Polaroid Film for Medium-Format Cameras

September 14, 2019, 12:59 AM

I enjoy shooting film through my Bronica ETRS medium-format camera system, and normally use Ilford Delta B&W films. I recently picked up a Polaroid film back for my system to “preview” the lighting before committing to actual exposures (you learn quickly to make every shot count when it costs well over $1.00 per frame, including processing).

Little did I know that the Polaroid films my camera back uses have gone the way of the dinosaurs! Well technically, they ARE still available if you are willing to pay scalpers prices for them!!!

Since this forum always seems to have SOMEBODY who knows the answer... is there an actual substitute for the old Polaroid films? I tried the ones from FujiFilm and they are NOT compatible, despite what I read on the internet!

Suggestions... other than just not using that film back for previews? Oh, and for the record, I DO have a nice DSLR system, but really love shooting film instead!

Cheers...

September 14, 2019, 06:01 AM

Sig2340

I'm in the same boat WRT to my 4x5 camera.

So far as I know there is no substitute for Polaroid film.

You can get digital backs for a medium format camera for about $10k. I've only seen one for a view camera, and it was, IIRC, $125k.

September 14, 2019, 08:49 AM

maladat

Which type of Polaroid film does it use?

A number of different types, including the common 600 and SX-70, are available here:

https://us.polaroidoriginals.c...ctions/polaroid-film

The company used to be called "Impossible Project" but bought the rights to the Polaroid name in 2017. It formed to start making Polaroid film again after Polaroid stopped.

September 14, 2019, 09:01 AM

bendable

do you have a pic to offer of what the camera looks like ?
with the adapter and w/o
please

September 14, 2019, 10:17 AM

Ironmike57

http://en.polaroid-passion.com...-100-films.php?id=36

la-294930372950%7Ccrid:335510879501%7Cnw:u%7Crnd:11714332199507636040%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn_LrBRD4ARIsAFEQFKuPhzSPQ0UQHugNOopwLy_9OWTGEF9x_zWtAA29hFNLCtKBME8-2poaAmTKEALw_wcB" target="_blank">https://www.keh.com/shop/broni...ME8-2poaAmTKEALw_wcB

https://www.ebay.com/i/2836017...EK8aX_8aAjtuEALw_wcB

quote:
Originally posted by bendable:
do you have a pic to offer of what the camera looks like ?
with the adapter and w/o
please

September 14, 2019, 10:21 AM

Ironmike57

Scalpers pricing - you are not kidding!

https://www.uniquephoto.com/fi...44ndQ2UaAj25EALw_wcB

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bronicabill:

Little did I know that the Polaroid films my camera back uses have gone the way of the dinosaurs! Well technically, they ARE still available if you are willing to pay scalpers prices for them!!!

September 14, 2019, 01:06 PM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by maladat:
Which type of Polaroid film does it use?

A number of different types, including the common 600 and SX-70, are available here:

https://us.polaroidoriginals.c...ctions/polaroid-film

The company used to be called "Impossible Project" but bought the rights to the Polaroid name in 2017. It formed to start making Polaroid film again after Polaroid stopped.

According to the manual, the following types can be used in the Bronica back:

665
667
668
669
107
108
87
88

September 14, 2019, 01:14 PM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by Ironmike57:
http://en.polaroid-passion.com...-100-films.php?id=36

<<snip>>

This site has the proper film listed... apparently it's called "Type 100" film. However, when you click the button to actually buy it, there is NOTHING matching that description listed whatsoever!

September 14, 2019, 01:21 PM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by bendable:
do you have a pic to offer of what the camera looks like ?
with the adapter and w/o
please

Here is what my camera looks like:

And what the film back looks like:

September 14, 2019, 01:25 PM

armored

This takes me way back.
I remember using the 8x10" Polaroid film and the matching processor. Would go through that by the case.
30 years ago it was about $8.00 a shot.
Always used a 4x5 reducing back on the 8x10" or 11x14" for rough exposures then the 8x10 Polaroid for composition.
It used to take days to get it all right and the final film to be shot.

Before that, I would put a 8x10 sheet of B&W print paper in a 8x10 film holder, do a long exposure, then process the b&w print paper, do a contact print off that as a negative to correct the image to check composition or anything else I was not seeing through the back of the view camera.

September 14, 2019, 01:29 PM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by Ironmike57:
Scalpers pricing - you are not kidding!

https://www.uniquephoto.com/fi...44ndQ2UaAj25EALw_wcB

<<snip>>

Yep... $56.00 for 10 images... ain't gonna happen!!!

