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I focus on converting Polaroid's famous and versatile professional cameras of the 3 1/4" X 4 1/4" roll film format cameras such as the models 110, 110A, 120, 110B and 900, These cameras are basically "Orphans", as no film has been availble for several decades, Converting these cameras to the 4x5 format greatly increases their usefulness and creative value.
The 4 X 5 conversion is based on either the 110, 110A, 110B or 900 chassis with the stock 127mm f 4.7 Rodenstock Ysarex mounted in the Prontor SVS 1-1/300th shutter with selftimer.
The Rodenstock lens is a remarkable performer that adequately covers the 4 X 5 format and allows for a bit of movement. The lens is made from rare earth glass and is stunningly bright and sharp, a top quality German product. The camera is an American work of art due to its sturdy aluminum construction that is made to last a lifetime.
The cameras that are converted are fitted with a very special 4 X 5 anodized aluminum back that is specially designed for the 110 series Polaroid cameras, The back is very tight profile, it only extends down about less than 3/8" beyond the bottom of the camera therefore when you set the camera down on a table it will not have much of an incline like a camera fitted with a genuine Graflok back would.
The most remarkable feature of the Tight Profile Back is that it will accept just about any 4 X 5 film holder, any Polaroid film back made to fit a 4 X 5, and just about any roll film back designed to fit a 4 X 5.
The new "Coil Spring Back" allows for two sided cut film holders, Grafmatics, Polaroid 545 and the thick Polaroid 405 and 550 film holders to be slid in under the ground glass back, few 4x5 cameras if any, allow for a Polaroid 405 and 550 film holders to be slid in under the spring back like this camera can.
All other backs can be utilized using the Screw Down Grafloker Plates.
Please have a look at Http://Alpenhause.Com/Albums to see the many types of conversions along with custom leather options, also see photos from Alpenhause camera owners from around the world. Check back often, this album is ever growing!
I also produce medium format 6 X 12 panoramic cameras based on reliable Mamiya parts and lenses, so check back from time to time. A new addition to the 4X5 conversion family has been added! The "Son of The Graflex" with sharp Wollensak Raptar 127mm f 4.5 lens and Legendary Kalart coupled rangefinder! Go to: Http://Alpenhause.com/Albums and see the Original Polaroid 110 4x5 camera conversion.
The long awaited 6 x 12 120/220 film Panoramic Camera that Mamiya should have made, Camera is made with the 75mm f5.6 Mamiya-Sekor lens and automatic frame counting roll film back. It Is Here! Go to "Albums" and see! Versions with the renowned Schneider 90mm f6.8 Angulon coming soon!
Polaroid Corporation closing their film production facilities?? Sadly, they closed all 3 film plants in the world placing many innocent hard working Americans out to look for another job. Instant film? Great news! The Impossible Project in Austria is currently restructuring the Polaroid film factory in Enscheide, Netherlands near Amsterdam to produce new integral film for the SX-70 and other classic Motorized Polaroids, The new name of the film will be "The Impossible Project". Who Knows? Someday more 4X5 film?
FujiFilm produces ASA 100 color and Black & White instant film in both 4x5 and 3 1/4" X 4 1/4" Polaroid 405/Fuji PA-145 and Polaroid 550/Fuji PA-45 film holder compatible films! And.....they make a 3000 ASA Black & White film too! All of these films are for sale in the USA and other parts of the world.
Hopefully a stand up manufacturer like Fuji will in the future buy the patents from Polaroid and make an improved version of type 55 4x5 film and also make type 665 again..........After all.....Has Fuji ever let you down??? Hey! There are still scores of great 4x5 film manufacturers out there, So get out there and take some pictures!!
New! New!
Fuji instant film allows for a re-useable negative! Very similar to Polaroid type 665 and type 55! Color film too! Just save the negative and let it dry out, then carefully clean the back side off with household bleach, careful not to get the bleach on the emulsion side, wash in clean water then dry it.
In the meantime, don't toss out any of your Fuji instant negatives, both B&W and color, just let them dry out in a safe place.
Color negatives you just carefuly wipe off the black backing with household bleach with cotton balls then wash in water, Photo-Flo dip and then dry. B&W film do the same thing then soak in Kodak or other B&W fixer then wash and Photo-Flo dip and dry.
One thing you need to be really careful about is when you are cleaning the black backing off the films is be careful not to get any bleach on the emulsion side as it will ruin it.
I like to tape the whole negative, yanker paper, chem pod and all carefully to a piece of glass and hold the glass vertically so that you can see through the negative as you use a cotton ball soaked in bleach to carefully wipe off all the black goo, once you have wiped off all the black goo, it is time for fixer or wash depending on if it is color or B&W as mentioned before.
Once you have started a wash, go ahead and tear off the yanker and the chem pod then treat in fixer and Photo-Flo as mentioned earlier.
You can also use a paper plate for the Bleach wiping step, just cut out a hole in the paper plate that closely matches the format of your Fuji negative, then tape the whole thing, yanker, chem pod to the plate with masking tape and use the same procedure for the glass method.
It is entirely possible that treating the color negative in a wash, then treat in either E-6 or C-41 fixer, wash again, then treat in the stabilizer could be of great benefit.
You don't really need to let either type Fuji instant negative dry out the process works in either case, one of my clients has mentioned that the B&W negative seems to "Solarize" so he is trying separating the print and the B&W negative in the dark!
Polaroid coated most all of their films on opaque material with the exception of type 665 and type 55, What would have happened if all the Polaroid films were coated on clear base? Does Fuji know what they have done? Fuji is just plain amazing!
People are showing great printable and scan-able negatives in both color and B&W, do we really need type 665 and type 55 back?
