Polaroid Type 55

[matthew]

I have used other polaroid materials, but not 55. I assume it has a thin negative base and if so any problems in using a glassless negative carrier?

 

[doughowk]

I've used type 55N and the negative is fine - I read somewhere that its an older Kodak film. If the photo is about 1 stop overexposed, then the negative should be fine ( paper is ISO 50 while film is ISO 25 - only can imagine why).

 

[wdemere]

I use 25-40 ISO for a neg based on what I read somewhere else. Probably Dead Link Removed I find I get an OK print and a good neg at 40 in most cases, but ymmv.

The neg is a little bit too big for a glassless carrier on my Omega D2V. A glass carrier can be had on ebay pretty cheaply. I think there is a special polaroid glassless carrier too. Not sure about other enlarger types.

For my 4x5 glassless holder on the Omega D2V if I trim the neg down a little so that it fits on the glassless it works OK. I used to just chop it off in the paper cutter before I got the glass carrier.

The polaroid 400 4x5 back works fine and is cheap on ebay. Just read the instructions on using it on the Land List, as it is possible to pull the packet out too far with the older holder.

And, of course, you have to clear the negative. You can just put it in a tupperware like sandwich container with some water or a plastic bag with some water until you can put it in the clearing solution. And it can stay a long time in the clearing solution with no ill effect I think based on my experiments. Washing is probably a little longer than with most film.

Good luck,

William

 

[matthew]

Didn't even think about the negative being to big for the carrier. Thanks.

The neg is a little bit too big for a glassless carrier on my Omega D2V. A glass carrier can be had on ebay pretty cheaply. I think there is a special polaroid glassless carrier too.

 

[Sean]

there is some good information here on the 665 pack film. I've been investigating this for use with my Mamiya645 and polaroid back:

http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~jpalma/pack_negative.html

If anyone wants to share their experiences with using 665 negatives with medium format to print with, I'd be more than interested!

 

[argentic]

The problem with type 55 here in Holland (Europe) is that it has become terribly expensive these last few years. It was never cheap. But 100 $ for 20 sheets is just too much for my budget. It's a pity, because I loved these negatives.

Gilbert

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

And, of course, you have to clear the negative. You can just put it in a tupperware like sandwich container with some water or a plastic bag with some water until you can put it in the clearing solution. And it can stay a long time in the clearing solution with no ill effect I think based on my experiments. Washing is probably a little longer than with most film.

Good luck,

William

I have used a lot of 55PN over the years and it is very similar to Kodak Panatomic X.

Polaroid recommends immersing the negative within 3 minutes of separation, in an 18% solution of sodium sulfite, with continuous agitation until cleared. This should be followed by a water wash.

For enlargements, Polaroid recommends two minutes in an acid hardening bath, followed by a water wash. A hardening fixer bath, followed by a water wash, will work equally well, in my experience.

If the negatives are soaked too long in the clearing bath, the emulsion can swell with undesireable consequences for image sharpness.

 

[Sean]

The problem with type 55 here in Holland (Europe) is that it has become terribly expensive these last few years. It was never cheap. But 100 $ for 20 sheets is just too much for my budget. It's a pity, because I loved these negatives.

Gilbert

wow that's pricey. The polaroid back for my mamiya645 super takes 3-1/4 x 4-1/4" pack film. This size in 665 is $14.95US for 10 sheets. But I am not sure what quality the negs have, if they come out blotchy and spotted or just look like normal negs? If they look somewhat normal with a nice scale it might be a good alternative for me to try with my current lack of time. I could head down to the rocks, make some 655 negs, go back to the darkroom and clear them, then print that night..

 

[Sean]

If the negatives are soaked too long in the clearing bath, the emulsion can swell with undesireable consequences for image sharpness.

Hi Tom, any idea what the time frame for this is? My shooting has been close to my home lately. I'd say my sessions last 3 hours max. So should I shoot, clear, then place in a water bath until I get home, or just leave them in the clearing bath and try to get home within an hours time? thanks

 

[argentic]

wow that's pricey. The polaroid back for my mamiya645 super takes 3-1/4 x 4-1/4" pack film. This size in 665 is $14.95US for 10 sheets. But I am not sure what quality the negs have, if they come out blotchy and spotted or just look like normal negs? If they look somewhat normal with a nice scale it might be a good alternative for me to try with my current lack of time. I could head down to the rocks, make some 655 negs, go back to the darkroom and clear them, then print that night..

55 and 665 is the same thing in a different size and package. The negs are just beautiful when processed like they should be.

Type 55 can be unloaded without processing. Back home you process and wash them when it suits you. Just remember not to write data on the sleeves with a pencil. Use a felt pen.

Gilbert

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Hi Tom, any idea what the time frame for this is? My shooting has been close to my home lately. I'd say my sessions last 3 hours max. So should I shoot, clear, then place in a water bath until I get home, or just leave them in the clearing bath and try to get home within an hours time? thanks

What I would do is expose the film, pull the packet out of the Polaroid back without processing and store it (them) til you get home. Use your Polariod back to process the packets. Separate the film from the print. If you like, you can first remove the viscous monobath goo and antihalation die with a wash in an 18% solution of sodium sulfite. Alternatively, put the film straight into the hardening fixer bath, which will clear it and harden it in one step. Then wash, photoflo and dry like normal film.