If you think THAT's bad, look at some of the prices on eBay for the stuff!

September 14, 2019, 01:29 PM

Scooter123

Seems like you are in the same boat as I am. In my case I have a type 545 film holder with no film to feed it. Something I consider a real shame because back in the day you could shoot Type 55 film in it and have a perfectly usable and long life negative by simply fixing the negative after doing the peel apart. Have a lot of 4 x 5 negatives from back when I could actually get type 55 and they still print or scan perfectly.

However I do have to point out that even when they were on the market in nearly every photo shop in the country the type 55 film packs were NEVER cheap, IIRC the cost was in the area of 2.5 times what it cost to shoot film. BTW, as a B & W only shooter I always developed my own film and to this day still have my 4 x 5 developing tank.

My suggestion would be to check your lighting setup using Digital and then shoot with film. While it may take a bit of effort it shouldn't be too long before you know how to "tune" you digital camera to be a close match to your chosen film. As for processing the film, do that yourself. Because it really isn't that difficult and it was one aspect of shooting film that kept me hooked on film.

September 14, 2019, 01:32 PM

bronicabill

At least I can still get regular 120 and 220 roll film for it with ease. The one remaining camera shop here in the Huntsville area has the rolls on the shelf, and even processes and prints in-house!

I just picked up two rolls of Ilford Delta 400 120-roll film a week ago from them!

September 14, 2019, 01:35 PM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by Scooter123:
<<snip>> As for processing the film, do that yourself. Because it really isn't that difficult and it was one aspect of shooting film that kept me hooked on film.

Would love to get into that, but unfortunately there is not a single room in the house suitable for conversion to a darkroom! Well, I take that back... one is, sorta, but it's my daughter's bathroom off of her bedroom, and taking that over would not go over well. Plus, it's darned small and not likely to have enough room to work.

September 14, 2019, 01:35 PM

maladat

quote:
Originally posted by bronicabill:
quote:
Originally posted by maladat:
Which type of Polaroid film does it use?

A number of different types, including the common 600 and SX-70, are available here:

https://us.polaroidoriginals.c...ctions/polaroid-film

The company used to be called "Impossible Project" but bought the rights to the Polaroid name in 2017. It formed to start making Polaroid film again after Polaroid stopped.

According to the manual, the following types can be used in the Bronica back:

665
667
668
669
107
108
87
88

Ah, unfortunately, Polaroid Originals only currently makes film for their modern version of the Polaroid camera, the three most common handheld Polaroid camera formats, and 8x10.

September 14, 2019, 02:57 PM

GWbiker

quote:
As for processing the film, do that yourself. Because it really isn't that difficult and it was one aspect of shooting film that kept me hooked on film.

The problem as I see it is room/chemical/water temperatures. At one time I did B&W film "push" processing and printing and liquid room/temps were critical for B&W but not as important as in color processing to prevent color shift.

BTW, I still miss Kodachrome 25.

September 16, 2019, 11:15 AM

bendable

thanks b-bill,
so do they just go by Medium format now,
or do some call the 2 1/4's ?

September 16, 2019, 01:13 PM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by bendable:
thanks b-bill,
so do they just go by Medium format now,
or do some call the 2 1/4's ?

Formats are typically referred to 6x6 or 645 (6cm x 4.5cm). Your 2¼ x 2¼ is the same thing as a 6x6. "Medium format" is just a collective name for the various formats shot on 120 and 220 roll film...

September 16, 2019, 01:27 PM

SigSAC

I know you like the film aspect, but is there anything keeping you from using a digital back for the preview? While some cost to obtain, it would probably save money in the long run over a Polaroid back.

https://petapixel.com/2019/07/...dium-format-cameras/

http://revjvbauer.com/Rev._Jef...t_Digital_6x4.5.html

September 16, 2019, 02:55 PM

Ironmike57

Everyone that I worked with used 669 for their color preview. Until Fujiroid came to the US. No one ever used the Polaroid films again! Most of the advertising photographers also switched to the fuji films and dropped Ektachrome. For some reason the Kodak color negative films did not take such a big hit.

I miss film..............

668
669
QUOTE]

Ah, unfortunately, Polaroid Originals only currently makes film for their modern version of the Polaroid camera, the three most common handheld Polaroid camera formats, and 8x10.[/QUOTE]