Topic: 600SE Questions - Backs, Spacers, Compatibility.

[Orangish]

Hi all!

I recently joined filmwasters to ask a member a few questions about the Polaroid 195, and now am coming back to you guys in hopes of clearing up a few questions about the 600SE.

I've really been taken by Type 100 over the last year, and love shooting the 195, particularly for portraiture.

However, I've found that juggling goggles and diopters can get to be a bit of a trick given the way I often find myself shooting. While I know the 600SE is heavy, the interchangeable lenses really appeal to me.

In researching it (and the excellent thread here helped a lot) I'm left with a few questions I'm hoping you guys might be able to help me with. Most are related to backs (as I've never had the good fortune to work with a camera that's used backs before).

1) It's my understanding that given the long minimum focusing distance of all three of the 600SE lenses, it's tricky to get a tight portrait without either:

a) Diopters and a ground glass

-or-

b) Back spacers and a ground glass (this being the better option)

Is this correct?

2) The back spacers I've been able to find are all Mamiya - are they compatible with the 600SE? I was under the impression that Mamiya gear would only work with the Universal.

3) When shopping for Type-100 backs, what should I look out for? I see some are advertised as coming with dark slides and rollers, but I had been under the impression that those parts were kinda...attached to the backs. What questions should I ask if purchasing online?

4) Is there a guide anywhere on how to wrangle a type 600 back onto a 600SE? The chance of having manual control over integral film really appeals to me.

5) Are there any places other than eBay that would be worth using to track down this equipment?

Thank you all in advance! I really appreciate the help

[Francois]

I'm not a 600SE user but I do know that nothing Mamiya fits the Polaroid despite being manufactured in the same factory.

[Orangish]

I'm not a 600SE user but I do know that nothing Mamiya fits the Polaroid despite being manufactured in the same factory.

That's what I thought, except the photos in Skorj's thread here seem to picture Mamiya backs mated to the 600SE.

[tkmedia]

Here is seans exce compare 600 vs universal
http://moominsean.blogspot.com/2010/02/mamiya-universal-vs-polaroid-600se.html

[Francois]

That's what I thought, except the photos in Skorj's thread here seem to picture Mamiya backs mated to the 600SE.

When you read down a bit:

The 600 SE back mount is not unique, and can also be found on other removable back cameras such as the Mini Portrait, and the Studio Express (4-lens) - both a useful source of spare backs as these passport photograph cameras are considered junk by many. The mount is similar to the Mamiya Universal, but the backs are not interchangeable.

[MJL]

I use my 600SE with both Fuji FP & 120 films.  To mount the huge collection of available Mamiya film backs to 600SE you will need the P Adapter, which is unfortunately hard to find and expensive.  There is a vendor from Hong Kong on Ebay sells "special" Polaroid mounting claws, which you can replace the "regular" claws on many Mamiya film backs and mount it onto the 600SE directly.  I have not try this method myself as I use only the P Adapter.

Both 127 & 150 mm Mamiya lenses on 600SE have a rather long minimum focusing distance.  To get a head & shoulder shoot with the 127 mm, I need to add a 55mm +1 Closeup lens and focus through Focusing Hood P (or regular Mamiya hood with P Adapter), which is time consuming.  The big & heavy 600SE never sits tight on my Gitzo Or Manfrotto tripods with QR plates.  To switch from focusing to film backs always move my composition slightly.  Add any Closeup lens to 150 mm will cut the minimum focus distance but also rendering an extremely shallow DOF  IQ from my copy of 150 mm is no match to the 127mm and I think it is generally the case.

I bought most of my 600SE stuff on Ebay.  Only the Mamiya, Polaroid backs and Closeup lens I can get locally on Craiglist or such.  Hope this information help.