Author Topic: The big Polaroid incident (Read 7643 times)

Francois · « **on:** January 28, 2015, 07:26:02 PM »

Well... it had to happen one day. I just didn't expect it to go that fast.
Last year, I had loaded my last pack of original Polaroid 600 into an SX-70 Sonar. I had meticulously cut the notches. Since the film was very out of date, I figured that putting it in an SX70 that was designed for slower film and setting the camera to dark would help fix the problem and get rid of the excess brown in the images. And it worked pretty well.

Today, I was looking through the drawers and found the loaded camera. So I hatched-up a small but cute indoor shot. Everything was perfect.
So I open the camera, go to push the autofocus lever to off and click-clack-whirr... a print comes out. I tilt the camera, click-clack-whirr. I go to look through the viewfinder; it's all black click-clack-whirr. I go to close the camera, click-clack whirr.

It turns out the shutter button got stuck for some reason. By the time I had figured it out, half of the remaining pictures were gone.

I try and shoot my little setup. First time I moved. Second was out of focus. Third was better but too far. Fourth sucked.

So this is how you really waste what was probably the last pack of 600 in the world...

Adam Doe · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2015, 07:43:32 PM »

Ouch. Sorry Francois.

Kayos · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:04:12 PM »

Not quite as painful but my son was watching me load a tank, put it down for a second before I put it in the changing bag, turned round and he'd pulled the film out of the can!!

Said he wanted to see the pictures, like when they are hung up in the bathroom

Maybe should have explained the process first?

Late Developer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2015, 09:36:46 PM »

Oh crap...!! That's what I call an "Ostrich Up". It's a bit like a "Cock Up" but much. much bigger.......

Sorry to hear your news.

Francois · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2015, 10:42:17 PM »

Oh well... anybody care for some crooked pictures of a vertical blind?

limr · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2015, 04:56:21 AM »

Oh! It just hurts

jojonas~ · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:30:52 AM »

bummer... I neither trust my sx-70 sonar or TIP film so I dunno when I'll be shooting integral again

Terry · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2015, 01:43:18 PM »

Crooked pictures of a vertical blind? That sounds like ART!!!!

Francois · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2015, 02:32:08 PM »

Well... I must admit that the image is somewhat cryptic... Especially if I get it printed very big...

Bryan · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2015, 04:17:32 PM »

The last batch of FP-100C I got has been giving me problems. The dark card at the beginning has been tearing when I try to pull it out. Sometimes I have to open the back to get a grip on it to get it started which usually ends up messing with the first shot. One time the first shot was blank but then I ended up with a double exposure on the next shot (see below). Not sure how that happened. Another time when I pulled the first shot out two other sheets came out with it. Somehow they were stuck together.

Vera Double Shot by bac1967, on Flickr

I've had a few weird things happen with TIP film in an SX-70 but nothing like what you're talking about.

Space Needle by bac1967, on Flickr

Adam Doe · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2015, 07:27:41 PM »

Quote from: BAC1967 on January 29, 2015, 04:17:32 PM

The last batch of FP-100C I got has been giving me problems. The dark card at the beginning has been tearing when I try to pull it out. Sometimes I have to open the back to get a grip on it to get it started which usually ends up messing with the first shot. One time the first shot was blank but then I ended up with a double exposure on the next shot (see below). Not sure how that happened. Another time when I pulled the first shot out two other sheets came out with it. Somehow they were stuck together...

BAC,

It sounds like the springs (those two metal strips on the inside of the door) are exerting too much pressure on the pack of film. The old Polaroid packs were made of metal and could withstand the pressure from the springs. The fuji packs are made of plastic and are much flimsier. There are a couple of methods to reduce the pressure. The first and easiest is to just get some pliers and remove the springs by bending them, as close to where they are attached as possible, until they snap off. If you want the camera in original condition and don't want to remove the springs, you can hold them down with bobby pins slid over them near the ends and then held down by the roller mechanism. Lift the roller mechanism, place the pins on and then reseat the roller mechanism which will hold down the bobby pins and the springs. I'm not near one of my cameras at the moment so I can't post a picture, but if you want one just let me know and I'll post a picture later.

Indofunk · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2015, 07:42:19 PM »

One of my SX70s suddenly started to fire the flash constantly when it was plugged in, which I figured out must be some sort of short up in the flash PCB. Also leads to a major shock when plugging in a flash unit!

And then my other SX70 (an SLR680) has a different kind of short in the flash assembly where it bypasses the flash altogether and gets extremely hot every time a battery pack is loaded. I really need to get around to sending them both in to be serviced,

Bryan · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:04:48 PM »

Quote from: Adam Doe on January 29, 2015, 07:27:41 PM

Quote from: BAC1967 on January 29, 2015, 04:17:32 PM
The last batch of FP-100C I got has been giving me problems. The dark card at the beginning has been tearing when I try to pull it out. Sometimes I have to open the back to get a grip on it to get it started which usually ends up messing with the first shot. One time the first shot was blank but then I ended up with a double exposure on the next shot (see below). Not sure how that happened. Another time when I pulled the first shot out two other sheets came out with it. Somehow they were stuck together...

