Graflex.org

Arnaud · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

Does anyone use polaroids for their 6x9cm
Graflex? Does a back exist?

My Century has a rangefinder, and I think I now understand how to use it. It doesn't have a Graflok back so I might as well use a
film back of some sort.

Has anyone done this? 6x9cm polaroids would be fun

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2148 Location: New Jersey

clnfrd · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject:

I'm not aware of a Polaroid back for 6X9 format. Century Graphics were all equipped with Graflok backs. You may be missing the focusing panel which snaps on the Graflok back and also allows the use of Graphic cut film holders. You can use the Grafmatic cut film holders for 6X9 (2-1/4"X3-1/4")cut film and the GRAPHIC roll film holders which use 120 film. These holders are held in place with the sliders mounted on the rear of your camera.

Stilagrrl · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 51 Location: SF Bay Area

I made one for mine, although it does require a Graflok back. I took an old 2x3 Pack Film Adapter (you can find them on eBay for less than $5.00), a Polaroid 3.25 x 4.25 back, a sheet of aluminum, some expoxy and tape, then put it all together into a fully functional Polaroid back for my Century Graphic. Like the Horseman 6x9 Polaroid back, you do have to set the lens back the same distance that the Polaroid back offsets it, but I took care of that with an extra set of infinity stops.

Rachel

t.r.sanford · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:38 pm Post subject:

The very same approach was taken with the original Polaroid film adapter for the 4x5 "Graflok" back. It basically was the rear end of a Polaroid "110" rollfilm camera, and the depth of the back had to be accommodated by lessening the physical extension of the lens along the bed. Polaroid provided a groundglass mounted to an extension of the same depth.

If you wanted to use the rangefinder, you needed a way to repetitively position the front standard about an inch and a half behind its normal position. An extra pair of infinity stops would have been the ideal solution, though some of us used witness-marks scribed on the track.

I think the thing might be worth doing. One concern might be your forecast of just how long Polaroid is going to continue producing its peel-apart films. I mean, had you asked me, a year ago, how long I thought Kodak would be in the black-and-white photographic paper business, I'd have guessed 10 years or more...

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

I dug out my Horseman 6X9 back to look at it. It does not say what type of Polaroid film it takes; the back appears to be the same as the pack backs for 4X5. The 6X9 image only takes up maybe 2/3rds of the available image area on the film. As pointed out you have to allow for the set-back of the holder; Horseman provided a spacer for this to allow you to quickly position the front standard correctly.

A close examination of the back shows some interesting details. It appears that Horseman simply produced an adapter for the common pack back. I compared it to a 4X5 Polaroid back and the only difference that I could see was the mounting plate. It comes off with a bunch of screws. If you were determined enough to try you could probably make your own adapter for 6X9. It is a plate with what looks like a dummy film holder on top of it. The only unusual touch is the provision of grooves top and bottom to allow the Graflok rails to hold the device in place. So, if you can find a 4X5 pack back and a wooden 2X3 film holder to cut grooves in it could probably be made to work.

t.r.sanford · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:48 am Post subject:

Yes, indeed. If I were doing it, the first thing I'd look for is a used Polaroid "405" holder -- cheap enough when new, cheaper when second-hand.

I haven't tried to take mine apart, but it does not seem difficult. It ought to be feasible to replace the odd left-sided flexible darkslide assembly with a flat plate cut out to fit snugly to an old 2¼x3¼ film pack adapter, to provide the standoff needed to clear the locking slides on the "Graflok" back.

You still would have less displacement than with the ancient rollfilm back. If carefully done, the result ought to be very functional, and not look like a kludge at all. And, of course, 2¼x3¼ FPAs are a drug on the market!

t.r.sanford · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 5:55 am Post subject:

...BTW, if you don't have a "Graflok" back, you will face some difficult choices if you want to modify a Polaroid 3¼x4¼-in. film pack adapter to work interchangeably with standard sheetfilm holders.

It probably wouldn't be very difficult to mount a suitably tweaked "405" adapter semi-permanently, in effect creating a feature-laden Polaroid film pack camera with severe vignetting! But it would require a good deal of thought and work to devise something that would interchange conveniently with a groundglass focusing panel.

Arnaud · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

Spoil sports

I might have a look for a polaroid 405 back then. Thanks for the suggestions.

No - my camera doesn't have a Graflok back. I think buying a Fraglex should come with a warning...so depressing thinking about this camera and I haven't used it yet.

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

Arnaud: You said you have a Century; they all have Graflok backs. Look again. You should be able to mount any Graflex 2X3 roll film back, or use 2X3 holders with cut film. Roll film is the way to go.

What type of Polaroid film does the 4X5 pack back take, and is it still available?

[ This Message was edited by: disemjg on 2005-08-02 17:04 ]

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2148 Location: New Jersey

Stilagrrl · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 51 Location: SF Bay Area

Yes, Polaroid pack film is still widely available. However, keep in mind that Polaroid made two sizes of Pack Film, 3.25 x 4.25 and 4 x 5. The former fits in Polaroid 405 backs and is the one that's still available (i.e. 665, 679 and so on). The latter fit in 550 backs and was discontinued last December. It was the 500 series pack film. The latter should also not be confused to 4 x 5 sheet film which fits in 545 backs and is also widely available.

BTW, with my homemade Polaroid back, I get an image that's larger than the original 2.25 x 3.25. It's pretty close to 3 x 4.

Thanks,
Rachel

Arnaud · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

Thanks -that's a lot to take in. It sounds like it's worthwhile trying out.

Dan - I'm trying to learn! I'm just doing it in public that's all

This must be so so easy for you...sigh I can read, but when I read the Graflex website, it's just information pouring out everywhere (on a different Graflex Speed or Pacemaker).

I checked the camera again and my Graflex does have a grooves for a Graflok Back, but there is no back - just a 23 film holder. I wasn't sure what to look for. Would the back be underneath the film holder maybe? I'll look at the website again..

Thanks for all the help still.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2148 Location: New Jersey

Arnaud · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

Arnaud, you're in the process of learning a foreign language that, unfortunately, looks like english. Graflex Inc. used familiar words in an odd way that confuses many.

One can think of the rear of a press/view camera as having three parts:

The back, to which everything else attaches. Looked at that way, the Graflok back is just the pair of sliders and assorted slots and grooves that accept a film holder and the focusing panel.

>The film holder, which can slip in, clip >on, or be attached semi-permanently.

I've got this..the 23 Rollholder! So I can shoot film.

>And the focusing panel, which can clip on >or be attached semi-permanently. The >focusing panel contains a sheet of ground >glass, may also have a folding viewing >hood.

Not got this. Should the camera have come with it? I think mine has a few things missing from it. I thought it might be under the camera film back. Now that I've removed the camera film back, there's nothing underneath - I can see the lens and the bellows.

>Now, what have you got?

A lemon?