Topic: Polaroid 600SE problem?

[Mil Mascaras]

All,

I received a Polaroid 600SE as a present from a co-worker ("I found this huge camera in my family's old house... do you want it? Otherwise I will throw it away...") but either I am stupid (95% chance) or there is something wrong with it (5%). I am familiar both with Polaroids (used to have a 600) and rangefinders (I worked in Moscow a few years ago and got exposed to the Fed's, Zorki, etc...) but have never handled something like this.

Everything seems to work fine and smoothly, shutter release works, blades open, etc., I loaded some FP-100C and every shot I have tried to take comes out completely white, as if it was never exposed.

I BELIEVE that I am doing everything right, or at least I am following the 600SE manual that is floating around (it used to be hosted on polaroid.com so it is an official one).

Any ideas on what could be wrong?

Thanks in advance.

PS. I took the lens cap off.

[DS]

I hope I'm not being condescending but did you pull out the darkslide?
(I've made this mistake many times on cameras with no interlocks....)

[Phil Bebbington]

I was thinking of the darkslide as well!

You asre priming the shutter I assume?

[Mil Mascaras]

Haha, no problem, yes, of course I removed the darkslide. (but I have made sometimes the mistake of shooting with the cap on when using a Russian RF).

I believe it's got to be the film being faulty as the camera is fairly simple (it's a box with a hole!). It's a pack that expired recently but I don't know how it was stored. I can't think of anything else but wanted to hear the opinion from the experts before shelling out some cash for another film pack. I've got another pack that came with the camera so I will end up trying that one out as well.

[Phil Bebbington]

Did you prime the shutter?

[DS]

Haha, no problem, yes, of course I removed the darkslide. (but I have made sometimes the mistake of shooting with the cap on when using a Russian RF).

Yeah, I've done that one too with my Zorki (it's the only RF I have a cap for). It's a good learning experience in terms of creative swearing...

If the shutter's opening O.K it must be the film I guess. I'm far from being an expert .

I'm slightly jealous of your generous colleague...

[Mil Mascaras]

Phil - yes, I did, set a long exposure too, shutter works as it should.

DS - I told him: dude, you can sell this on ebay for a (small) fortune. He told me, I don't know how to use that website (true), plus I don't need the money (true) and you will enjoy the present (TRUE... once it works).

Thanks both for your help. I will go buy a new fresh pack of film and try it out during the weekend I guess.

[DS]

Last random thought- are the rollers in the back OK?

[Mil Mascaras]

Yes, slides come out one by one, pulling the small white tab brings out the larger tab, etc., basically nothing suspicious there.

[Mil Mascaras]

Uhhhh I'm on the 8th shot and now it works nicely. Colours are a bit faded (expired Pola colours instead of Fuji colours) but looks like film was screwed up. All the drama for this. I guess I'm a true filmwaster... but I also feel less stupid which is a plus.

Thanks for the help. I enjoy the webpage, have known it for a long time (incidentally due to the Polaroid 600SE articles!), but I suck at photography and I really don't have much to say.

[Phil Bebbington]

Mil, glad it sorted itself out - great camera.

Why not hang around a while. None of us proclaim to be any good at photography. For me I shoot what pleases me and if it pleases others then that is great. You'll get nothing but encouragement here and help if you ask for it.  Mostly it is a great community of like minded people who share and learn from each other perhaps making all of us better photographers and if not, you have made good friends.

[Francois]

Don't forget, this is a direct positive process. White print means overexposed. Black print means underexposed/forgot black slide.
Use the sunny f/16 rule and you'll know what the problem is.

[Mil Mascaras]

Phil - it's a nice forum, not too big (a plus) and people seem to be friendly ... it's refreshing. No second comings of Cartier Bresson here. Also, I don't have talent but I supply that with enthusiasm.

Francois - I was metering with a reliable VC II that I have use with several old non metered RF's. I love that little meter.

[Ed Wenn]

I love that little meter.

For some reason, just reading the words, "I love that little meter" brings to mind early Beach Boys. I guess it must be "Little Deuce Coupe"  Either way, welcome Mil.

[Skorj]

Assume you've tried another pack too?