Sheet loaded Polaroid 800 Landcamera

[derek_kennedy]

<p>I hope no one minds this here, if they do please feel free to move it to the proper forum. I hope a camera made around 1957 is allowed here!</p>

<p>I bought this particular camera about a decade ago at a garage sale for a little more than I would have preferred ($35) and since the day I got the camera it sat on a shelf.</p>

<p>Today I decided, what the heck. Loaded it with a 4x5 sheet of Arista EDU 100 and headed out. Since this camera is set using one dial to set a EV mode, I set my hand held meter to give me a reading in EV. Pulled up to a small local park fairly close to my house and took this shot.</p>

<p>All I have done to the image was take care of a few white spots here and there, the odd squiggly line (dust on scanner?), resize and a touch of sharpen in PS.</p>

<p>To be honest, I am impressed at how it turned out.</p>

<p><img src="http://djkennedy.smugmug.com/Photography/Black-and-White/Polaroid-800001a/1081315720_Qiuk8-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="526" /></p>

<p>Tray developed in Rodinal 1:50 for 7minutes at 20C.</p>

<p>The slide is yellow, the posts red. I cant recall the other colours here but thats ok. I'm also impressed that since I have to load the one sheet of film into the camera in the dark, take the photo, remove the sheet of film in the dark - that I didnt mess it up!</p>

<p>Other than accidentally spilling some developer while the lights were out - everything turned out awesome imo. I thought at the very least that maybe I might have a light leak but apparently the camera functioned beyond my expectations.</p>

[cliffmanley]

Very nice, With a changing bag you can shoot more than one on an outing.

[derek_kennedy]

<p>Yes, I thought of that afterward. I do have a small one so I would be able to do so.</p>

[leicaglow]

<p>Derek, That is awesome! It never occurred to me that such a camera would hold the film flat enough, or that the lens would be so good.</p>

[sumo_kun]

<p>For a more permanent solution you can actually modify the back to take film holders or polaroid packs. I'm working on a "how to" now and am putting it up on youtube as I complete it. Its for a 900 but they are pretty similar cameras apart from the RF.<br>

Its great to be able to have a handheld 4x5 shooter and best of all its cheap :)<br>

I'm actually replacing the lens on my build but looking at your shot above, the original looks very capable.</p>

[derek_kennedy]

<p>Michael: not sure when the ol light bulb lit over my head but I think it was when I looked at a developed sheet of 4x5 (didnt know if it was exposed or not, developed it - it was blank) and opened up the camera.</p>

<p>It seemed to fit like a glove and the pressure plate was large enough to hold the whole sheet flat. This was a total test shot just to see if it would work. I figured it was feasible, but wasnt 100% sure it would work.</p>

<p>Nothing ventured nothing gained!</p>

<p>Now, the negative didnt take up the entire sheet, there was an area about 1 centimeter all around the sheet that wasnt exposed but still, the negative looked great.</p>

<p>Chuk: yeah - a very cheap 4x5 :P there isnt anything on the lens to tell me anything that I could pass on to you but Id geuss the 900 would be simular? Now I have heard of these types of cameras being modified like you said but I dont have the skills to do that! And the thought of ruining two cameras (all the ones i saw was basically taking two cameras and frankenstiening them together) didnt sit well lol!</p>

<p>I like Cliffs idea about using a change bag to change out the film in the field. As much of a pita that would be, for such awesome negs as this I think I could go that route.</p>

[sumo_kun]

<p>I think the 900 lens is a 130mm f8.8 or something like that. The max aperture was the main reason I wanted to replace it.<br>

Modifying definitely takes some fabrication but its not too hard ;)<br>

Its only hard if you want to make it look good, otherwise, to get it functional is pretty easy. You shouldn't need anything in the way of extra parts either. Some pieces of plywood to make a holder and some screws will be about it. It will take some time though so its not really a one night job.<br>

Taking a change bag is a good alternative. Loading and unloading is not too difficult. Its probably easier than a DDS. I think doing anything to make an obsolete camera usable again is good :)</p>

[derek_kennedy]

<p>Seems my change bag is too small - Ive been meaning to get a larger one now I guess I have to. yeah I agree - taking an obsolete(?) camera and making it usable again is always a good thing!</p>

[Rob_the_waste]

<p>Thanks for the inspiration. I have an 800 sitting in the garage right now. I got started making a film holder back for it, but I got completely pulled away from the project. If you're really interested in doing this, might I suggest a Polaroid 110B with the Rodenstock Ysarex lens. Some fantastic results have been obtained this way.</p>

[max_rowan]

<p>Nice idea, Rob. I have a 110B sitting on a shelf gathering dust - not sure what lens without looking at it but the shutter is pretty accurate. Looks like I have a project for this weekend!</p>

[terry_dent1]

<p>Just put a sheet of Delta 100 in my Polaroid 95a. Can't wait to try it!</p>

<p> </p>

[derek_kennedy]

<p>I for one am interested in seeing your results Terry.</p>

<p>I happened to use the Arista film as I didnt want to use more expensive films and the Arista happened to be open already. I have yet to try Delta 100 in any format.</p>

<p>The 95a looks pretty much identical to the 800...</p>

[kris-bochenek]

<p>Lovely shot. Can you please post a picture of the camera itself?</p>

[derek_kennedy]

<p>Sure thing Kris: this is one I happen to already have. I could if you want, post some images of the camera opened up and the sheet film in place? I could do that tonight...</p>

<p><img src="http://www.djkennedy.com/Photography/Camera-Collection/polaroid-800/444658673_Yv3V8-L.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" /></p>

[kris-bochenek]

<p>wow nice camera looks like someone took a really good care of it. I recently bought a Bessa 6x9 and it's in a good condition but this one looks brand new.</p>

[derek_kennedy]

<p>It came with a case and a few items like the flash unit that still had a 45v battery (dead). I didnt know they made small batters like that - looks like a miniature 6v lantern battery.</p>

<p>Yes, she is in excellent condition considering the age.</p>

[sailbad]

<p> The glass 130mm triplet used on these and other pola's are very under rated, much is also made of the rotary shutter used on these models............I have nine 160's and all of the shutters work fine and are timed very close. The EV system is also seen by most as a big disadvantage? I did a 160 which uses a glass triplet and I think it produces great negs and they are full 4x5 in DD holders. The whole cam cost me less than $50 and I learned a ton. Shooting with a raw neg loaded is great for initial testing of the camera. But a change bag will also have some limitations, like street shooting while walking in bigger cities where parking is a PITA. You also must be getting the original format size on a 4x5 neg which looks kinda cool with it's rounded corners. But you also get to see how much negative your wasting. You will however get a negative which will be much closer to what you saw in the view finder than you will if you expand the camera to accept DD 4x5 holders. Have fun and shoot often.</p>