My Polaroid 4x5 Conversion

[voceumana]

That is "nifty"! Love the idea. Somebody should make these commercially.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

That is "nifty"! Love the idea. Somebody should make these commercially.

There were a few people that did it. I think the Austrailian guy died. There was a guy named Littman who made elaborate and expensive one. He was a bit of a kook and I don't think they are available anymore. Several people out of Asia also from what I recall. I've made three of them (not commercially). They are a pain to do. The first one I made around 2004ish and I did it over the course of a year. I didn't change anything on the camera and IIRC I used a Cambo 4x5 back for that one. I sold it a few years ago for a song. The second one was a mishmash of parts from a 900, 800, 150 and a 110a with some parts left over from the first one and I put a Sinar back on it. I originally wanted to make a portrait camera with a 240mm lens, and I got it to work with a Schneider Arton, but I grew tired of seeing it sit unfinished, so I popped a Schneider Symmar on it and called it a day. I still have that one and still use it occasionally. A while after I made that a friend asked me to make one for him and I owed him a big favor, so I agreed. I made a perfect one for him and then swore off ever doing another one it took me so much time. I would make one more if I could get my hands on the lens I want, but they cost a fortune so I doubt I will ever do it.

I originally got the idea on how to convert it when I saw a Four Designs Polaroid back conversion and thought, why not just put a 4x5 back on something like that? I think Littman made his cameras that way, but I have never seen one in person.

If you are going to do one, just put a 4x5 back on it. They used to be easy to get on Ebay but they probably would be rather hard to find these days. Sinar backs work but they need to be machined a bit. Actually I would imagine most backs would have to be machined to work right. Get a Polaroid pack film back to go between the camera and the 4x5 back. It fits right on. One thing I see that is a mistake is no one lops off the end of the camera. You don't need it, so get rid of it. It is just extra weight. If you do it right, they don't weigh much.

Mine took a bad face first fall last year in Az. I had to do quite a bit of repair to it. Still works though.

 

[bernard_L]

I'm not a very technical person

Are you kidding? Amazing work!