What to have for Poloroid 665 film??

Bighead · Jul 27, 2005

I want to try this stuff.... I actually have some sort of poloroid camera, that someone bought for my at a garage sale but.....

What kind of camera do I need.. A Land camera? What are my options?

I know nothing about polaroid film or the cameras. I want to use it for an alternative process for portraiture and some "fine art" crap.

Got the initial idea from the movie "Seven"... One of the photographers that did some of the stills for the movie ("Glutony") used 665. Did some creepy shite with it....

Anyway, what is the no frills camera, what is the ultimate thing to use?

jimgalli · Jul 27, 2005

If you have a 4X5 camera a Polaroid 405 back will receive the 665 film. Another possibility is to buy the leftovers of an old oscilloscope camera (I have tons of these laying around) that has the correct back, and simply install a pin-hole on the front.

I can fix you up for about $20 and a bit to ship.

Bighead · Jul 27, 2005

I have no idea what your talking about but, you've got yourself a deal. I'll even make an APUG donation in your name

So, am I correct on this? 665 is 4x5 film? So, any poloroid camera that uses a 4x5 format will work? I want to try other things as well.......

Sean · Jul 27, 2005

I think 55 is 4x5 film isn't it? I use 665 for my medium format kit with a polaroid back, The negs are superb and I clear them in the field..

Bob Carnie · Jul 27, 2005

665 is approximately 4inches by 31/2 inches , fits beautifully on a 4x5 glass carrier on any 4x5 enlarger, shows the rebate and by far is one of my favorite films to work with. bucket of sodium sulfate and water and way you go. I love the film, am using it on two different projects that I am working on.
I use a polaroid camera with three different lenses , and the back fits perfectly on this camera.

jimgalli · Jul 27, 2005

Yes, 665 is smaller than 4X5 film but there are dedicated backs like the #405 that adapt it for most any 4X5 back. The one I'm offering won't fit in a 4X5, it's like a dedicated little pinhole camera complete in itself. Jim

Here's a couple of photos to show what I'm talking about. jg

Bighead · Jul 27, 2005

I found my Polaroid. Its a J33 Land Camera. It says that it will use "Type 37" film.... Anyone?? I'm not sure if it even works but, I am sure I could get it going.

What other applications could I shoot 665 in.. OR.... What else can I use this #405 with?? I don't own a 4x5... Is there a particular Land camera or other body I should consider....

Like I said before, I want to try it for different subject matters.... Jim, by the way, I started researching your oscilloscope camera (what is that?) and I found a post you made on largeformatcamera.com (or something)...

Alex Hawley · Jul 27, 2005

Whoa there Bighead! The J33 was a roll film camera and Polaroid roll film is long extinct. Check this website out: Dead Link Removed

Here's Polaroid's Pack Film web page: http://www.polaroid.com/products/pr...mUID=1122511006643&bmLocale=en_US&sc=Packfilm

If you check out the Land List site, you'll see there was a slew of pack film cameras. But, there's also the polaroid backs for many medium format cameras, and of course the backs that fit onto a 4x5 Grafloc.

I love 665 and Type 55 too but they are kind of pricey compared to some of the other films available. When you get your camera or back, I suggest using type 664 or 54 first to make sure you have everything working right. (Fuji also has their FP100 series as an option.) Then start splurging on the 665.

Wayne · Jul 27, 2005

There are a number of cameras that willtake the 665, which is the same as 55 only smaller. The Propack is one (dont let the Pro fool you), the 180,190,195 are several more (the latter 3 being manual professional cameras).

hey Jim, how many of those deals do you have? I might go for one of those while I wait to find one of the pro cameras at a good price.

pelerin · Jul 27, 2005

Bob Carnie said:
<SNIP> bucket of sodium sulfate and water and way you go. <SNIP>.

I think Bob meant sulfite not sulfate.

jimgalli · Jul 28, 2005

I'll do some scrounging out in the garage tomorrow and see what I come ou with. BTW the "classic" pack film camera is the Polaroid / Mamiya 600SE. It had 3 interchangeable lenses all superb. Here's one for you to look at. I haven't watched prices on these so have no idea what they go for. With the 3 lenses it seems like it would be worth $450-$600 but I just don't know anymore. There was also an "M" adapter that would attach the excellent Mamiya 6X9 and 6X7 rollfilm backs to this but they're like hens teeth to find.

Alex Hawley · Jul 28, 2005

The Polaroid 180 and 195 are still commanding respect too. While not as elaborate as the 600SE, they seem to be a prized tool, going for $200 and up on the auction site.

Donald Qualls · Jul 28, 2005

The glass-lens consumer Polaroids are also capable of respectable performance. These (Models 100, 250, 350, 450, and a few others) had a Cooke Triplet type lens similar to the Radionar on my Kawee Camera, which is capable of very respectable performance stopped down past f/8. And since the Polaroid lenses are f/8.8 wide open, and stop down to f/42-f/60, depending on model, they're capable of doing just fine.

I've just gotten a 350 (thanks, Murray!), and once I get the corroded battery connectors replaced to bring the shutter and timer back to life, I expect to get images that will be more than worthy of keeping Type 665 negatives (but I'm going to test with Type 667 first). My only major wish with these is that they had a standard cable release socket instead of requiring proprietary Polaroid accessories for both cable and self-timer. At least the glass lens versions have a metal body and tripod socket...

What to have for Poloroid 665 film??

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What to have for Poloroid 665 film??

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