Good morning;

It seems appropriate to start some discussion on "Instant Film Cameras."

My first working exposure to Polaroid cameras was one mounted on an oscilloscope, an electronic test instrument that shows a visual image on a cathode ray tube or CRT (a predecessor of an old TV picture tube) of an electrical signal. I was photographing the actual "response curve" of frequency determining crystals used with radio transmitters. Ran a couple thousand photos of Type 47 ASA 3000 Polaroid film through that thing.

Now there is a Polaroid One-Step Closeup and a Minolta Instant PRO here for normal purposes. The Instant PRO was Minolta's answer to the IMAGE 1200SI, (not the SX-70 as previously mentioned), and they added some extra things to it. A nice camera. The One-Step takes 600 Series film, so there is hope for that. The Instant PRO takes Spectra Series film. I do not know if I will ever again find anything to feed it.

And, there are a couple of Polaroid backs to go onto other cameras. One of them is a Roll Film back that will never see service again. Another is a film pack back that will accept the Fujiroid film packs, so there is still hope there. And, I might see if I can get one of the remaining Polaroid backs to go onto the Hasselbladsjki.

There are also some Polaroid backs for the 4 by 5 view camera. A Type 500C and two versions of the 545.

Finally, there are two of those old Polaroid special cameras to go onto some old oscilloscopes I also have here. One of them even takes the long gone Polaroid roll film. It seems that in some ways I have come full circle.

Enjoy;

Ralph Javins
Latte Land, Washington

I personally so far have worked with various pack film cameras, the 600 series and the SX-70 and I like them all equally. What draws me to the integral 600 and SX-70 is that you can watch the print come up rather than peeling apart and to me the Fuji just doesn't have the same feel I loved with Polaroid but I am really liking the directions that The ImPossible Project is heading so I am going to be using that more now. It is just slightly expensive.......

i have just aquired a Polaroid model 430. i am still trying to figure-out what film to use and where i should purchase a battery. It looks like a relly cool camera. It came with a hard "brief case" and the flash attachment, along with the instructions. Will the new Fuji BW 45 packs work in this model? i also have a polaroid film back for my Mamiya RB67 which is fun to use, and helpful for checking exposers.

Good morning, phirehouse;

I am not sure about the battery. Getting a 3.0 VDC type 532 battery may take some digging. There are a couple of battery specialty houses around here. I might be able to ask what they would suggest. In any case, it may be possible to come up with a substitute arrangement that will work. We are doing things like this for the old Mercury batteries that were used in camera light meters that are no longer available.

The film is easy; the Polaroid 600 Series. And that does include the Fuji FP-100B and FP-100C film packs also. They will go in. The Fuji FP-100C-45 packs for the 4 by 5 camera film holders will not work in your camera. Too big.

Congratulations on getting the full normal 430 kit. Nicely done. I think you will enjoy it.

And, welcome to the group.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

Hi, within the last month or two a couple of Polaroids have come into my life. I picked up an SX-70 view finder at a garage sale for $1.50. Do I have any film choices other than Impossible? The other one is a 335 range finder in a case, given to me, complete with a flash attachment (with 3 unused bulbs!) and an un-opened pack of 108 film. What other film choices do I have for the 335? Also, are batteries going to be a big problem? I haven't seen any 3 volt with the snap on connectors... It seems like a hundred years since I've done anything with instant film, there used to be a Kodak instant camera in my mom's house... puptent

I scored a Tektronics oscilloscope camera, minus the lens. on ebay. I put a Lenox laser pinhole on it and as soon as I can figure out a shutter I will be out there shooting.

KEEP YOUR ROLLERS CLEAN !

Good morning, Charlie;

Which Tek (Tektronix) oscilloscope camera did you get? There should be an identifying number on it. There were two major variants of them. The ones with the round nose fit onto the bezel or rim around the round 5 inch CRT of the old Tek oscilloscopes from the 1950s and 1960s, such as the 512, 535, 545b, 555, 575, and others. There are a couple of different rectangular nose cameras for use with the 1970s and 1980s oscilloscopes; the 223, 453, 475, 2215, the 7000 Series, and others. By the 1990s, the digital storage oscilloscopes had pretty much supplanted the oscilloscope cameras. I used a lot of the equipment that came out of the Beaverton, Oregon factory.

The early round nose cameras used the old Polaroid roll film packages. As I recall, the later ones began to use the 100 series pack films. The rectangular nose cameras all used the pack films. I ran a lot of 3000 ASA Type 47 roll film and Type 107 pack film through them.

And, I am not sure how you are going to use it. The Oscillo-Raptar lenses on them were optimized for very close focusing. You might find it difficult to achieve focus on a subject located at infinity. It will be interesting to see what a pin hole in its place will do.

Finally, under the heading of developments here (sorry about that), there is an old Kodak Quick Load 4 by 5 holder and a Fuji PA-45 Pack Film Holder here now for the 4 by 5 cameras.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

Hi Ralph
It was advertised as a CB 103. There was nothing on the front, just a square opening. It does have Tektronics sticker in the film compartment showing what film (100 packfilm) to order. There are no markings on the body. The focal length is 114mm. Cant wait to try it. Almost tempted to give it a try with black tape for a shutter, but I really want somthing nicer.


KEEP YOUR ROLLERS CLEAN !
charlie

Here goes:
1 model 103, 1 model 104,1 model 210, 2 model 220's, 1 model 360, 1 model 420, 2 model 430's.

None of them cost me more than $20.00. Most were purchased for half of that, and they all work. I have some pretty serious gear,(much more then i need, or have the talent for), but these cameras are just plain fun to take out and shoot. I posted here under the asumption that all polaroids are orphans now. Oh, and I am still kicking myself for passing-up a mint brown SX-70 at the local flea market for $10.00 before I really re-discovered polaroids.