BAC,

It sounds like the springs (those two metal strips on the inside of the door) are exerting too much pressure on the pack of film. The old Polaroid packs were made of metal and could withstand the pressure from the springs. The fuji packs are made of plastic and are much flimsier. There are a couple of methods to reduce the pressure. The first and easiest is to just get some pliers and remove the springs by bending them, as close to where they are attached as possible, until they snap off. If you want the camera in original condition and don't want to remove the springs, you can hold them down with bobby pins slid over them near the ends and then held down by the roller mechanism. Lift the roller mechanism, place the pins on and then reseat the roller mechanism which will hold down the bobby pins and the springs. I'm not near one of my cameras at the moment so I can't post a picture, but if you want one just let me know and I'll post a picture later.

Thanks Adam, I thought that could have something to do with it but I always thought that was more of a problem with the models that have a timer built into the back. I'll give your suggestions a try.

Kai-san · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:57:53 PM »

When I use Fuji FP100C or FP-3000B film packs I pop off the flimsy plastic lid and replace it with a a metal lid from a real Polaroid film pack that I have saved. It may sound a bit risky, but as long as you keep one finger on the darkslide so that it doesn't move you're all right. It does not have to be done in complete darkness, just enough light to see approximately what you are doing.

Francois · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:06:41 PM »

Also, what I do to help removing the darkslide on the FP packs is attach a piece of tape that's folded over to the darkslide's paper (sticking both top and bottom).
This helps pulling without tearing when I use my folders...

As for the mishaps, here's the really bad, the WTF moment and the artsy out of focus shots.

Kai-san · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:19:31 PM »

Wow, the last one is pure art, Francois!

Indofunk · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:46:22 PM »

Not a big fan of the middle one, but the first and last ones are definitely keepers!

Bryan · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:54:12 PM »

Those are cool Francois, that's a good idea with the tape, I'm going to try that. Kai-san, I had one of those metal packs but I think I just threw it away

Adam Doe · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2015, 02:04:57 AM »

Quote from: Indofunk on January 29, 2015, 09:46:22 PM

Not a big fan of the middle one, but the first and last ones are definitely keepers!

I think the middle one is a slice of spumoni.

Adam Doe · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2015, 02:25:18 AM »

Quote from: BAC1967 on January 29, 2015, 08:04:48 PM

Thanks Adam, I thought that could have something to do with it but I always thought that was more of a problem with the models that have a timer built into the back. I'll give your suggestions a try.

Here's the bobby pin method on a Polaroid 100, which I learned from the Option8 web site. Note that the pins go under the roller carriage.

IMG_6390 by adoephoto, on Flickr

And here's the "out damned springs!" method (with a bonus get the timer out too and tape it to prevent light leaks) on a Polaroid 450.

IMG_6389 by adoephoto, on Flickr

Both cameras work well.

Bryan · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2015, 02:57:59 AM »

I'll try that bobby pin method first, less destructive. Thanks again.

LT · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2015, 11:48:29 AM »

unlucky Francois. Ouch!

Kai-san · « **Reply #22 on:** January 30, 2015, 06:07:04 PM »

Quote

Kai-san, I had one of those metal packs but I think I just threw it away

Bryan, I've got more of those lids than I need so if you want one I can easily drop it in the mail.

tkmedia · « **Reply #23 on:** January 30, 2015, 06:23:08 PM »

I just dont bother to mod the pack camera. If a bit tight, I just open the back slightly to pull the dark card / and or first exposure. Usually after the first is enough to relieve pressure.

Chalky · « **Reply #24 on:** January 30, 2015, 08:03:06 PM »

Agree with TK, if you're careful with the first one, even opening the back a little, you should be fine. good luck.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #25 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:44:42 PM »

Yep, what Matt and TK said....I use this method too.

Verian · « **Reply #26 on:** January 30, 2015, 11:29:37 PM »

Francois, I like the second one, it has a rather serene minimalistic air about it, if you had claimed to have done it deliberately then i'd be thinking you were some kind of genius, so I'm going to pretend you did.

Francois · « **Reply #27 on:** January 31, 2015, 02:04:34 PM »

Thanks guys. I'm going to admit that when it all came out it was all a big syrprise!
Somehow I always love the minimalist look I sometimes get from mistakes.
Years ago I got a slide printer and when I went to check the inside I discovered that there was still one shot of Fuji FP in it. I pulled it and it strangely came out a gorgeous blue with a nice fade towards one of the corners. I always kept it for some odd reason...

tkmedia · « **Reply #28 on:** February 01, 2015, 04:56:18 AM »

I sense a theme...

img968 by Studioesper, on Flickr

Francois · « **Reply #29 on:** February 01, 2015, 02:37:45 PM »

What happened?

Option 8 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:15:28 PM »

http://www. blank.com/faqs/faqtrouble.fujipacks.php

Has all the information anyone needs to combat the Fuji Jamming Issue.

From non-invasive to straight up modifying the camera. Youll never waste another shot again.

Francois · « **Reply #31 on:** February 03, 2015, 08:58:41 PM »

I think the site has moved since the link won't work. But Google suggested this instead http://www. blank.com/faqs/faqtrouble.fujipacks.php

original_ann · « **Reply #32 on:** February 04, 2015, 11:59:31 PM »

What a shame, Francois! But I must say I absolutely LOVE the middle image!!! Blow it up big over a sofa. Shades of watermelon - lovely!

Francois · « **Reply #33 on:** February 05, 2015, 03:38:06 PM »

I hadn't realized it but yes it does remind me a bit of a watermellon...
It would make for a definitely fresh image.

Author Topic: The big Polaroid incident (Read 7643 times)

Terry