I have finished the prototype. You can see and test this at Polacon NYC this weekend.
Will be taking preorders after Polacon NYC, assuming successful testing!
That’s all folks!
Category: Design
RZ67 Polaroid Back News
For those waiting for a Polaroid Back for their RZ67, based on available Polaroid hardware, the wait is almost over. I have received the first shipment of laser cut metal lock rings and currently printing the final version of the adapter top. With a bit of luck, I will have a working prototype this weekend, and will bring it to Polacon NYC for a few lucky people to test.
To reiterate, this will have a dark slide, automatic one button eject, and on off button, and will function on 4 AAA (replaceable) batteries
Stay tuned!
Polaroid Back news!
Head out to the RB67 Polaroid back page in the Candy Store and snap the last available Impossible Lab Based Polaroid Back for Mamiya RB67!
Yes I know I’ve said I’m discontinuing these before, but low and behold, I keep finding Impossible Labs for reasonable price and I make another one. But as I said before, the base for the product is old, long discontinued and rarely available at a decent price. So if i find another decently priced Impossible Lab, I’ll make another back based on it, and I will continue making conversion kits as long as there’s a demand.
All that being said and as promised, I have now finished two working prototypes of the new version of the Polaroid Backs for Mamyia RB67. They have functional dark slides, they run on 4AAA batteries, and the eject is one touch automatic. There’s also an on/off switch. Are these “better” than the Impossible Lab based ones? Functionally they are absolutely identical. The IP lab version has built in rechargeable battery, this runs on AAA. That’s the only real difference. What will be different is the price. The IP Lab version is (now) $340 plus shipping options (conus/canada is still free shipping), the “new” version will be more expensive. How much? I don’t know yet. There’s significant more work to make these and I have to source a laser cut dark slide and new electronics. Official launch is still a few weeks away.
What about the RZ version I keep talking about. I took the next logical step and bought a (broken) RZ body to move to the next stage. I am now confident I have a working dark slide solution (already tested on the RB version), and enough backfocus to make the mating connectors part. Eta? I don’t know. Two months? Maybe sooner.
Just to reiterate, all these backs take available integral Polaroid film, as in itype, type600 or SX70. They do not work with instax film.
Stay tuned
long live Polaroid Backs – new design, RZ67 in the works.
After a full year of sitting on it, i took the time and finished the design for using newer itype Polaroid cameras as a support for my Polaroid backs!
Impossible Lab limited and super expensive inventory, move aside!
Here is the prototype for an integral film Polaroid Back for RB67 (for now, since this is my most used camera).
It uses 4 AA batteries as power source for the motor so no more recharging, lost charging cables, etc. The charge from one set of AA should last for quite a while, have not tested it yet but I would not be surprised if it lasts for 20-30 packs, one alkaline AAA has a capacity of ~2000 mah, which is more than 6 times the capacity of the Impossible Lab batteries (old or the replacements I make/sell).
I know I know there’s already other backs out there on ebay that use iType cameras as the basis for Polaroid Backs so how it this special ?
- Mine has a dark slide (stainless steel). My competition does not. And it’s really nice to have one.
- The backs have single action automated eject. You press the eject button once, it ejects one frame. You need to keep pressing the eject button till the frame ejects for the “other” backs and you can easily eject multiple frames at once, since the polaroid eject action is so quick. Sure, you can get used to this but why?
So when can you buy these? Not just yet. This is just the prototype, the finished product will look slightly different and may use a nicer looking and less fragile eject button. And still need to undergo testing. So maybe mid September 2022 till they hit the market.
What about the other systems you’re making backs for based on IP labs? I will redesign those this fall, maybe available in Oct 2022 or so?
And the question I receive so often, what about RZ67?
Yes, it’s possible, based on my measurements. As a matter of fact, I am working on the design now and stay tuned for news mid September 2022, hoping to have a prototype by then and maybe have it on the market by mid October 2022.
What about Hasseblad series V or Bronica SQ, etc? Nope, sadly never. Those systems are simply too tight and they have a frame size of 58x58mm, so Polaroid film is such a waste on them anyway. Instax square is my only (complicated and therefore expensive) option for Hasselblad now and yes, I will make more of those backs.
Analogue.Studio RB67 Polaroid Back demonstration
Alright so i had two potential customers asking me how my RB67 Polaroid Backs work, so it was time to get of my lazy butt and make a demonstration video!
project updates
So, some status updated on existing and new products:
- On the Impossible Lab based Polaroid Backs front, you may have noticed that Analogue Studio is now offering Direct to Mamiya RB67 Impossible Lab Conversion kits! now, as well as fully converted backs (subject to the availability Impossible Labs I can find on ebay). These are meant for the Mamiya RB67 shooters and unlike the Impossible Project Lab Polaroid Back for Mamiya Universal Press / RB67 they do not require a P adapter to be used on the RB67. The old hybrid MUP/RB67 kit is still available for those who want the flexibility of being able to use one back on two cameras
- On the same Impossible Lab mods front, I am working (and close to a working prototype) on a second iteration of either MUP or Polaroid 600SE Polaroid back, but with the claws rotated 90 degrees. Why? This way one can use the built in dark slide? So are your pictures going to have the chemistry on the side? Well, if you shoot in landscape mode yes, but both MUP and Polaroid 600SE have a left sided handle and one can easily hold the camera in portait mode, resulting in Polaroid Prints with the chemistry down! Did I forget to mention both cameras also have a second build in tripod socket in the proper place to allow you to mount the camera the same way? Yeap. Excited to offer this option, especially to the appreciable community of Polaroid 600SE shooters.
