Mamiya RB67 NPC Polaroid back instructions?

[hpulley]

Anyone have the instructions for the Mamiya RB67 NPC Polaroid back or can give a quick explanation? How do I pull the film out after a shot? How do I reload a pack? How do I know the pack is done? Thanks!

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I do not have the instructions, but the processes you are talking about are exactly the same as any polaroid back or pack film camera, so there have to be instructions out there that will be helpful.

Here is a manual for the pack film model 220. If you look at the second page, the open back is basically the same as your NPC polaroid back. The rollers are identical, etc.

http://www.cameramanuals.org/polaroid_pdf/polaroid_220.pdf

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I realized that some of the instructions in the manual are not the clearest, so basically here is the drill.

Put the film in and close the back, making sure that the black tab is sticking out of the back. It will seem a little strange and look like it is coming out the wrong place, don't worry. Pull on the black tab and pull the paper out all the way and discard, it will be a foot or more long. Make sure that a small white paper tab is sticking out of the camera. You are now ready to shoot.

Take your exposure, once the exposure is taken, pull the small white tab all the way out. You will see a larger tab show up. Pull it out all the way, straight out of the back. That is your actual photo. Keep it closed for as long as the instructions indicate. After that time has elapsed, peel the photo off of the pack and discard the rest. The photo will be wet, make sure it dries out before putting it away, it will stick to stuff.

That's really it. Pretty simple.

have fun!

Paul

 

[hpulley]

Thanks for that!

I tried a couple of pictures but the entire thing came out white, no black frame at all. Yes, I pulled the dark slide out AFTER I'd mounted the back. The manual says white means overexposure but I would think that the black outline of the 6x7 rectangle would not be white. The film is old, does that mean it is fogged to white or was exposed? I guess I'll need to try a new Fuji Instant pack once I confirm that the camera is working (and I know how to work it) with conventional film. Too bad, I thought the Polaroid would be a quick check. I really should have thought to try it with the original owner to see if he remembered how to use the Polaroid back but I wasn't thinking at the time.

 

[graflexboy]

To pull out a film, first pull white tab out at medium speed in a straight line. This will bring out the picture pack's black tab in a separate slot. Pull the black tab out and start timing for development--depends on film type and temperature of your location. Then when time is up, peel print (it is gray-backed) off the negative.

Your pack is empty if you have used up either 8 or 10 films, depending on film type. I could say it might be empty if no more tabs come out--assuming nothing jammed inside the film holder!!!

To reload, take your thumbnail and slip under the metal bail (clip) on the right side of the holder (on the tab pulling side). Pop the bail out and swing it and the film door open. Pull out the empty film pack. Check the rollers for leftover goop from film developer pod. Lift out the rollers on their red plastic clip and clean with damp cloth. Resist temptation to scratch off hardened goop deposits with fingernails! That can scratch the rollers--I think Polaroid info said that. Insert rollers and click back into place.

Open your new film and remove from foil package. Lay the NPC back open on a table in front of you with hinged end on the left. Hold the film pack with the tabs on the right and black paper label covering the film window facing away from you. Place the tabless end of the film pack into the holder first and push left and downward to snap it in place. Make sure the tabs are fluffed out to the right side and not squished beneath the pack. Close lid leaving black tab sticking out. Latch the bail. Make sure the darkslide is inserted. Pull out the black paper cover tab. You're ready!

Please-- others chime in if I led this shooter astray!

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Thanks for that!

I tried a couple of pictures but the entire thing came out white, no black frame at all. Yes, I pulled the dark slide out AFTER I'd mounted the back. The manual says white means overexposure but I would think that the black outline of the 6x7 rectangle would not be white. The film is old, does that mean it is fogged to white or was exposed? I guess I'll need to try a new Fuji Instant pack once I confirm that the camera is working (and I know how to work it) with conventional film. Too bad, I thought the Polaroid would be a quick check. I really should have thought to try it with the original owner to see if he remembered how to use the Polaroid back but I wasn't thinking at the time.

Did the print stick to the negative when you pulled it out of the back? Old film will dry out and the paper and negative sides will not stick together and will not process. I am wondering if that could be the issue. I have never had film that failed to create an image except for times when the pack was very old and dried out.

Here is a web link to some decent photos on the land list showing pack film camera operation. Dead Link Removed You will see all of the various steps, the last image shows the picture being peeled off after developing. It will be nice and gooey, if the whole thing does not stick together and there is no goo inside, then it is old film. If that is not the case, my guess is that it is not film age that is causing the problem.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Actually, also check out this Youtube video, pretty clear demonstration of how it all works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aucniWcRjdU

 

[hpulley]

It is old and completely dry, was loaded in the back years ago. I bought it used. I'll try a new pack of Fuji instant, my local store has some. Thanks for the video.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

That's the ticket then, dried out Polaroid is a goner. Polaroid film, at least the pack films as I have no experience with integral films, does not age as well as regular film. The issue is pretty much always dried out chemical pods.

