Polaroid 545i holders

[Steve Lewis]

Hi guys

Is there a film flatness problem (or any other problems) when using Fuji Quickload film in the 545i back? I know that the older 545 back lacks the pressure plate, which is fitted to Fuji's own holder, but does the newer Polariod back have a pressure plate?

Thanks

Steve

www.landscapesofwales.co.uk

[Tim Curry]

I don't remember if my (newer) 545i holder has a pressure plate or not. That having been said, I get excellent results with both Fuji and Kodak products in mine. I think it is the best of both worlds for Quickloads, Readyloads and Polaroids. I do have a friend who uses his Kodak holder with Fuji loads and has had no trouble with film loading/unloading problems or image quality. My Fuji holder will not function reliably with Kodak products.

[Ellis Vener]

I switched to a Fuji holder from using a 545i holder after running some tests, the results showed that the QL film in the 545 holder wasn;t quite as sharp at the edges as at the center at apertures from f/5.6 to f/16 using a 210mm lens focused on a brick wall (camera was very carefully made parallel to the wall) about seven feet from the camera. My Polaroid Type 55 negatives made as part of the tests ( to check focus and exposure) in the same 545i holder did not demonstrate this problem.

The flatness of the filmplane in these holders is more of a result of the tension on the film and this is results from the packet design -- which I assume is optimised for the Polaroid, Fuji & Kodak holders respectively than from the presence of a pressure plate.

Some background: Many (18? 17?) years ago when Polaroid introduced the ProChrome line of films for Polaroid 4x5 holders, these films were a slightly different size than standard 4x5 film. I assume that this was to make the film fit better in the 545 holder. These films were made for Polaroid by Fuji and were Fujichrome 100D and 64T emulsions. I remember this because I worked as a lighting assistant on one of the advertising posters made for the Pro Chrome films.

[Gem Singer]

Hi Steve,

I recently purchased a box of Fuji Neopan 100 Acros Quickloads and was pleased to see that Fuji included complete instructions for using the Quickloads with a Polaroid 545i holder. I have a 545i holder, and did not want to invest in a Fuji Quickload holder, if I didn't need to.

The Polaroid 545i has a pressure plate, but it is not moveable or spring loaded. Too much pressure would probably be a problem because of the chemical pod included in the Polaroid film packet. Since the pod ruptures only when it is pulled through the rollers, spreading the processing chemicals onto the film, you wouldn't want it to be squeezed too soon. The Quickload film packet has no chemical pod, so is slightly thinner. That may account for the slight focusing error. I usually expose at f22, or smaller. Focusing error hasn't proven to be a problem for me, yet.

However, if I were starting from scratch with the Quickloads, and did not already have a 545i holder, I would definitely purchase a Fuji Quickload holder.

[Bill Jefferson]

Ellis,

Just a little history the Polacrome film was made by us (Polaroid) I was a crew chief at that time and the film was run on my machine. I still have some

Bill

[Ellis Vener]

I was told by the Polaroid reps at the time that the ProChrome (not Polachrome) was fuji 100D & 64t stock manufactured to Polaroid specs. The shoot I worked on was done by Mark Green and was of an industrial turbine. I'm in the shot wearing the red hardhat.

[Bill Jefferson]

Ellis, Sorry I ment the Procrome.

[Sal Santamaura]

And I was told at that time that Fuji shipped large rolls of film which Polaroid cut down and packaged here.

[Ted Harris]

Back to film flatness specifically. I absolutely agree with Ellis and have run the same tests. OTOH if you want an all purpose holder to use with Quickloads, Readyloads and Polaroid the 545/545i work fine for many non critical applications. You should try it with some Fuji and/or Kodak film and see what you think.



When I can afford the weight and the space I always carry the manufacturer's holder(s). If I am shooting any two of the three I carry the 545i only.



Generally, however, I try to keep to the Quickloads and Quickload holder in the field to guarantee best flatness.

[otzi]

Sorry to seem the fly in the ointment here, especially after souch eloquent replies. But a new 545 pro's film location was so badly out of flat (to the gg) that I took it back and after a measurment demonstration to a doubtfull sales person who I am sure thought I was mad, agreed to exchange it. Measurement of all the other 545 pro's including the rental ones were also well *out*. In fact mine was the *flatest* of them all. With error running to 1.4mm angled to the gg plane. The Polaroid rep was about as interested as the Pope as his head was full of all things plastic and pixeled. (Sinar recon .3mm to be about it.)

This may explain why polaroids are oftentime not as sharp as one would expect. Coinsidence of aperature setting and focal length having a bearing. Needless to say polaroid's letterbox marketing may not be reaching its intended volume at this address anyway. I have no reason to suppose that 545i's are any more or less *accurate* in their construction than the 545 pro.