Polaroid Cameras

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arigram

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I want to buy a Polaroid instant camera for fun and artistic shots.
I have no clue for which one to look for.
If it takes the same film I use for my Hasselblad back, then it will make it even more practical, than to have to find two different kinds of instant film.

Any ideas?
 

medform-norm

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Look on the Landlist, you will find a nice list of all Polaroids that take packfilm like your Hassy (Dead Link Removed). We use a 101, a 340 and a 180, which is the professional version. But there are plenty of other interesting models in the packfilm variety, like the 250 and the other professional one, the 195 (there's currently one for sale on the Dutch marktplaats and it's not overpriced yet. Item number 4332778613. Seller takes PayPal). Other than that: do your google!
 

Wayne

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There are dwindling film choices for cameras like the 180 and 195. Make sure you can get the film you want for whatever camera you decide on. I bought a 180 last year to use use with 669 pos/neg, several months before they announced 669 would no longer be available...


Wayne
 

Amund

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Or buy a camera that takes 600-film , here`s one or the Spectra series(Wich uses Spectra/Image film). here
Cameras are easily found at $5-15 on eBay.
I love these cameras and the cool-looking images you get with the Polaroid film.

For some control, look for a Minolta Instant Pro, it has the possibilities for double exposures, timed exposures up to two minutes and much more.
It uses Spectra/Image film. here`s one
 

Chan Tran

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Or you can buy this one
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
from a fellow apug member?
 

Donald Qualls

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Wayne said:
There are dwindling film choices for cameras like the 180 and 195. Make sure you can get the film you want for whatever camera you decide on. I bought a 180 last year to use use with 669 pos/neg, several months before they announced 669 would no longer be available...

Wayne, I think you mean 665 -- that film, and the corresponding type 85 (square format, otherwise identical) was dropped, according to Polaroid press releases, due to discontinuation of the film stock that forms the negative. Type 669, the older of the color films available in 3x4 pack format, is still going strong, as is Type 690 (newer color), and the B&W 667 and 664 (ISO 3000 and 100 respectively). I think there's an ISO 400 B&W also -- yep, 672. So, I count more films still available for 3x4 Polaroid (not even counting two or three Fuji choices) than are available in 127...
 

Harrigan

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You might look for a pack film folding camera such as the 100 or 250, 350 and 450. I believe you are using pack film for the hassy? There are many of these in the series from 100-450 and all in between. The "better" versions have a zeiss finder which views and focuses in the same window while the standard models have the viewfinder and focus seperated in two windows which can be a bit of a pain. The standard of this model with the good finder is the 250 but the 350, 360 and 450 all have the zeiss finder and its will worth it to get one of this type. The 180 and 195 are the pro versions of these cameras and have fully adjustable lenses while the standard models have some limited exposure control. The 195 does not have the zeiss finder so get the 180 if you want to go with the pro version in my opinion.
 
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arigram

arigram

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Those are all old cameras that I have to look for in EBay? There are no modern ones sold at stores?
That Konica Instant Press Camera looks very nice but I have no 800 dollars at the moment.

Thank you for the replies.
 

DBP

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There is an NPC version of the 195 sold at B&H, but it is over $700. Among the used pack film cameras, on eBay I paid $5.99 for my Polaroid 100 and $8 for the 250 I gave my last girlfriend. Except for the high end 180, 185, 190, and 195, you shouldn't need to pay more than $10. The better autoexposure models are the 100, 240, 250, 350, 355, 360, 450, and 455. All but the first two have a combined RF/VF. You can take pretty decent pics with them, and they are interesting to handle. This is the kind of purchase eBay is made for, frankly.
 
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Hello Aristotelis,

Those old Polaroid 250 Automatic cameras are numerous on EBAY. A little patience and carefully checking the condition should get you a nice one for little expense. Just check for any corrosion in the battery compartment, and you should be fine. I have a complete all accessories 250 Automatic that cost me less than $US 50 three years ago, just for an example.

