load the film pack into it?
Thanks,
Brad

What George has described is the single-sheet 545 or 545i holder. What you have is the pack holder. With this, if you pick up the holder so that that its back is facing you (i.e. side with the sheath is away from you), you should have a latch with the word "Polaroid" on it facing you. At either side, this has milled finger grips. Using these, pull the latch off the end of the holder back and allow it to swivel out of the way. The holder will now hinge open. Inside are pictures showing how to remove and clean the roller assembly (unlike the 545i back, the 405 gets very messy in use and will need cleaning every time it is reloaded). You can clean the rollers under a hot-water faucet with a toothbrush, drying them thoroughly before replacement. You can then insert the film pack so that the protruding tab points out of the end of the holder towards the handle. Close the back, re-engage the latch and pull the tab firmly but not too hard or abruptly. The tab for the first Polaroid print should then emerge from the slot in the end of the holder, which is then ready to use.

PS: The 405 holder will of course only fit a Graflok or international back which has a removable focusing screen assembly. Does your camera have this?

 

[JeffBishop]

I just got this exact same holder yesterday. It took me a little while to figure out how to load it myself. I was using Fuji pack film, which fits, but still didn't work real great for me. I have to try some Polaroid pack film to see if it works any better.

As far as your question, the instructions above are correct. However, I have a (slightly) modified standard graflex spring back on my View Graphic that takes the 405 holder with no problems.

 

[Dave Parker]

Polaroid and Fuji pack films work exactly the same way in the 405 back, I have never had any problems with either of them, one thing you need to make sure, is your rollers are as clean as possible or you will end up with un-even development and it can create a situation where pulling the film out gets difficult often times ruining an exposure. I, like Jeff have modified my spring backs to be able to use the 405 without having a graflok back, pretty simple modification.

Dave

 

[Brad Bireley]

What George has described is the single-sheet 545 or 545i holder. What you have is the pack holder. With this, if you pick up the holder so that that its back is facing you (i.e. side with the sheath is away from you), you should have a latch with the word "Polaroid" on it facing you. At either side, this has milled finger grips. Using these, pull the latch off the end of the holder back and allow it to swivel out of the way. The holder will now hinge open. Inside are pictures showing how to remove and clean the roller assembly (unlike the 545i back, the 405 gets very messy in use and will need cleaning every time it is reloaded). You can clean the rollers under a hot-water faucet with a toothbrush, drying them thoroughly before replacement. You can then insert the film pack so that the protruding tab points out of the end of the holder towards the handle. Close the back, re-engage the latch and pull the tab firmly but not too hard or abruptly. The tab for the first Polaroid print should then emerge from the slot in the end of the holder, which is then ready to use.

PS: The 405 holder will of course only fit a Graflok or international back which has a removable focusing screen assembly. Does your camera have this?

I have the one with instructions on how to remove the rollers. Yes I also have a graflox back.
Is there a release to push to get the rollers out? I can't seem to get them out.

 

[Dave Parker]

I have the one with instructions on how to remove the rollers. Yes I also have a graflox back.
Is there a release to push to get the rollers out? I can't seem to get them out.

Open the pack up, you will see the rollers, on each side there is a set of metal loop bars running down the side of the holder with plastic catches, place you thumbs over the metal bars push out and pull up with your thumbs, that whole roller setup should come out of the holder, then if you wish to dissmantle further you need to pull out the plastic catches to disengage the metal loop bars...I don't recommend doing more than taking the whole roller assembly out, I did it once and it took me a while to get the whole thing back together correctly.

Hope that makes sense, it is far easier to do, than explain.

Dave

 

[Brad Bireley]

Open the pack up, you will see the rollers, on each side there is a set of metal loop bars running down the side of the holder with plastic catches, place you thumbs over the metal bars push out and pull up with your thumbs, that whole roller setup should come out of the holder, then if you wish to dissmantle further you need to pull out the plastic catches to disengage the metal loop bars...I don't recommend doing more than taking the whole roller assembly out, I did it once and it took me a while to get the whole thing back together correctly.

Hope that makes sense, it is far easier to do, than explain.

Dave

Thanks Dave.
It came out!
Isn't the internet great!
Brad

 

[George Papantoniou]

Sorry Guys, I got the wrong type of holder !!!!!!!