DIY Polaroid 250/180

A few years ago I was given an old Polaroid 250 land camera. Unfortunately, it's electronics were kaput making it inoperative. So, I initially ripped out the shutter mechanism turning the 250 into something of a pin-hole camera. I shot with it like that for a little while until getting bored and shelving it.

Some time later a friend of mine acquired an old Calumet 4x5 view camera kit with several large format lenses. I asked and received one of her "extra" lenses, a Wollensak Raptar 4 1/2" (114mm) f/4.5 that was similar enough to another lens to part with. I used that to resurrect my dead 250.

So, I'd like to say I did a lot of precise measurements, and fashioned and fitted everything properly, but I didn't. I basically just cut out a piece of sturdy matte board in the shape of the camera's front section, then cut out a hole for the lens in roughly the same place as the original lens, and taped it all together. Surprisingly it worked.

But the focus on the new lens didn't line-up with the 250's range finder. I tried trail-and-error first with little success. I then made a zone-focus system by test focusing on objects at varying distances and marking off the distances on the camera. I wasn't going to waste a bunch of peel-apart film for tests. So, I made a make-shift ground glass out of a piece of wax paper, opening the back of the camera, and placing it where the film would sit. Then focusing the same as I would with a view camera.

But my zone-focus system didn't really work well either. So finally, I carefully bent the little metal piece that coupled the 250's focusing mechanism to the range finder in the view finder, little by little until the range finder matched with the lens. Now it works great.

I now have probably the cheapest equivalent of a Polaroid Model 180 available.

 Examples of what my "modified" 250 can do:

More photos and technical info after the jump.

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Rooftop Photoshoot

I've recently started working with a group in Greensboro referring to itself simply as "Production Photography." It's a non-profit group started by John Ryan Flaherty, Chris Cooke, and Aaron Nace. It's slowly growing to incorporate lots of local talent including photographers, videographers, models, makeup and hair stylists, etc (I was invited on to be a behind-the-scenes shooter).

As a non-profit, it's all for the love of photography/the production. It's goal is to bring together creative (young) talent into the Greensboro arts community for collaborative projects, portfolio building, to learn from one-another, and to benefit the group and the city of Greensboro.

It's steadily growing and hopes to soon establish a permanent studio space/base camp, as well as official non-profit legal status, thanks mainly to the behind-the-scenes work of John and the forward momentum of Aaron, Chris, Rosie, and others.

I've only been involved with the group for only a couple of weeks now, but I really enjoy working with them all and I'm excited to see how far it all goes/grows. Those who have been heavily involved, especially from the beginning, are slowly becoming the "core group" (I'm also starting to consider myself part of that).

We will always be open and eager for new people, especially those with skills we need. But so far it's by "invite only." We want to avoid over crowding and rubber-neckers. We're also limiting ourselves to no more than 2 to 4 shoots a day, and only a few days a week.

Core group members will "sponsor" new people into the group on a one-on-one basis. Ideas/concepts will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis and will be also evaluated on creativity, time, and the abilities of those involved. Those with ideas for shoots must first spend time helping on other shoots. And contributions of time, talent, equipment, opportunities, connections, and funds will always be needed.

Polaroid ProPack land camera
(expired) Polacolor 669 pack film