Topic: Removing the timer from a Polaroid 360

[ChristopherCoy]

I picked up a Polaroid 360 with flash attachment and case recently, and to my surprise everything works properly.

However, on my first pack of film I wasted nearly every single frame because the pack was so tight. The tabs tore off etc etc, and everything was wasted.

This morning I broke the springs off thinking it would make more room, but when I put a new pack in, I again wasted the first two or three frames because it was too tight. After the first few frames were out, it loosened up and seemed to 'act right' as I finally got a full frame image on the 4th shot.

Would removing the electronic timer give me even more room, or would it create more problems such as light leaks etc?

I really wanted  an nice PLC to shoot some instant film with, but I'm kinda getting tired of wasting film and money. This is the second pack that goes to crap. I'm seriously starting to regret selling my 250 last year.

[Chalky]

Some people remove the springs on the inside of the back or bend them to reduce the pressure. For the first few frames of a pack if tight you can open the back ever so slightly without risking light leaks to relieve the pressure. The Instant options website or Flickr all have info on the 'bobby pin trick'. I have no idea what a bobby pin is but people usr them to relieve the pressure on the Fuji packs.

I am sure with some tweaking it'll come good. You can remove the timer but I don't know how. Or swop the back with another camera with no timer?

EDIT:

many options here to solve your issue

arrggh for some reason it won't let me paste the link in for some reason? anyway google instant options and go to the FAQ area, then find the fuji pack fill issues page... and you'd think I didn't do this for a living!

good luck!

[Francois]

When it fails, put it inside the website brackets (using this button )and make sure there are no spaces (like after the .com and before blank)

But I checked the site and it brings you to a crappy flash games site... so no good

So check here instead

Something's very wrong here... the site won't let anyone post a link to this place...
Hawgh! this is annoying... I wonder if the site is on some sort of blacklist?

Maybe the version in the google cache will work
Not so... " blank" is blocked by the software.

OK, long way of doing this

www . instant options . com / faqs/faqtrouble.fujipacks.php

Remove all spaces and you're in business.

[ChristopherCoy]

Just for the record, I was able to click on Chalky's original link, and you're as well Francois, with no problems. Took me right to the page.

[Chalky]

weird!

anyway, opening the back just a little does the trick for me (although generally have been lucky with my cameras).

and I am sure you know but when they are tough pull the tab slowly, firmly and consistently. after a while you kind of know when it is not going to come out and is going to snap...

[Francois]

This is really strange. When I put the address in the web form, it replaces it by blank.com

[Ezzie]

This is the reason I picked up a 250. No timer. In your case I would remove it.

[ChristopherCoy]

This is the reason I picked up a 250. No timer. In your case I would remove it.

I had a 250, but it was finicky. I hated it. Maybe it was just that particular camera.

[moominsean]

I prefer the way the crappy hard case polaroids meter over the auto folders. I love the colorpacks and super shooters, but the few auto folders i've used, a couple 250s, a 100, and something else i can't remember, never seem to produce very good exposures. And the DOF is much better with the hardcases, though you lose your focus finder.

You can always remove the timer, and if it makes no difference, put it back! The first couple Fuji shots in my 190 and 195 are usually pretty tight, but i just pull the tabs slowly and carefully, usually gripping with two thumbs and two fingers.

[Poliweb]

I have found that cold weather makes this problems worse.

I bought my daughter a 350 for Christmas. We had no problems until we went to Yosemite. With temperatures well below freezing we broke a lot of white tabs, especially early on in the pack. If the camera had warmed up in the car it was less prone to jamming. I can support the fact that opening the back slightly doesn't fog the film. I did it multiple times to free a jam and never once fogged a piece of film.

Good luck.

Richard

[Francois]

I also had stuck tabs a few times. I also had ripped tabs.
Somehow, I found that this mostly happens when you use the leash to pull the film out like they recommend in the Polaroid instructions.

I also had a hard time on my folding 315 when came time to pull out the darkslide paper. The fuli paper has a shorter length of paper than the Polaroid. So I had to attach a folded piece of painters tape to it (sandwich style) so I could pull it through the rollers.

[snpshts]

Hi, I had the same probem with my 350 electric timer. I just ripped out the cover of the timer inside the camera by drilling out the rivets. I made sure there are no light leaks by covering the electronics with black tape.  Everything working fine now... no stuck tabs or problems pulling the "darkslide" any more.

[Cadha13]

Ever since my 360 started to smoke with the flash on, I stopped using it. 

No problems at all with the Auto 100 and Fujifilm. I guess I have been just lucky. No camera back problems here.

Now what to do with a gross of M3 flashbulbs...   

[Francois]

A flaming Polaroid
Now that must have been quite a sight!

[ChristopherCoy]

Hi, I had the same probem with my 350 electric timer. I just ripped out the cover of the timer inside the camera by drilling out the rivets. I made sure there are no light leaks by covering the electronics with black tape.  Everything working fine now... no stuck tabs or problems pulling the "darkslide" any more.

I'll have to try that then.

I cut the springs out of the back and that made a significant difference, but the first frame or two were still really tight. I'll try removing the cover and see if that improves it any more.

Does your timer still work, or did you cut the wires to it as well?

[ChristopherCoy]

Ever since my 360 started to smoke with the flash on, I stopped using it. 

No problems at all with the Auto 100 and Fujifilm. I guess I have been just lucky. No camera back problems here.

Now what to do with a gross of M3 flashbulbs...

This is the only model that I've ever had trouble with. I used to have a 104 and a 250, and I've also had a Reporter and EE100, and I've never had this much trouble.