Have fun with your new RB, by the way!

 

[hpulley]

Yeah, it is too bad this one seems to have been loaded and then not used but in the years it has dried out completely. If the pack had not been installed I wonder if it would have been good? Perhaps not. Ah well, at least I got some practice at pulling the films out of the holder.

Any idea how long they should last? It shouldn't really take long to use up a pack of 10. FP100C for $25 doesn't seem too bad so I might have to pick up a fresh pack.

I'm already having fun with it even though I haven't had any results back yet. Tomorrow I hope to get some film back and find out how well it is working. If I could get a 120 reel I could do some B&W but the ones I've ordered have not shipped yet from Henrys so I'm not sure they're in stock. Perhaps I should have ordered from the USA...

 

[hpulley]

I popped open a fresh pack of FP100C for Christmas and it works great in the NPC Polaroid Land back I have on my RB67. New chemicals work great.

Anyone know how soon I should finish off the 10 pack? I know from the old one that was in my back that they don't last forever but will they last a few weeks or should I finish it off quick once it's been opened? The data sheet says to expose the film as soon as possible after opening. Not sure if I should save the rest of the pack for my daughter's birthday in a few weeks or blow the rest during the holidays. I should probably get a fresh pack for the birthday...

 

[CGW]

I popped open a fresh pack of FP100C for Christmas and it works great in the NPC Polaroid Land back I have on my RB67. New chemicals work great.

Anyone know how soon I should finish off the 10 pack? I know from the old one that was in my back that they don't last forever but will they last a few weeks or should I finish it off quick once it's been opened? The data sheet says to expose the film as soon as possible after opening. Not sure if I should save the rest of the pack for my daughter's birthday in a few weeks or blow the rest during the holidays. I should probably get a fresh pack for the birthday...

Your call. I'd be tempted to shoot it up for the holidays and call it quits. It will hold, though, just by keeping it cool(not a problem in balmy Guelph)but not much more than a few weeks. At those prices it should clear why instant film backs are so cheap now.

 

[hpulley]

Who was I kidding, 10 shots went quickly...

 

[hpulley]

At that price? I don't know, $25 seems like a lot for 10 shots but when I consider that local processing of a 120 roll with 4" prints is $12, the convenience of instant processing seems worth it to me. I think I'm going to buy a bunch more FP100C and will try some FP100B as well. It's fun! And if I don't buy any it will be gone and then my Polaroid back will be a paperweight which would be sad, don't you think?

 

[Ric Trexell]

Film only lasts a few weeks?

Wow, I was reading about your instructions on using insant film and how it got into a discussion of the short life of instant film. I used Polaroids back in the '70's and '80's and never had a problem with them drying up. Ofcourse I was taking a lot of pictures then and probably used up a pack in a month or so, but I think I might have had a few that were in my camera for several months without any problems. Ofcourse back then it was 8 exposures and now Fuji makes it in 10 exposures, so othey went faster too. I even once had a model 180 but sold it. (My Indian name must be 'He Who Sells Hot Cameras For a Song"). I bought a Polaroid back for my RB and have not used it yet but I certainly would hope film will last more than a few weeks! Even a digital camera can't come close to the fun of an instant print for some reason. The magic of holding a picture in your hand that was taken a few minutes ago is not the same as printing it out from a computer. Have fun! Ric.

 

[CGW]

At that price? I don't know, $25 seems like a lot for 10 shots but when I consider that local processing of a 120 roll with 4" prints is $12, the convenience of instant processing seems worth it to me. I think I'm going to buy a bunch more FP100C and will try some FP100B as well. It's fun! And if I don't buy any it will be gone and then my Polaroid back will be a paperweight which would be sad, don't you think?

Check B&H prices--a bit less than 1/2 the going TO prices. No denying that it's fun but not at $2.50/shot with no neg.

 

[michaelbsc]

Check B&H prices--a bit less than 1/2 the going TO prices. No denying that it's fun but not at $2.50/shot with no neg.

You can get the negs by using clorine bleach to remove the backing. There's a thread about it around here somewhere.

 

[hpulley]

It really is fun. I haven't used Polaroid since the '70s and '80s but it was always fun. The Fuji instant seems quite good, seems better quality not sure if it is the film or the Mamiya RB67 lenses.

B&H, $10 a pack wow! Now they have ground shipping to Canada too, 9 packs is $8.22 shipping, 10 packs goes up to $9.62 shipping, 14 packs seems to be another threashold $11.42 shipping. Wow, great prices. At $11/pack total that isn't too bad really, $1.10/shot and if you want to make copies there are always internegs for more prints.

Just makes me wish I had a 6x9 Polaroid back on some camera though the RB67 is already pretty darned heavy with the prism finder and flash bracket in place. I looked on eBay and couldn't even see any 6x9 Polaroid backs for anything but perhaps I had the wrong search terms.