Graflex.org

[davebias]

I've already been told that there are no Polaroid solutions for my 2x3 Century Graphic.

But I have trouble taking no for an answer...

I have a few ideas. Obviously, I could attempt to design an adaptor and have it custom built. I've even thought of approaching one of those guys who retrofit Polaroid folders to take modern 4x5 backs.

So my question is a wide-open one: How would YOU, the Graflex.org surfer, do what I'm proposing?

Some follow up questions to ignite the brainstorming session:
Can the obsolete Graphic film pack adaptors be used as a jumping-off point and/or could parts of this be useful for my contraption?
Should I stick to trying to figure out how to fit a 405 (preferrable) or 545 back?
I'm sure there will be issues with the distance between the normal film plane and my "adapted" film plane - is this easy to correct for?
Are there Hasselblad, Mamiya or other medium format backs that I could retrofit for this?
And finally, what questions am I too uninformed to ask - or is this just simply impossible?

[ This Message was edited by: davebias on 2003-10-29 18:37 ]

[alecj]

It's not impossible. In fact, there was once just such a product, made by a company called "Lane". And, there are reliable reports that the backs made for Horseman cameras will fit also. Keep in mind the focus problem - with any such back you'll have to adjust your "lockdown" point back of your usual infinity stops because there was never any way to put the focal point for the film in the camera's film plane - it falls further back. You might be able to engineer a modification of an XL back.

[Les]

Lane made several backs. It seems the most popular version was for the RB 67 without the G (graflok) adapter. This back used pins (like the XL).

Out there some where is a Lane back that fit a Graflok back. Horseman backs are out there too, but it should be spelled: Hor$eman. There are a couple of pieces to a Horseman back, the back, the spacer,and I think a ground glass adapter/viewer.

So for the best success, find a Lane back/buy a Horsman back. But that won't satisfy your deep desire to re-invent the wheel.

I haven't acutally put a 405 up against a Pacemaker 23 so I don't know how much things overlap. I certainly think the XL polaroid back will be difficult to modify as it wraps around the XL body and thus the film plane is set deep. At least with the 405 the film plane is close to the front.

If there's a potiential problem it's going to be orientation. I modified a Graflex back for a 3x4 Anny and worked hard at getting rid of the image shift to the right, but in doing so, ended up with the back in the way of the FP shutter release and my cheek now rests on the corner of the back when I try to focus.

On a 2x3 it might be worse. You could rotate the back 180°, but then it will be awkward to pull the film out.

I've seen many an old "special purpose" Polaroid back and in essence all they did was cobble/adapt/squeeze the matting surface of the camera in question to a Polaroid body.

I suppose I would start by finding a 2x3 film holder and Dremel out the partition between each side. I'd shave/sand down one side so it's not only flat, but absolutely parallel to the other side. Also cut at least on of the darkslides down and permanently fix it in the slot to gut down on fog. Whether you leave the other functional depends on whether you want to use the darkslide or the 405 darkslide.

Then I'd mark where the Graflok guides would dig into the holder. Route,gouge,chisel mortises for the slides.

Now you've got mate Polaroid surface B to Film holder surface A. This will depend on which back you use, but just guessing with a 405 back;

use a piece of aluminum/brass to reduce the image area, marking and cutting out the aperture as necessary.

Without this stuff infront of me, I don't know if you'll be better off removing the 4x5 Graflok frame on the 405 or not. I did for my 3x4 conversion because it was too big, but you might be better off machining it down.

Then I'd mount the brass to the wood film holder with wood screws and black silicone. Then mount the brass to the Polaroid back with screws and silicone, then swear when the silicone gets into the darkslide grooves and @#?!!s the whole mess up.

Recalibrate the infinity stops by using a piece of ground glass taped to the inside of an empty pack film cassette inside the 405. If you want to switch back and forth between film a Polaroid then make up a spacer. You shouldn't have to adjust the rangefinder points, just the infinity stops.

The only hazard I see is the 405 back will be sticking out on both sides, making the use of the handle and the rangefinder difficult. I suppose you could rotate the back 90° and have it pull down.



_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

[captdennislee]

Hey Dave,

I sent you an email with my phone number so you can give me a call. As you found in the archives here I did make a polaroid back for my Century with the fewest of tools and found objects in my parents garage.

I bought the Century while out in CA on vacation and within a day realized the need for a polaroid back.

I went to the local thrift store and picked up an old polaroid Swinger and then ripped apart the 6x9 speed pack that came with the camera and melded the two together using a hacksaw, Xacto, cork, tinfoil, epoxy, black velvet (also from the thrift store, women's dept) and who knows what else, a little ingenuity and determnation I suppose.

I purchased a set of rollers for $15 at a swap not too long after and replaced the original twin blade 'squeezer' in the back.
(Which worked fine as I remeber)
I dropped it last winter while doing a strobe test on my patio and cried when the brittle plastic on the business end shattered into 10 pieces. I put it away, crushed and heartbroken for about a year. Then about 2 months ago I decided to shoot some pinhole images using the Century as the body and decided to pull out that back and see if a little tape would cure any leaks, and what do you know!... apparently the case of the polaroid film itself and a wrap of gaffers to keep the back closed did the trick, now I can't get my fill of 665.

Give me a holler if you like

DL

[disemjg]

I checked and my Horseman 6X9 Polaroid back fits my Century perfectly; the locking rails are hard to get at but the edge of a darkslide fits to push them over. Best bet is to track down the Horseman, and hope you find one that they do not want too much for. Mine is not marked with the film type, but it looks like it it the same as the 4X5 pack backs. Be sure the film is available before you chase this too far.

[disemjg]

I just got my November/December issue of View Camera Magazine; the Midwest Photo ad lists a Horseman 6X9 polaroid back with spacer for $229.

[lamb]

I have a Century Graphic and I wanna buy a polaroid back.Can anyone tell me where I can find "Lane" back?On ebay?
Thanks for help!

[45PSS]

Lane's come up on ebay every 3 to 5 years. It's been 4 months since I've seen one listed and it was the first in my 6 years of watching. I might miss some somewhere.

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[lamb]

Thanks!But how much does it cost?
Seems no other methods to get a polaroid back for my century.....Horseman back is too expensive.