Polaroid 110A conversion. Pack film or sheet film?

[spoolman]

Anyone who has done this conversion is it easier to convert this camera to use pack film or to use 4x5 sheet film.
I have my eye on one of these cameras and I've read so much about this procedure. I would like to use it to do street photography but I'm trying to decide whether to go pack film or sheet film.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

 

[StoneNYC]

I'm confused, doesn't the polaroid camera take pack film?

 

[Oren Grad]

The 110A was designed to use a now long-discontinued roll film type. It needs some sort of conversion to be usable at all today.

 

[StoneNYC]

The 110A was designed to use a now long-discontinued roll film type. It needs some sort of conversion to be usable at all today.

Ahh I see, I looked it up, the original produced an instant print, why not follow that with the pack film conversion.

Or you can find a way to add a graflock back to it, then he could take both sheet film and pack film.

 

[Truzi]

I've a Polaroid 800 I would like to eventually convert. I want to do it so it takes standard 4x5 film holders (and Grafmatics). I believe there are pack-film backs that will work in this manner, so you may be able to do both, as it were (but double-check my belief).

Anyway, I've not done this, but I think the pack-film conversion requires cutting some of the top and perhaps body just to make the holder fit. I'm not sure if this is also true of the 4x5 conversion.

Mine was my Great Grandmother's, so I will try to modify it in a reversible manner. If I can succeed, I'll only get the standard sized image for those cameras regardless of film-size. I've already loaded it with 4x5 film in a changing bag, though it's tedious to use in this manner.

As you prepare for the conversion, have you considered wasting some money and trying some old roll-film? It can be fun to use it as intended just for the experience. I have purchased some of the film on ebay and am batting 500 on it (though, as time goes on, I expect some regression to the mean, lol). I don't expect any of it to work, so I don't get disappointed.
Oddly, the older rolls that expired in the 60s seemed to work better for me (only losing two or three shots each), while rolls made in the 80s were more often complete failures. The best roll was older than I am When the pictures turn out, they are not great, but I have gotten images, and it is fun. (I've also scanned the "negative" part and gotten better pictures from them than the positives.)

I suppose an Instax Wide conversion is another option.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I've had one converted to pack film, and now use one converted to 5x4. My experience has been that instant film is slow in use, just from having to wait for each photo to develop and then dry; and the range of films on offer is not exactly over-generous. Sheet film lets you keep shooting at your own pace for as long as you have loaded holders ready. With a little practice and discipline, switching film holders can be done quickly without ruining the photo (you'll only forget to replace the dark slide once). Get a conversion with a graflock back and you'll be able to use a whole range of different film formats.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have modified one to take 120. That's quite an easy conversion. I have also started but not finished a 5x4 conversion.

A pack film conversion wouldn't interest me but I haver seen good examples of this being done.


Steve.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Your best bet would be to convert it to 4x5. The 110a would need a 900 rangefinder to really make it usable even if you just want to convert it to pack film. It is usually easiest to just get a 110b. I once made one out of 800, 900 and 110a bodies. That wasn't too much fun. It is the one I kept though because I fitted it with a Symmar. They do take a lot of time to make if you want to do it right. You will need a Polaroid back and a 4x5 graflok back to do it. Avoid spring backs. Adding a 4x5 back does add a bit of complexity and cost, but in the long run it is worth it. A pack film conversion on the other hand is very easy to do. Get a packfilm back, chop the end off the camera then position the pack film back to agree with the viewfinder (the back fits exactly between the rails) and screw it or glue it. I don't remember if the front standard has to be repositioned, but it might. For the 4x5 conversion you will most definitely have to move the front standard.

If all you want to do is shoot pack film then you are better off just getting a pack film camera. The 180/190s are pretty pricey last time I checked. If you want to convert a 250 type to have a better lens it is pretty easy. I made one years ago by taking the front half of the front housing off and mounting a 100mm Componon that fit in a Synchro Compur. It focussed perfectly which was dumb luck. I did it specifically to shoot 665 but a month after I made the camera they announced the demise of 665. Go figure. I still have the camera sans lens since the lens is in my darkroom these days.

If you have any questions about these things just ask.