Using Type 55 for the first time....

[sperera]

In honour to and as a mark of respect to the heritage of photography I spent a lot of money (for what it is) buying one of the last remaining (in the world I'm told) packs of 20 of Polaroid Type 55 (the last 2009 lot) as I do not want to go out never having used this famous film.

So, does anyone have a link to youtube or somewhere where i can see someone using this film in order to see the process.....

I have read the pdf from Polaroid and a friend of mine has explained what I have to do but you know how it is.....better when you have a video to refer to before I get the first shot under my belt.....

Actually, I do have one question though......you load the film into the holder etc fine....then you have like two tabs sticking out.....you are supposed to pull BOTH tabs out again before you make the exposure....then you push them back in again after the exposure and turn the leve rin order to squeeze the chemicals pod right.....?

any tips?

 

[bdial]

That's pretty much it. At the end of the holder, opposite where you insert the fim, is a a catch that holds the metal clip, which is attached to the film inside the sleeve.
You insert the pack, and you will hear/feel the clip operate, then you pull the sleeve until it stops. At that point the film is ready to be exposed.
After exposure you push the sleeve back down, then flip the lever to bring the rollers together, then pull out the the sleeve with the film in a continuous smooth motion. Flipping the lever releases the clip and allows all this to happen. You pull the sleeve out completely out of the holder this time, and wait the required time, and pull the sleeves apart to reveal the neg and print.
If you look at the holder you will see that the lever pushes down on a large metal tab. This is what releases the clip. If you want to process the film later you push that tab by itself and you can remove the exposed packet without processing. That way, you can process the film at home, and not carry the clearing bath around if you're in the field.

The last time I shot old type 55, the neg was stuck inside the sleeve and wouldn't allow the sleeve to be pulled up for the exposure. If everything works right the sleeve should be easy to pull up to make the exposure. If it isn't the pack may be no good.
Most people downrate the speed if you are looking for a negative rather than the print. The print will look very light in this case.

Pulling the sleeve out for processing involves a fair amount of force when the clip gets to the rollers. You may want to do this with the holder out of the camera, or hold the camera and the holder very firmly, if you don't.
Another method is to pull until you feel the resistance of the clip against the rollers, then flip the lever to release the rollers and finish pulling the sleeve. However, if you do it this way, it may not spread the chemicals completely to the end of the neg.

 

[sperera]

thanks for your help!!!!

 

[Shangheye]

Rate it at somwhere between 20 and 32 for a good negative.

You wash the negative after peeling in sodium sulphite solution to clear it (it's covered in blue gunk). Be very gentle with the negative the emulsion is very thin and scratches easily. If you don't have sodium sulfite, i have used water before and gently rubbed the film between finger and thumb...don't rush it.

I weep every time I think of the loss of 55. I have 4 boxes of 20 left dated August 2008, and I need to shoot them before the developing pods solidify...

Rgds, kal

 

[dwdmguy]

You don't mention if you understand about the negatives. This is why 55 was such a great instant film. Not for the positive.
Follow Shangheye's advice. Also, while not in video format, flickr has a great deal of discussion on their groups for 55 and/or polapan.
You'll find great threads (recent) here if you search and if you seach youtube on processing the negative you'll get plenty of videos on that.

 

[sperera]

THANKS EVERYONE.....will do.....couldnt find anything on Youtube though....any ideas?????

 

[dwdmguy]

Are you seaching different keywords such as "Developing polaroid negatives" ??? There is a ton out there I know for sure.

 

[dwdmguy]

the keywords I was trying to think of was
polaroid emulsion lift

This will help on the video side.

 

[sperera]

thanks again guys

 

[Vaughn]

I have had the inner packet stick to the outer packet (envelope) on older Type 55 (I suspect a little moisture got in there) -- this causes the inner packet to move up with the outer packet when trying to expose it (the metal tab on the end of the packet deforms, allowing the inner packet to move out with the outer packet.) I have been able to get them unstuck by wiggling the metal tab until the inner packet frees itself from the outer packet. So don't toss any old Type 55 out just because they are stuck!

Of course I am using out-dated (by 15 years or so at least -- and refridgerated for the last 4 to 10 years).

I always feel for the pod of chemicals after I pull the outer packet out to expose. If you can feel the pod, then the inner packet came out with the outer packet and one has to try again.

Vaughn

 

[sperera]

good tip thanks!!!

I have had the inner packet stick to the outer packet (envelope) on older Type 55 (I suspect a little moisture got in there) -- this causes the inner packet to move up with the outer packet when trying to expose it (the metal tab on the end of the packet deforms, allowing the inner packet to move out with the outer packet.) I have been able to get them unstuck by wiggling the metal tab until the inner packet frees itself from the outer packet. So don't toss any old Type 55 out just because they are stuck!

Of course I am using out-dated (by 15 years or so at least -- and refridgerated for the last 4 to 10 years).

I always feel for the pod of chemicals after I pull the outer packet out to expose. If you can feel the pod, then the inner packet came out with the outer packet and one has to try again.

Vaughn

 

[BobCrowley]

Please consider saving your 55 "trash" especially those clips - to speed up the new 55 project.

http://new55project.blogspot.com/2010/01/call-for-materials-dont-throw-your-55.html