Polaroid for pinhole....

I'm considering purchasing a nice used Zeroimage 4x5 pinhole camera and I'm

being given the opportunity from the seller to include (for more $$) a couple

of Polaroid backs (545 Pro and the one that takes the 600 series). Been

reading that Polaroid has stopped making the 55 type and 600 series and pretty

much all their films. Rumor abounds about someone, maybe Fuji, buying the

licensing and continuing to make them but it seems far from certain. The

price for the backs is ok ($245 for both) but I question whether I'll need

them as I plan to shoot mostly Acros or Efke 4x5 sheet film though if there

was a chance of the Polaroid films or a reincarnation of them being available

would want try/use type 55 for negs and the 600 stuff for the emulsion

transfer process. Should I grab the Polaroid backs too or not waste my money?

Ok, forget about the licensing thing, it'll happen. Or not. It all depends how much you want instant film for your camera, and whether that makes $245 a bargain price or wasted money.

 

I'm assuming that when you say '600 series' you're referring to the peel-apart films eg. 669 rather than the (integral) 600. Then Fuji makes FP100c/b pack films that are equivalent so you have a replacement solution for that back. And if type 55 (and other 4x5 variants) dies completely, the 545 Pro works with both Quickload and Readyload films, so that's not a waste either.

The Fuji stuff doesn't do image transfers. Unless Fuji starts making some of the actual Polaroid emulsions, or unless you get into this VERY SOON you might as well forget about transfers. Fuji does make 4x5 film already, it's just not available for the US market yet.

<I> Fuji does make 4x5 film already, it's just not available for the US market

yet.</I><P>B&H sells it, color 100 asa.

Some people have reported success using Fuji FP-100C for transfers (and lifts) - there's a thread on APUG with scans of the results. I believe the transfers need to be done in very dim lighting for it to work.

Cool! I hadn't heard of success stories with Fuji transfers yet!