Visit my new blog

I´ve decided to split my blog in two. I will continue to post DIY projects and musings here, but (serious) pictures, taken on film of course, will be posted in my new blog "Silver Halides"

I now consider Caffenol to be a developer like any else. As such the new blog will focus more on the pictures, rather than the process.

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

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
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

2 comments:

  1. Savi24 February 2014 at 05:41

    Hi, I have a question. How exactly did you mount the 600SE adapter to the back of the 110A?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ezzie21 March 2014 at 07:45

    Hi.

    The aluminium sheet used to cover up the end that is chopped off, extends around what was the old film gate. With an opening in it, the same size as the opening of the 600SE back adapter. This is fastened to the camera with 4 machine screws (holes drilled through the the old film gate, making sure they are on the outside of the bellows). The heads can be seen around the edge of the bellows, above and below. I then epoxied nuts to the new frame, to which the adapter can be fastened with 4mm screws if I remember correctly. You can see the heads on the last picture of the camera

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)