Topic: Can any one give some tips..polaroid type 55

[susan Cunningham]

I am not new to using Polaroid type 55 but this afternoon I am having problems... the paper dark slide will not separate. It is as if the little clip can't grab the piece of metal at the base of the film.  I have ruined 1/2 a box  so far and it is killing me... the holder(545) seems to be completely fine.  Any suggestions?

[kuru]

I'm not sure of any way to make sure you have it clipped correctly, but you can run your finger across the cover when you pull it out and feel for a bulge that will tell you that the film pulled out as well.

[susan Cunningham]

yes I can feel the bulge... of chemistry that is... and I can hear a metallic Click when it does not grab... it pulls out silently when it does grab... has this ever happened to you?  I had this happen intermittently in the past but never an entire box... Of note I am using a "new"  (used)545 back but I don't think it is the issue.  If it had never happened with my old (now broken 545--crushed in a move) I would think it was the equipment...  I think it is either the box of film or something I am doing differently... could it be defective film...Am I pulling too aggressively
I think I am in the polaroid twilight zone here ...I had the greatest shot lined up... the light was right......... 7 sheets later I still don't have an exposure.  Maybe I need to sleep on it... thanks

[astrobeck]

I have had this happen before and had to lightly bend the metal clip outward a bit.
A small bit.  Just flick it outward and not really bend it drastically.  Not a lot or it will just hang up inside.

I think with wear the holder gets a little sloppy, for lack of a better word and just doesn't grab as well.
Let us know how it works out.
astrobeck

[Ron]

I am having this EXACT problem right now    I am of the belief my problem is the catch at the bottm.  I think it is just worn out and doesn't have enough 'teeth' to catch.  I have bent the lip at the bottom of the film as was mentioned and now that's not even working.  I realized a black film bottom was stuck in the holder too, but it still doesn't work.  My holder is quite old and I have only been running expired type 55 thru it lately.  I wish I had some type 53, etc. to see if it is the expired film (I doubt it).  If you find out anything let us know please and I will let you know if I come to any conclusions    I will be screwing around with mine this weekend...

[susan Cunningham]

I think I will try gently bending (not drastic ...) that piece of metal at the bottom... I have to admit I was having photographer's rage and was not being gentle ... hmmm ... gentle  gentle

[susan Cunningham]

I now think it was the film!!!! I used every last piece of film in that box with no success.  15 pieces.  I started trying to pull the dark slide out with my fingers and a pair of tiny pliers to hold the metal strip... the film would just break off the metal strip. I was trying to be gentle the whole time!!  It also occurred to me that this box traveled in a hot car for 8+ hours last september..I hadn't used it since.  I have opened a new box and voila!!! silence as the dark slide glides right out...
unfortunately the photo stinks....

[astrobeck]

For what it may be worth, you should talk to Polaroid about this.

[Skorj]

unfortunately the photo stinks....

I love the smell of Type-55/665 - congratulations on getting it working, and feel free to post some interesting results here. Skj.

[susan Cunningham]

Yeah I guess I should tell polaroid.... will theu listen... will they care?  any one have a contact?

I have a few negs hangin' up to dry... I'll see tomorrow if they are worthy of a post!
thanks for the encouragement!
susan

[Tammy]

I actually think they would listen.  I've heard of Polaroid being very generous when a pack of film has an issue.  It's worth a try.  I would look at the polaroid.com site and contact customer service about the problem.

Glad you have it figured out!  I love type 55.

[susan Cunningham]

so once I got things moving smoothly yesterday I did get a couple of interesting negs...
here goes.......




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[Ed Wenn]

Congrats, Susan. Looking good. I too have had my first Type 55 'successes' today. These are basically test shots because I was trying to work out exposure times with expired film, a very, very cold day and an unruly (and very heavy) 70 year old camera. I was just pointing the setup at anything that wasn't completely dull and pressing 'Go'. Now I know it all works (minus the wird light leak/reflection in the 2nd shot below) I'll start looking for something good to take a snap of.

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[susan Cunningham]

Hey  Ed  congrats to you as well I especially love the flowers!

I just checked out (briefly) your blog. You mention problems keeping the bellows from moving out of focus (the photo of your dad)... this happens on my Linhoff Tech IV  when I am using some of the older and Heavier lenses.  I have been known to carry wooden clothes pins (the type with the spring) and I clamp them on the track either in front of the lens (if I am pointing down) or behind the lens when pointed up.  does this make sense?  .......... And now we are off topic........

[Ed Wenn]

Susan, thanks for the tip re the clothes pegs. I'll definitely keep it in mind.

What I really need to do is take the Graflex apart and give it a good service. Other than the lens itself all of the other optics bits (glass and mirror etc.) are horribly dirty and it makes focussing really hard. The tracks need oiling and there are a load of screws that could do with replacing. I'm just concerned that once I take the thing apart I'll have springs that have been in place since 1930 suddenly freeing themselves and flying across the room never to be found again  so I'm loathe to start, but I really need to get this beast sorted if I'm going to get anything other than test shots out of it.

For instance I had no real clue whether any of the photos posted above would be in focus or not before I saw the over-exposed positives. In the end they were OK, which leads me to believe that there's a greater DOF at f4.5 than it appears through the viewfinder, but boy does it make composing a shot difficult and time-consuming.

[susan Cunningham]

have fun cleaning that thing!  maybe do it in a padded room so that when things go flying you won't get hurt and maybe you can find the bits...
I love that I have to really take my time studying the ground glass.  it slows me down and makes me patient and maybe the work is better.
here's another from the weekend:


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[susan Cunningham]

and there's the light leak at the bottom where I was struggling with the film...
 that reminds me I should contact polaroid
have a good day