Polaroid Backs (MF)

[Csae]

I was wondering what these were exactly and how they worked?

Like faisal i've also been thinking of MF, although i've been actively looking for deals for a while now, the processing/scanning/time always makes me bump it off my prioritylist.

Polaroids are pretty damn close to instant, give or take a minute for it to dry. Do the polaroid backs on MF work the same ? How do polaroid scans ? How would they compare to a normal 120/220 film neg ?

Or am i misunderstanding the entirety of their use and they are meant only for proofing a picture, afterwards you would take the picture with a normal film... At which case, i could easily "proof" with my 5D close enough to see what im getting... ???

My aim would be high quality large prints, higher quality then my 5D, which mind you makes for some pretty damn nice 13x19s.

I found 1 Contax, 3 bronicas, though id prefer a mamiya, maybe one that would allow for a digital back later, i know theres one but i can't recall the exact one, though a waist level finder is pre-req for me.

Any info on these things would be greatly appreciated :D

[Rhys]

I was wondering what these were exactly and how they worked?

Like faisal i've also been thinking of MF, although i've been actively looking for deals for a while now, the processing/scanning/time always makes me bump it off my prioritylist.

Polaroids are, or at least the one i own, are pretty damn close to instant, give or take a minute for it to dry. Do the polaroid backs on MF work the same ? How do polaroid scans ? How would they compare to a normal 120/220 film ? Are the sizes of the polaroids the same for 35mm as they are for MF ? Do they get up to 6x9? (I dont think id be going higher then 6x7 though probably 6x6)

My aim would be high quality large prints, higher quality then my 5D, which mind you makes for some pretty damn nice 13x19s.

I found 1 Contax, 3 bronicas, though id prefer a mamiya, maybe one that would allow for a digital back later, i know theres one but i can't recall the exact one, though a waist level finder is pre-req for me.

Any info on these things would be greatly appreciated :D

I've used a polaroid back on a Hasselblad. It's a simple case of putting the cartridge into the back as you would on a Polaroid camera and pulling the paper out as you would on a Polaroid camera. By the way, Polaroid does not make Polaroid film any more.

[Csae]

How would a scan of a polaroid film compare to a normal film negative ?

Yeah, i had heard about Polaroid going out of business, i didn't follow up on it though, are they really out or just not making film ?

Heh, i keep editing to try to make my questions clearer.

[Mark_48]

The Mamiya RZ67 will accept a Polaroid back that's shown below and a digital back as shown in this link http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/PE71355/ . An RB67 will take a Polaroid back, but not a digital back that I'm aware of. Mamiya's 645AFD series will do a digital back and Polaroid back, but the Polaroid image will be fairly small.
I believe Fuji may be producing instant film packs since Polaroid dropping the line. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/351/Polaroid_Instant_Film_Instant_Peel_Apart_Pack_Film .html
The resulting "Polaroid" is a finished print, so scanning it would be the same as scanning any other type of document in a flatbed scanner. The image size will be limited by the opening in the back used and not full print sized. A film negative will definitely give a sharper and better defined image. The Polaroid backs are/were generally used in scientific applications, creating artsy images, and occasionally pre-testing of a shot for lighting before actually committing to film.
If you want "instant" results, stick with a DSLR. If you want to dabble in MF with the possibility of digital, the newer Mamiya's might be a good choice. I've been browsing www.KEH.com lately and MF prices have really dropped alot.

Here are some sample images done with an RZ67 and Polaroid http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=rz67%20polaroid%20images&w=all&s=int&referer_searched=1

[Csae]

Ah thats very helpful, seems the Phase one will take the RB67


"Compatible with Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 Pro II cameras."

As i understand, the RZ is a more automated electric version, wherehas the RB is the older mechanical sibling, cheaper. The AF versions add, well, AF, but i understand that its slow and noisy, so i might as well just grab a RZ or RB and save the money.

Since polaroid backs seem neat but utterly useless compared to a dslr, im gonna check out a C33 i found for 200$Cad, it lacks the upward compatibility of the RB/RZ/AF series, but since these backs are gonna stay over the couple thousand marks anyway, i figure i could always pick up another MF body if i ever get to that point. I mean, i like the pictures from the polaroid backs, but i can do those type of things to a nice clean 5D image.

Gotta check the weight limits on my tripod/head though, the C-33 sure looks like a unwieldy beast :D

Thanks Rhys & Mark :)

[Mark_48]

MF with Polaroid on a budget ? :D
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/515984-REG/Holga_159120_Holgaroid_Instant_Film_Back.html#acce ssories (camera sold seperately from back)

[Rhys]

I had a friend who took a polaroid back off a cheap and broken polaroid camera then put that back onto a Lubitel and had a really good pola-lub. It was wider angle than normal but it did focus to infinity.

[Csae]

Ah yeah, i've also seen a hacked TLR with a polaroid back... but im not really into that whole hack stuff.

Another question, i noticed for color films, there are positives and negatifs... Are they just inverted ? i guess they developed the positifs later with new tech... ?

Or are the positifs just sorta like diapos, and lower quality then the negatifs ?

[Rhys]

Negatives are inverse colour images. Positives aka Slides aka Reversals aka Transparencies are negatives that undergo a chemical fogging process to turn them into perceived colour images. Negatives also have an orange mask layer.

It is possible to develop negatives as slides and slides as negatives. In fact I once developed Ilford XP film in E6 chemicals and had some very nice B&W slides.

[Csae]

I see, what im asking is if these get a polaroid type quality, or if they keep the printing power of a negative?

Can you make the same enlargements with the same detail/sharpness from a negative as from a positive?

I only remember processing b&w ilford negatives. Im pretty clueless when it comes to colorfilm to be honest, other then a couple basic things, so i gotta ask and learn :)

[Rhys]

I see, what im asking is if these get a polaroid type quality, or if they keep the printing power of a negative?

Can you make the same enlargements with the same detail/sharpness from a negative as from a positive?

I only remember processing b&w ilford negatives. Im pretty clueless when it comes to colorfilm to be honest, other then a couple basic things, so i gotta ask and learn :)

Not really... Remember the Moorman Polaroid? The problem with Polaroid is it cannot really be enlarged before the grain becomes visible. It is, after all, about 3,000 ISO.