The NPC and Konica Press are nicer. The Polaroid 600SE is nicer still, and if I remember correctly based upon a Mamiya Press design; though those are heavier and more complicated. Another choice would be a view camera with a Polaroid type 405 back.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
 

Donald Qualls

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Yes, Ari, all the decently priced pack-film Polaroids are old cameras you'll need to get via eBay or similar. FWIW, these were expensive cameras when new; the 250 sold (in about 1964) for a sum that would fetch a fair to good used car (at least in the USA), and you'd be seriously challenged to find a used car that even runs for the $800 they're getting for the Konica Press Instant (and you'd better hurry on that one, as Konica recently dropped all film camera manufacturing, which likely includes that model).

I'd recommend the 250 and 350 models. They're likely to have non-functional shutters as received from a know-nothing eBay seller, but that's easily corrected, since it's practically always due to corrosion in the battery connecting wires and you'll probably want to convert it to use 2xAAA cells in place of the 532 that was original in these models (the 100 used a 531 that was 4.5 V and would require 3xAAA). I've made this battery conversion on my 350, also including connecting the development timer to the same battery as the shutter (original had *two* 532s), and it fits in the original battery compartment.

You should be able to buy the cameras for under US$20 plus shipping, convert/rewire the batteries for $5 or less in parts and do the work in half an hour to an hour, and have a fine working camera. The down side is that it's auto exposure only; that can be corrected by stripping off all the original shutter electronics (unfortunately also removing the original lens, which is quite good on the 100-250-350-360-450 models) and replacing it with a lens in conventional shutter mounted to the or extended from the original front plate. Suitably adjusted to give infinity focus at the camera's original infinity position, you can use a 120 mm from an old 116, or a 127 from a different Polaroid or a 4x5 press camera, and still have usable rangefinder accuracy (within DOF as long as you don't shoot wide open at a close focus setting - f/8 recommended inside about 6 meters, f/16 preferred up close). Depending on the lens, you might even be able to mount a 105 mm from a 6x9, which should barely cover the almost 3x4 Polaroid pack film.

And then, when you can't get Polaroid film any more, these are easily converted to 4x5 and make nice, lightweight 4x5 RF cameras (though they aren't so good for ground glass focus).
 

DBP

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Donald Qualls said:
I'd recommend the 250 and 350 models. They're likely to have non-functional shutters as received from a know-nothing eBay seller, but that's easily corrected, since it's practically always due to corrosion in the battery connecting wires and you'll probably want to convert it to use 2xAAA cells in place of the 532 that was original in these models (the 100 used a 531 that was 4.5 V and would require 3xAAA). I've made this battery conversion on my 350, also including connecting the development timer to the same battery as the shutter (original had *two* 532s), and it fits in the original battery compartment.

Would you be so kind as to publish a pic or diagram of the mods?
 

Wayne

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Donald, you are correct. I mean 665, but that was the best (for me) B&W film that was available for the camera, the equivaent of type 55. Thats the only film I had intended on using when I bought the camera.


Wayne
 

PhotoPete

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DBP said:
Would you be so kind as to publish a pic or diagram of the mods?
I have a Microsoft Word document that has step-by-step instructions (with pictures) if you PM me your email address, I will send it to you when I get home tonight.

I will also try to post it to the articles section.

Aristotelis,
If you can't find a suitable Polaroid locally, I can send you one of mine for the cost of shipping it from the US.
 

Donald Qualls

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Converting the Polaroid battery connection to use standard cells, and replacing corroded wiring connected to it, was such a trivial job I didn't bother photographing the process in the two cameras I've repaired in this way. It's about as simple as electrical work can get and still involve a soldering iron. The only big issues to watch are to get a battery holder that will fit inside the original compartment (2xAAA isn't a problem, 3xAAA could be a major pain) and to preserve original polarity. Since the original 531 and 532 batteries were either carbon-zinc or alkaline chemistry, modern AAA alkaline cells are a direct replacement, and the AAA cells have five times the life of the originals (mostly due to 40+ years of development applied since the original carbon-zinc versions were introduced in the 1960s).

