I need Polaroid 110B Modder who knows how to make custom Rangefinder Cams for it?

PhotoPham · Oct 19, 2022

As the title says, is there a 110B modder left who can make custom rangefinder cams for different lenses to calibrate the rangefinder? In my research, in the past, there was a guy named Razzel who knew how to get it to work for 90mm f6.3 lenses and 150mm f2.8 xenar lenses but he died of cancer so this knowledge is lost before he could share it. I've seen these cameras with custom lenses with working rangefinders calibrated to the lens, there has to be someone! Litman seemed to disappear but I heard his prices were ridiculous.

Before you mention these two.
Option 8 does not know how to do it.
Helicord does not know how to do it.
I already asked them.

Who else is left? I have a 105mm I want to get working on this camera with a calibrated RangeFinder using a custom cam.

PhotoPham · Oct 19, 2022

Worst case scenario, is there a step-by-step tutorial on how to make one? I don't know if I have the time to do it but if push comes to shove. It is what it is. Did razzel teach people? maybe there's information somewhere.

Donald Qualls · Oct 19, 2022

You might search for the well-documented procedure to make a rangefinder cam for top-RF Speed and Crown Graphic cameras. The process should be the same, even though the dimensions won't be.

xya · Oct 19, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
You might search for the well-documented procedure to make a rangefinder cam for top-RF Speed and Crown Graphic cameras. The process should be the same, even though the dimensions won't be.

Do you have a link to this documentation? I have some cams but not all that I would need. Searching Google I found how to change them, what I knew of course, but not how to make them. Any information would be appreciated...

BrianShaw · Oct 19, 2022

I seem to recall that there is a page on making cams on the Graflex.org site. Might be some clues for you in that material..

EDIT: Found it:

Making a rangefinder cam for the Pacemaker Speed or Crown <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> Graphic

A detailed, illustrated how-to article on constructing a lens cam for a Speed Graphic or Crown Graphic top-mounted rangefinder camera

www.graflex.org

Making Graflex Super Graphic RF Cams

www.graflex.org

Donald Qualls · Oct 19, 2022

BrianShaw said:
a page on making cams on the Graflex.org site.

Yes, that's the one I recall. One or both articles should be applicable to recamming a Polaroid (likely apply even to the 100/300 family pack film RF folders, if you have access to the cams in those rangefinders).

xya · Oct 19, 2022

Thanks for the info.

ic-racer · Oct 19, 2022

If you have to ask, it might be too difficult to make a cam. However, since you only need one, I presume, trial and error has no time limit.

Another way to do it, that I did once, is to have two scales. One scale is permanent and, when the rangefinder patches agree, it shows the distance to subject on the scale (presumably for 127mm lens). Now you have just used the camera as a rangefinder to determine the distance to subject. On the other side of the bed would be interchangeable scales for each lens. Set the lens to the correct spot on your homemade focus scale for that lens. Focus scales would be easy to make.
This would be one step better than 'zone focusing' but not as nice as totally coupled.

Hope that helps.

This is how my camera reads out the distance with the rangefinder, and this number is transferred to the lens by moving it to the correct location with the focus scale. These scales will work with any camera btw, so feel free to copy it for the 105 focal length.

Bill Burk · Oct 19, 2022

The Polaroid cam is a semicyclone on a pin, so the Graflex is irrelevant. You could figure out by focusing manually and noting the necessary cam measurement to make the rangefinder align at various focus distances.

Have you tried the guy who lives near Ventura?

richyd · Oct 19, 2022

Lots of great information here from the chap in Korea who made the Byron conversion:

My Rangefolder Cameras

Rangefinder camera + Folder camera = RangeFolder, a new word that I created, and a new camera out of old ones.

salihonbashome.blogspot.com

I did contact him a few years ago to see if he would make a cam for me as he has a complete machine shop facilities but he wasn't able to.

PhotoPham · Oct 19, 2022

Bill Burk said:
The Polaroid cam is a semicyclone on a pin, so the Graflex is irrelevant. You could figure out by focusing manually and noting the necessary cam measurement to make the rangefinder align at various focus distances.

Have you tried the guy who lives near Ventura?

I think I know who you talking about, Icanberry? this guy only knew 150mm calibrations. He died of heart attack and was homeless. never delivered the work near end of life and wrote some crazy things on Facebook towards people asking for progress/refunds, got banned from many groups during that time.

PhotoPham · Oct 21, 2022

richyd said:
Lots of great information here from the chap in Korea who made the Byron conversion:

My Rangefolder Cameras

Rangefinder camera + Folder camera = RangeFolder, a new word that I created, and a new camera out of old ones.

salihonbashome.blogspot.com

I did contact him a few years ago to see if he would make a cam for me as he has a complete machine shop facilities but he wasn't able to.

ABSOLUTELY valuable info. Thank you 3d printing for a rapid prototype. The rest is up to brain power to problem-solve this haha.

I need Polaroid 110B Modder who knows how to make custom Rangefinder Cams for it?

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