- Due to the scarcity of Impossible Labs, I have been looking into using currently available itype cameras as the basis for Polaroid Backs. Unlike the Impossible Labs, the itype cameras are of course, real cameras not designed to be used in a manual mode, so the eject electronics is not detached from the rest of the camera electronics. So they require complete replacement of the camera electronics, and a new battery, since the onboard battery is again a sandwich of two 3.7V LiPo cells, now connected in parallel. I’m not here to second guess the decision to do so, but I think a single cell would be easier to service. Of course, these are not really meant to be serviced. Long story short, I have designed replacement electronics that provide automatic eject and they include a user replaceable 3.7 LiPo. So that’s done! Now itype cameras being… cameras, they don’t have a built in dark slide. That was the only design sticking point left, and I’m happy to report I have found a source for custom dark slides. Stay tuned, as this is the way I will take mods. These will not be offered as kits, as they really aren’t, they are full fledged camera rebuilds. I will be able to offer these for RB67, MUP/RB67, MUP only, and Polaroid 600SE only (the latter two rotated 90 degrees). To reiterate, these will have a custom dark slide and automatic eject.
- So what happened with the Instax Wide projects? Well, they are not abandoned. Still have a manual instax wide back on the back burner, and yes, with a dark slide. This is thought for Mamiya MUPs or Polaroid 600SE.
- And the super exciting Instax Square back for Hasselblads series V? Physics and stupidity failed my last attempt. BUT i may still have a way forward with this. Stay tuned. This would still be a motorized back.
- What about an Instax SQ back for RB67? Now that’s something that SHOULD be easy, motorized and all. If I get a breather (and once I setup a second 3d printer, yes, yay, getting a better one), I will probably get this in line, ahead of the Instax SQ for Hasseblad series V.
That’s all. Stay tuned.
Impossible Lab conversion kits now for Polaroid 600SE !
So after getting inquiries from several instant media photographers on FB groups, I managed to get off my but and redesign the Instant Lab conversion kit to fit the Polaroid 600SE connectors!
It only took a week of design and drafts, but it’s now officially on the market and available, at the same price at the kits/backs for the MUP/RB67.
A word of caution, just as using these on Mamiya Universal Press cameras, because of the camera eyepiece, the converted Impossible Labs need to be mounted with the eject slot down.
This means the photos will have the chemistry on top. And of course, like with all these conversions, they’ll still be mirror imaged left-right.
Also, just it’s the case with MUPs, the same eyepiece prevents the dark slide removal once the back is attached, so one need to take the dark slide out beforehand. This is unfortunate, but alas, the limitation of the conversion.
I am working on an alternate location for the dark slide for this, but cannot promise anything at the moment…
So go ahead, order one!
replacement battery for Impossible Labs found and tested!
And an update to my update from yesterday!
I have tested the Impossible Lab with the replaced battery and everything seems to be in order. By tested I mean I turned it into a Polaroid Back for my RB67 and shot some test shots, everything seems to be fine!
Will be adding the battery replacement to the Candy Store shortly!
This will also be available as an optional upgrade to any complete Polaroid Back I’m selling!
new projects in work
Just a quick note with projects currently in the works:
- a instax wide back based on Fuji 300W, slimmer, and possibly slim enough to maintain the Polaroid 600SE / MUP film distance. At the minimum, this will allow me to use Polaroid 100a/120 for the instax wide mods. This will also be a manual back, not motorized, operated by a single hand crank. About 15% completion (I have figured out one of the masks).
- a Polaroid 600SE kit for the Impossible Labs. This is still in conceptual phase, it’s not hard in principle, but have not taken the time to replace the claws in my existing kit. With some luck, prototype expected by August 30th.
- a battery replacement for the Impossible Labs! I have found a replacement battery requiring minimum modifications to the Impossible Labs and already made the switch, it charges and holds a good charge. Completed 50%, as in have yes modded the lab to be used as a polaroid instant back, the only way I test these now. Test expected by Wednesday August 26th
- An instax square back for Hasseblad series V. This is my most ambitious project to date (and I actually went ahead and purchased a Hasseblad 500CM just to be able to test these). Really looking for a solution that would require the least destruction to the instax square support, and I believe I have found one, but the cost will be substantial, as is based on very expensive Fiber Optic Plate to move the focal plane enough to allow an elegant motorized solution. (may also be able to maintain the automatic timed eject). I have just obtained the necessary Fiber Optic Plate (at a crazy price). Any working solution will be priced around $700 and that will barely cover the materials (as of now). Completion stage is about 10%, as in I have the materials and have opened the support and can do a manual motorized eject (a button pressed to eject). Earliest estimate for completion of a working prototype is end of September 2020.
