Marv, We think a lot alike. I've been looking at an old Polaroid rangefinder camera I have here and wondered about putting a real lens and either a rollfilm back or a 4x5 back on it. They're so sturdy and the rangefinder is excellent. So these had a fl of 127mm? Hmm.
Gene Marv Soloff wrote: > > I own a fairly largish collection of Graflex 3 x 4 press type cameras > and a substantial number of Polaroid Pack cameras of the 250, 350, 450 > variety - metal construction, Zeiss rangefinder, some with film timers. > > I was looking for a way to adapt these Polaroid pack cameras for use > with the Graflex lens and shutters combos. I had seen conversions to > manual lens and shutter combinations where the entire Polaroid automatic > shutter was gutted and just the metal shutter housing was used to > support a front mounted lens and shutter. From an aesthetic viewpoint, > these conversions are terrible - though they do work - and generally > sell at around $250USD at camera shows. > > The question in my mind was: could a Graflex lens/shutter intended for > 3 x 4 work (127mm) be adapted to the Polaroid mechanism. I built a > mounting plate out of brass sheet and angle that directly replaces the > entire Polaroid shutter mechanism with a Graflex lens/shutter mounted on > the standard Graflex "A" mounting board. At the moment, the lensboard is > a press fit, but I had enough time this evening to try it out using my > standard ground glass mounted into an empty Polaroid film tray. No > problems finding infinity where it should be. > > It appears that this adapter will work and work well with no other > modifications to the Polaroid camera other than providing 3 volts to > power the development timer. > > The standard Polaroid cable release must be replaced with a standard > cable release. It appears this can be done by removing the Polaroid > release and drilling out the bushing in the top plate to accept a > standard release. > > No other changes are made either to the Polaroid or the Graflex > lens/shutter assembly. Because of the bulk of the Graflex "A" lensboard, > the Zeiss rangefinder cannot fold down, so it will have to be fastened > in place. A drop of epoxy or Permatex 82 will do the job. > > The prototype not only works, but looks good too. > > Food for thought. > > Regards, > > Marv > _______________________________________________ > Cameramakers mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers _______________________________________________ Cameramakers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
