Topic: Fortunate Trade

[Mojave]

Went to a junkyard looking for I dont know what and asked if they had any old cameras.
No, they tell me, but we have some old Polaroids.  
So I tell em ok, I'd like to check them out and the guy brings out two land cameras, a 104 and 450, both automatic. I dont know anything about them but I do know I couldnt find a land camera on ebay for a low enough price so I ask him what he was selling them for.
25 a piece he says.
I ask if he wants to trade some antique plows for them and he said yes.
So not only did I get two working land cameras, I got rid of some old junk.
The barter system works out great sometimes!!!

[Ed Wenn]

The 450 is sweet; great find. Nice glass lens etc. and the single Zeiss viewfinder/focusing window if memory serves. The 104 is more low-fi and will produce softer images.

Bartering is a wonderful system!

[Francois]

Sure is a great find!

[original_ann]

This sounds like a very good day! 

[Mojave]

Thank you all! I knew the folks here would appreciate the find.

Thanks for the info Ed. This camera came with a flash and it has a timer on the back. Timer doesnt work but Im hoping its just the battery needs to be replaced. It even had some really old Polaroid color film in it. Too bad it didnt work. 

So hopefully I'll be posting some pix soon.

[edthened]

Och Mojave, hav a wee lookie in dis site http://www. blank.com/ cozz it'll tell yoo onything ye need tae no aboot Polaroid Automatics an maer, so ther 

[Mojave]

Thank you so much Ed!!! Awesome site.

[Ed Wenn]

Mojave, seriously, do not bother with the timer on the back. Just take a snap, wait some time and then peel. As discussed here previously, the Fujifilm peel apart film self-terminates anyway so you can't over expose it and any Polaroid peel apart that I've used in the last year or so has effectively behaved the same. I know it's generally warmer where you are than it is here in London, but unless Sean suggests otherwise I'd say don't waste time getting the timer to work. I've never used mine in 5 years and have never had an under or over exposed print as a result.

[Francois]

I think Ed is talking about over processing a Polaroid... exposure is fixed by the camera

As a rule of thumb, the print can wait a long time before it is shown.

[Ed Wenn]

Good point, Francois....I assumed that Mojave knew the timer was all about measuring how long to develop the print, not an exposure timer.

Exposure is handled by the Land Camera's 'Magic Eye' meter...and for that you will definitely need a battery.

[Mojave]

Thanks all! I did figure the timer was for waiting for the film to expose but I will just ignore it so thank you! I think the camera is working ok. I did a test by covering up the meter and hitting the shutter and then letting it go and heard two clicks. What I dont know about is the ASA and Shutter speeds talked about on the List website. I cant see anything like that.

[Alan]

Thank you all! I knew the folks here would appreciate the find.

Thanks for the info Ed. This camera came with a flash and it has a timer on the back. Timer doesnt work but Im hoping its just the battery needs to be replaced. It even had some really old Polaroid color film in it. Too bad it didnt work. 

So hopefully I'll be posting some pix soon.

thats well cool, you did well . . . looking forward to hearing your first experiences with them !