The really good news here is that, since the battery is housed in the body of the camera, the corrosion doesn't seem to reach the shutter electronics, which are all inside the front standard; I've never heard of even having to resolder the connections at the circuit board, it's quite adequate to cut the wire back enough to get clean conductors on stripping back the insulation, and solder on the battery holder pigtails at that point. The repair should cost about $2 for the battery holder, if you already have a soldering iron and rosin core solder on hand (plus a means of insulating the repair joints).
 
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arigram

arigram

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PhotoPete said:
I have a Microsoft Word document that has step-by-step instructions (with pictures) if you PM me your email address, I will send it to you when I get home tonight.

I will also try to post it to the articles section.

Aristotelis,
If you can't find a suitable Polaroid locally, I can send you one of mine for the cost of shipping it from the US.

That you for your very generous offer Pete.
The shipping could be a lot though, enough to make one think if its worth it. At first I thought it would be just going to store and buying a modern one, but I guess it should be expected from Polaroid.

I haven't decided what to do as my budget is pathetic at the moment.
 

PhotoPete

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Instructions are in the articles section: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Aristotelis,
Let me know if you still can't find one over there. My US ZIP is 02451 if yo uwant to check shipping costs. Here in the US, old Polaroids appear often at thrift stores and yard sales, but I also live < 1 mi from the Polaroid HQ.
 

Donald Qualls

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With careful packing, you should be able to ship a 250 or 350 pretty much anywhere on Earth using "Air Letter Post" international mail for under $20. I shipped a camera to Uruguay not long ago, grossly over-packaged, for $16.55, and could have stuffed another quarter kilo of packing material into the box for the same price. I just checked at usps.gov, and found the same rate in effect for the same service to Greece (4-7 working days, plus any customs delay). The biggest restriction for a Polaroid would be the package size limits -- length + breadth + thickness cannot exceed 36 inches for Air Letter Post, larger packages would travel Air Parcel Post which is more expensive.
 

Roger Hicks

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The NPC 195 is a delightful camera but, indeed, expensive. Another fairly expensive option is the Polaroid 600SE, which has interchangeable lenses and also accepts an NPC 4x5 back (can be used with Quickload/Readyload as well as Type 55, with 1cm loss on all sides) and, with adapter, Mamiya-Press roll-film holders. I have both an NPC and a 600SE and can recommend both if the price is not too great a deterrent.

Cheers,

Roger
 
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arigram

arigram

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Today I went by my local photo distributor and after asking him about Polaroid cameras I bought a cheap, all-automatic Polaroid One Classic. Its a simple toy and it takes 780 film but it seems to be fine for the moment.
I will play a bit with it and if it sticks with me I might "upgrade" to a more pro instant camera like the ones you suggested and offered.
I would like to thank all of you for your contributions and the couple people that offered me a camera as a gift. I might take your offer in the future.
 
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arigram

arigram

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Damn, Polaroid film is expensive!
Both 600 and 780 are about 12 euros a ten exposure pack.
Is it that expensive where you are?
Is it because of the dissapearing of Polaroid or was it always so expensive?
 

John Koehrer

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Ari,
It's always been expensive. Here in the midwestern US prices are similar~$12 for a ten pack. Remember though you're getting film and processing for the $$$. And of course, instant gratification.
 
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arigram

arigram

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Thank you John for the clarification.

And another confusion:

The Polaroid One Classic camera I bought says that will take 600/700/680 film. Does that include the Polaroid 664 and Fuji FP-100C I have used with my Hasselblad back?
 

PhotoPete

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In the US, the 600 film is different that the 'peel apart' film that your Hassy back uses. It is an 'integrated' film which develops as you watch.
 
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