Experiences with Poloroid cameras 110A/B/180/195

[keiffer]

Unfortunately, I have to ask this question because there is no section

on Polaroid cameras. Maybe one could/should be added?

 

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Anyway, I'm considering working with a Polaroid, and I'm interested in

users experiences/comments. There are models 110A, 110B, 180, 195, is

there any real differences in these cameras for the user? Which one

would you recommend? I want mainly to proof lighting setups, but I

might want to just try shooting in general as well.

 

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I have heard that the lenses are really good, do they differ much

between models?

 

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Thanks for your time, and I hope others might read this later and

benefit from this question and your answers.

 

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Thanks, John

[d_daine]

Although I don't have any experience with the Polaroid cameras (I

always _assumed_ they needed to be converted to use current film),

another neat option is the Crown Graphic 4x5 with a graflok back.

This camera will take a 405, 545, or a 550 Polaroid back. Polaroid is

lots of fun.

 

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cheers,

[j._o.]

I used to use a 180 all the time. Great camera until I began to have

bellows problems (haven't fixed it yet). Zeiss rangefinder (nicest

rangefinder I've ever used, including Leica M3 and Mamiya 6). Sharp

and pleasantly contrasty lens (127mm f4.5). Flash mount needs an

offset for many modern flashes, shutter which requires cocking has a

flash bulb setting (beware). Hilarious closeup attachment actually

works. Folds so flat you don't need an obvious camera bag to cart it

around (flash + 180 + 20 exposures + meter fit in the same bag that

only holds 7 film holders now).

 

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Try a web search. Some of the graphic arts people out there are

obsessed with manipulating peel-apart film and there's a website

devoted to these cameras, replete with a refurbishment and replacement

service.

 

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Hope you get one and enjoy it as much as I did/do.

[ken_rockwell]

look at http://www.chemie.unibas.ch/holder/SX70.html and there are

links to some explicit lists of the differences in old Polaroid

cameras.

[moses_sparks]

John, I have a Polaroid 110A that was modified by Four Designs Co. in

Canoga Park, California to take modern pack film. All four of the

models you mention are quite similar. They all have manually set

shutter speeds and apertures, high quality view camera type lenses,

and bellows/rangefinder-coupled focusing.

 

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The 110A I bought years ago has a Rodenstock 127mm f4.7 lens, but I

have seen quite a few of these cameras with a number of different

lenses. I'm told the Rodenstock was the best of them, but frankly all

of them have far greater resolving power than the Polaroid film they

are used with.

 

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195's are very difficult to find these days, and very expensive if you

do. That's because this is the model most photographers have heard of

for use as a testing camera for exposure and lighting.

 

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I don't know if Four Designs is still around or not, but I recall

seeing an ad for them in a magazine not too long ago, and they

are/were Polaroid's only authorized representative in the USA for

converting 110A and 110B cameras for pack film (when they were

originally manufactured in the 60's they used roll film, which has

long since been discontinued). They had lots of them when I was there,

and they work as well or better as a 195, for less money.

 

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I paid 300.00 for mine, and I use it for lighting and exposure testing

with a variety of different camera formats. It works great. I have NPC

Polaroid backs for my 35mm cameras, which is sometimes a necessity,

but then you have to squint at a tiny 35mm size Polaroid test. The

110A gives a full frame 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 test that makes it easy to see

details.

 

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The only difference between the 110A and 110B is that the A has a

single viewfinder window for composition and focusing, and the B has

separate windows for the two functions.

[pete_su]

I read that NPC is releasing a copy of the 195 polaroid camera.

 

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See <A href="http://www.npcphoto.com/html/npc_195.htm">this page

here</a>

 

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This seems like a neat toy.

[twmeyer]

contact them at fourdesigns.com

 

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And try GraficCenter@aol.com

 

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They also specialize in converting old Polaroid cameras to modern pack

film and can put Rodenstock lenses on some of them (definately better

than the "Tominon" on my 180, if you think that sharper means better).

They also sell the clearing and washing tanks for the pos/neg film

that will exceed the resolution of all the cameras mentioned above...t

[keiffer]

Thanks to Pete for the tip about NPC's new product. I e-mailed NPC to

ask them a couple questions about their new model 195 camera, and I

thought I should post their response here for others.

 

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The answers to your questions on the NPC 195 are as follows in order.

 

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1) The focal length of the lens is 114 mm. The f Stop range is 4.5 to

22

It is possible that we will make the 90 mm lens available.

 

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2) List price is $795.00

 

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3) It will be available at all professional dealers world wide.

 

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This sounds great except for maybe the price.

 

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John