Polaroid Pathfinder 110A brought back to life

A friend sent me an old 110A, believing I could revive it to actually taking pictures again. I pondered on many 4x5 conversion solutions, ending up looking long and good at Noah Schwartz´low profile back, very slick. However, after browsing Nate's (Option8 fame) creations on flickr and polaroidconversions.com, I ended up taking an easier route, grafting a Polaroid 600SE back adapter to the 110A, making it almost as versatile as anything with a Graflok back, only slightly smaller Can now mount just about anything up to 6x9 in 120/220 with the right adapter, not to mention Polaroid backs (like the CB103 pack film back on her now), and even 4x5 (though not covering the frame completely).

The hardest part was manufacturing the adapter plate. I made one that both functions as a mount for the adapter, but is also the side wall of the camera (where the end has been chopped off). The film plane has as a result of the plate and the 600SE adapter been moved back an inch or so, so the end stop for the lens has been moved back correspondingly.

The camera was a bit worse for wear, so she´s been given a good going over. The Ysarex in Compur #0 shutter was a bit gummed up, so exchanged for a Tominon in Copal #1 press shutter. Needed to widen the mount for that. I recovered her in Cameraleather green composite leather (comes in sheets). The top cover has been chopped too, filled, sanded and painted cream. I think she looks quite nice.

Polaroid 110A w/600SE back adapter - front view Tominon 127mm f4.7 in Copal press shutter

Polaroid 110A w/600SE back adapter - front view Tominon 127mm f4.7 in Copal press shutter
You can see the end of the camera has been chopped

Polaroid 110A w/600SE back adapter - rear view with CB103 back attached

Polaroid 110A w/600SE back adapter - rear view with CB103 back attached

Polaroid 110A w/600SE back adapter - rear view 600SE adapter

Tools used? A Dremel with both cutting disks, and grinding heads comes in handy, set of small screwdrivers, emery cloth and sanding paper (120, 240, 600 and 1200 grit), drill and drill bits, pliers, hack-saw and scissors.

Materials and parts? 110A of course, Polaroid 600SE adapter, CB103 back, (in my case a Tominon in Copal shutter due to iffy shutter on the Rodenstock Ysaron), 1.5mm sheet aluminium (for adapter plate), Cameraleather.com Composite leather covering, paint (cream semi gloss and flat black), Epoxy glues and filler, Sugru, Light sealing material and 3mm machine screws

2012-07-02 UPDATE:

And work it does:


Lucy the 110A/600SE Hybrid - Fuji FP 3000B



Lucy the 110A/600SE Hybrid - Fuji FP 100B