An alternative would be a place field processed negatives in Tupperware container filled with an 18% sodium sulfite solution. Then fix/harden them for about 2 minutes in the same container when you get home. 55PN negs are easy to scratch before they are hardened.

 

[ann]

I have used both a glassless carrier and a negatron with 55, it is not the same size as 4x5 negatives and you will also need to get a special print file for them as they do not fit in the 4 x5 negative print files.

I have been doing a special project with this film for almost 2 years and i love the film and the look but have had some serious issues. Polariod has been helpful and replaced some film as there was a factory defect, but it has been madding.

 

[Landrum]

Polaroid does make a special film clearing bucket that has a circular neg holder basket. It holds about ten negatives and keeps them separated from one another while clearing. Best bet though is to process the polaroids once back at the studio, less chance of uneven processing, scratching and gook getting on the negative.

Greg

 

[Sean]

so just to confirm this. You guys are saying that it is possible to remove the shots from the pack film holder one at a time and then dev them later? Just want to make sure you're not thinking that I am talking about 4x5 polaroid backs using single sheets. I'll be using the packs. I'll probably see what you mean once I buy a pack to look at. Thanks

P.S. also, I see a lot of mention that the positive must be 'coated' immediately. Coated with what?

 

[L Gebhardt]

so just to confirm this. You guys are saying that it is possible to remove the shots from the pack film holder one at a time and then dev them later? Just want to make sure you're not thinking that I am talking about 4x5 polaroid backs using single sheets. I'll be using the packs. I'll probably see what you mean once I buy a pack to look at. Thanks

P.S. also, I see a lot of mention that the positive must be 'coated' immediately. Coated with what?

The type 55 sheets can be removed from the holder without processing it by not moving the roller lever and just pushing on the release button. This is how you use Quickloads in the holder as well. I have no idea on the pack film.

The Sheet film comes with 4 coating sponges, impregnated with coating goo, for 20 sheets of film. I assume the pack does as well. You do not need to coat the prints unless you plan on keeping them - they don't fade that quickly. In fact I don't coat them until I get home (usually less than 4 hours). The reason for this is that the coating takes a long time to dry and collects dust and crap. This ruins the print much more than a slight bit of fading, which I have never personally seen. This is all for type 55. It may be different for the pack films.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Does type 55 come in 4x5" packs? If it does, I don't think there's an easy way to remove shets from a pack for processing later. I don't see it on Polaroid's website:

http://www.polaroid.com/products/pr...0&bmUID=1091019130294&PRDREG=null&sc=Packfilm

You can get a 545 holder used for around $100. I'd just get one and use sheets, if you want to shoot type 55 in 4x5".

 

[jtsatterlee]

Type 55 is P/N sheet so with the 545 Holder/Back you can delay development.

Polaroid's wesbite does not list a 4x5 P/N pack.

 

[wdemere]

Type 55 is P/N sheet so with the 545 Holder/Back you can delay development.

Polaroid's wesbite does not list a 4x5 P/N pack.

There is a holder for the packfilm. I think it is #405. I'm sure it is listed on the Land List. I don't think it will work on a spring back being too thick, but it should work with a graflok back, though I've never tried it since I don't own one. You can't expose each sheet in the packfilm without processing though.

Maybe you can pull the sheet film (55) out of the 545 holder and bypass processing till later, but I'm not sure you can do it with the older type 400 holder. I've never tried opening the latch for cleaning the rolls and removing the sheet. I'll have to try it and see.

But, I have to wonder why bother? Just process and then put the neg in a plastic bag or tupperware with some water. I guess you won't have as much trash, but that doesn't weigh much. Though, if it works I guess there would be some advantage to not having a trash bag to carry around.

 

[Landrum]

You can only remove individual sheets without processing, it is type 55. You cannot remove the sheets individually from the pack film holders unless you take it in the darkroom and then you would probably screw up several other sheets.

The 405 holder does fit in spring back cameras such as Sinar's and Horeseman's. It looks like it is way to thick but it works just fine. I used to use the 405 "pack film" polaroid before most of the catalog work went digital.

Both the 545 and 405 are for 4x5 cameras. The 545 uses individual sheets such as Type 55. The 405 holder uses pack film instead of sheets. The 405 Polaroid produces a slightly larger image area than the 545. An example of the type of Polaroid used in the 405 holder is Type 559, the old style emulsion of color Polaroid. I just looked at B&H's and Calumets web site and I did not see Type 555. That is what the designation would be for pack film black and white P/N 4x5 Polaroid. I'm pretty sure they used to make it, I think a friend of mine in college in the late '80's and early '90's used it.

As far as the 405 holder is concerned, I consider it the black sheep of the Polaroid family. Most people prefer the 545 holder even though you get a larger image size on the 405.

Greg