Gene Johnson wrote: > > 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
They didn't - if I remember my Polaroid specs, the pack cameras had 114mm triplets (glass) and 114mm doublets (plastic). I have been thinking about this conversion for about twenty years. I know that the Polaroid lenses are reasonably sharp for the price, but I know better and trust the lenses on my aging Graflexes. I can now swap out the lenses at will. I think this makes more sense than adapting the 3 x 4s to Polaroid backs, though I have done a number of those (cutting down the old Colorpack cameras and using only the backs). I will however, be looking at adapting the new Kodak Readyload single sheet holder to the 3 x 4s. Surprisingly, the fabrication of the brass adapter was not all that bad - I used stock K&S Engineering brass shapes - tubes and rectangular sections - and, after I made a mess trying to get precise soldering with a pencil iron (even a good one like a Hexacon), ripped apart an old car battery charger and built a resistance soldering rig. Works like a charm, fast, precise, no mess, little cleanup. Am now investigating baked enamel finishes so I can finish the adapter to match the rest of the camera. Regards, Marv _______________________________________________ Cameramakers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
