I'm just curious given that Polaroid (nee Impossible) no longer makes film for 4X5 or MF film camera "backs", whether anyone has worked out how to use Fuji Instax film in these great cameras for the same, original purpose of testing exposure and composition? Barring that, I wonder about an even less likely combo with an iphone similar to what it looks like ALPA sells for their 12C camera? Think of the latter as an iphone Loupe or something. Like I said, just curious.
Stupid(?) Question: Fuji Instax or iPhone on 4X5 - is it possibe?
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- Thread starter JWMster
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Kind of. You can install a sheet of Instax Mini into a 2x3 film holder. But you have to do that in the dark, and then after exposing it, return it to the camera in the dark, so you can then feed it through the rollers for processing. I imagine something similar could be done for 4x5, but would be a good bit more involved. Plus, it wouldn't matter if you're just wanting to take exposure tests because the image area is so much smaller than the area of the 4x5 film, that you wouldn't be able to gleam much information from it anyway. That's the problem with using an iPhone as well.
In fact, I have a DLSR hookup for my 4x5 Sinar. The problem is that you only get a small fraction of the image exposed onto the sensor (and they don't focus at the same points). That's okay if you're plan is to just shoot digital only (it allows you to use tilts and shifts on your DSLR and makes stitching images together easier because the lens doesn't move, only the camera).
Your best bet for composition and exposure tests is to use a digital camera (or smart phone) and use a analogous lens (or in the case of smart phone, cropping setting) to the one used on your LF or MF camera. In other words, if you're shooting a building with a 4x5 camera using a 90mm lens, then you can use a 28mm lens on a FF DSLR (or 18mm on an APS-C sensor camera) and place it approximately in the same spot as the LF camera to judge basic composition and exposure.
In fact, I have a DLSR hookup for my 4x5 Sinar. The problem is that you only get a small fraction of the image exposed onto the sensor (and they don't focus at the same points). That's okay if you're plan is to just shoot digital only (it allows you to use tilts and shifts on your DSLR and makes stitching images together easier because the lens doesn't move, only the camera).
Your best bet for composition and exposure tests is to use a digital camera (or smart phone) and use a analogous lens (or in the case of smart phone, cropping setting) to the one used on your LF or MF camera. In other words, if you're shooting a building with a 4x5 camera using a 90mm lens, then you can use a 28mm lens on a FF DSLR (or 18mm on an APS-C sensor camera) and place it approximately in the same spot as the LF camera to judge basic composition and exposure.
Jim: Good to know. I kind of thought of that as a tool for framing, but hadn't thought it through to exposure. Too bad the old polaroid tool - if it worked better - ain't an option anymore. Thanks! - Skip
I know a few large format photographers are using this on their phones to plan shots
https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/
https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/
You couldn't just frame with the ground glass? As mentioned, the instax film can be attached to a 4x5 or 8x10 film holder.
Attachments
Sure I can. And yet EVERY LF text... I mean EVERY single one (out of a count'em...5) discusses "test exposure" with Polaroid. Not saying it's always done, or that it's done for more than studio work, but they all talk about it. All I'm asking is a simple question: Since (the NEW) Polaroid does NOT seem to make film for these 4X5 (5X4?) backs but only 600 size or i-Film size, what are folk doing.... if they're doing anything at all. Fuji Instax sounds kind of hard to work on the back of a 4X5. Maybe it's not. But I've never shot with one.... and Poloaroid... I haven't shot with since the 1970's.
Well here is Instax wide in 4x5
For what its worth and not much.. Was thinking the same thing and easily modified a LF 3x4 film holder, by widening, AKA..enlarging the two steel sheet holders vertically, to take the thicker Instax wide film. But logging around a dark bag and an old Instax camera around to process it was more trouble than it was worth.
Then my brother an law gave me his old Nikon D-70. O my... just can't seem to get my head space into learning the process of wanting to shoot with that camera.
The next step may be to take the old Instax camera and incorporate as a back on a film camera, then the shot could be processed at once without dark bag.
Still.. for me, it would be just simpler to just use the D-70..
Ha.. next..
For what its worth and not much.. Was thinking the same thing and easily modified a LF 3x4 film holder, by widening, AKA..enlarging the two steel sheet holders vertically, to take the thicker Instax wide film. But logging around a dark bag and an old Instax camera around to process it was more trouble than it was worth.
Then my brother an law gave me his old Nikon D-70. O my... just can't seem to get my head space into learning the process of wanting to shoot with that camera.
The next step may be to take the old Instax camera and incorporate as a back on a film camera, then the shot could be processed at once without dark bag.
Still.. for me, it would be just simpler to just use the D-70..
Ha.. next..
Right on Icy.. 
I still have some Fuji FP100C and occasionally use that along with film. But it doesn't respond quite the same, so I don't really use it to judge exposure other than if I'm sorta close. I do sometimes take a quick shot with my phone (oh, horrors!) and make it B&W just to see if I think it's worth a sheet of film. Using the Instax or anything else similar would be too complicated.
The test exposure is just that, to test the exposure after factoring in the difference in speed between the Polaroid emulsion and the film being used. Also, type 55 pos/neg was used to check critical focus. Composition is generally judged on the ground glass. Today, a smartphone or tablet with a viewfinder app is handy for setting up a shot beforehand, especially a tablet because the image is nice and large.
there is now a motorized instax wide back http://mercurycamera.com/backs/mercury-instax-backs/ it's not cheap, but there are few alternatives. there were backs made from the lomo belair instax back, but lomo doesn't make the belair backs any more. both need an adapted ground glass.
Yes, I've looked around since this was mentioned. The Mercury has the work done for you... but running $530 is a ca-ching I guess I'm not committed to as of yet. I'm kind of thinking I ought to just see how needed and what degree of utility it would ultimately offer first.
We're months away from looking at that more than to pull on my chin and go, "Hmmmmmmmm" and keep at it.
Thanks everyone for chiming in. Every bit helps. ESPECIALLY the perspective on the utility of the effort. As we often say, "Just because we can doesn't mean we should."
We're months away from looking at that more than to pull on my chin and go, "Hmmmmmmmm" and keep at it.
Thanks everyone for chiming in. Every bit helps. ESPECIALLY the perspective on the utility of the effort. As we often say, "Just because we can doesn't mean we should."
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