Instax images from 35mm Rolleiflex SL3003

ic-racer · Jun 22, 2020

I have two Fuji FP100C pack films left, so I am converting over to Instax film.
I'm using spent pack film cartridges in a "Polaroid" back. I use the spent film cartridges to support the Instax film

My image forming glass has some chips in it but otherwise the image came out nice.
I'm using rollers in an Instax camera to process the film. But I'm working out how to do it by pulling the film through the rollers in the "Polaroid" back.

Lee Rust · Jun 22, 2020

By 'image forming glass', do you mean a ground-glass?

Christiaan Phleger · Jun 22, 2020

I think it is the fiber optic bundle that serves to transfer the image from the film plane to the imaging place of the photo material.

ic-racer · Jun 22, 2020

The polaroid film is held very close to the 35mm film plane, so a piece of high refractive index glass provides the correct focus shift without needing a fiber optic light pipe like other 35mm polaroid backs. I believe this is the only polaroid back for 35mm ever designed without the fiber optic light pipe.

The polaroid back has a dark slide built-in, so it can be pre-loaded with the single Instax film ahead of time.

The glass is very fragile and sticks out when the polaroid back is off the camera and is easily chipped when inserting the polaroid back on the camera. I don't think I have seen any of these with perfect glass.
The one below is not mine, but you can see a similar chip in the glass.

ic-racer · Jun 22, 2020

The fiber optic light pipes are pretty durable, and, since a replacement high refractive index glass in the correct size is not available, I was going to convert mine to a light pipe. I got an old Nikon light pipe polaroid back on ebay for $30 but never went through with the project. I'll just live with the chips in the glass as part of the character of the image.

Lee Rust · Jun 22, 2020

Ah... the fiber optic light pipes in 35mm Polaroid backs are a new concept for me and not very relevant in my case. However, any scheme that might make Instax film compatible with other camera types is always interesting.

choiliefan · Jun 22, 2020

Is this the same as a NPC Polaroid back?
I've been using Instax Mini for a couple years in Bronica and Graflex cams and just acquired an Instax Wide 300 camera and the larger image area is a real luxury. I love Instax film -- just wish it were cheaper to acquirer. It's great stuff.

ic-racer · Jun 22, 2020

choiliefan said:
Is this the same as a NPC Polaroid back?
I've been using Instax Mini for a couple years in Bronica and Graflex cams and just acquired an Instax Wide 300 camera and the larger image area is a real luxury. I love Instax film -- just wish it were cheaper to acquirer. It's great stuff.

The NPC Polaroid backs (and all 35mm backs except the Rolleiflex back) use a small slice of coherent fiber optic cable to transmit the focused image from the 35mm film plane, backward to the surface of the polaroid film.

ic-racer · Jun 22, 2020

The Rolleiflex back uses a piece of optically flat glass behind the lens to shift the focal point backwards to the Polaroid film surface. To make it work they used a special high index of refraction glass that is very brittle.

CMoore · Jun 22, 2020

Wow, that is clever.
Or it seems so to me anyway.

ic-racer · Jun 22, 2020

Schott actually has the technology to make coherent fiber optic networks that magnify. So, yes it is possible for a 35mm frame to be expanded to fill a whole Instax film.

Where is the Marty Forscher of the next generation to make this happen?

Christiaan Phleger · Jun 23, 2020

Ha the kids won't know who Marty was bu that is an interesting idea....

Instax images from 35mm Rolleiflex SL3003

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