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View Full Version : What can I do with this beast?



seventhframe
2-Jul-2008, 01:27
Hello to all. new to the forum.

I recently acquired this camera, it's a Polaroid MP-3 land camera. Quite the contraption I must say. I thought it would be good for me to start shooting 4x5's with but I took it to a local shop and they said that I would have to convert the 4x5 holders to fit it in the back (meaning, punch a couple of slits in them so they fit a grid).


I thought about selling the camera seeing as I can't really use it as it is, or modify it somehow? I just want to get into 4x5's, particularly portraiture with the "soft focus" effects, but it seems like the lens is immobile on this camera aside form zooming in and out.

Any ideas / suggestions are highly appreciated!

cheers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v188/Impson/IMG_0177.jpg

IanG
2-Jul-2008, 03:59
Don't they have a Graflok type back ?

I was looking at one of these on Ebay, and it took normal 5x4 dark-slides as well.

Ian

Walter Calahan
2-Jul-2008, 04:18
You can do anything you want with this camera.

Just takes time to learn how it works with your way of seen.

Many thing – have fun with it.

W K Longcor
2-Jul-2008, 05:59
The MP3 WILL take normal 4x5 holders. There are a whole series of small barrel lenses that will screw into the front of the shutter. You could probably adapt some older small bass barrel lenses to fit , too. I believe they made a nice tripod adaptor for it too ( I know they did for the MP4).

seventhframe
2-Jul-2008, 10:02
Interesting. I guess the chap at the photo store didn't know much about it then. I might do some experimenting with it, though I would prefer to have the actual 4x5.
Thanks for the tips!

Glenn Thoreson
2-Jul-2008, 18:07
It was meant for copy work. It mounted on a column with copy lights, etc. Those things were very expensive when new. You can find Tominon lenses in oddball Copal shutters for it, cheap on the 'bay. The 135 and 127 mm Tominons will cover 4X5 at infinity. The shorter lenses will not, but are excellent close up and macro lenses. They are very good enlarger lenses, too. Many of those cameras are missing the focus panel. If yours is intact you can use standard 4X5 film holders. If it's missing the ground glass focus panel, you're limited to Grafmatics or Graphic roll holders and you would need a panel of some kind to focus with. Enjoy!

raucousimages
3-Jul-2008, 13:34
I love mine. I did the following.

1. Dumped the viewer and just use a loupe.
2. Dismanteled the slider and cut the Polaroid side off.
3. Permantly mounted the standard 4X5 side in place and sealed light leaks with black silicone.
4. Found a second lens board for pinholes.
5. Bolted a Bogen hex plate to the bottom.

What I have is a 4X5 without movement other than focus with a 127mm and a pinhole.
Great for useing in the rain and going in to parts of town where abandoning the camera in a hurry is a real possibility or teaching my kids LF without the wory of them damageing somthing expesive.

Turner Reich
3-Jul-2008, 15:03
Take the front standard, focus rod, bellows and lens and build a back standard to make a complete camera. The back should have all movements.

Ash
3-Jul-2008, 15:21
The lens looks like it's on upside-down.

Geert
3-Jul-2008, 16:04
The lens looks like it's on upside-down.

It may not be so for people who like to pull the shutter release in stead of push :)

Otherwise, well seen, Ash!

G

John Kasaian
3-Jul-2008, 16:58
If the shutter has an aperture, it could serve as a home for a G Claron barrel lens :)

raucousimages
4-Jul-2008, 19:31
Pics of my modified MP-3
http://www.johnbatesphoto.com/gallery/mp3djpg
http://www.johnbatesphoto.com/gallery/mp3c.jpg
http://www.johnbatesphoto.com/gallery/mp3b.jpg
http://www.johnbatesphoto.com/gallery/mp3a.jpg

raucousimages
4-Jul-2008, 19:31
Pinhole

http://johnbatesphoto.com/gallery/mp3.jpg

D. Bryant
5-Jul-2008, 07:22
Hello to all. new to the forum.

I recently acquired this camera, it's a Polaroid MP-3 land camera. Quite the contraption I must say. I thought it would be good for me to start shooting 4x5's with but I took it to a local shop and they said that I would have to convert the 4x5 holders to fit it in the back (meaning, punch a couple of slits in them so they fit a grid).


I thought about selling the camera seeing as I can't really use it as it is, or modify it somehow? I just want to get into 4x5's, particularly portraiture with the "soft focus" effects, but it seems like the lens is immobile on this camera aside form zooming in and out.

Any ideas / suggestions are highly appreciated!

cheers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v188/Impson/IMG_0177.jpg

Someone gave me one of these a few years ago and I in turn gave it away as quicklt as I could. You might consider that.

Don Bryant

neil poulsen
5-Jul-2008, 09:29
You can always shoot polaroid with it. :D

I checked my MP4, and there's an attachment that enables the back to accept standard 4x5 sheet film holders. It's a rectangular "U" shaped device that fits like the polaroid back that you have. My polaroid back has two pegs that extend from the sides which fit under a spring on either side of the film chamber. This "U" shaped accessory fits in the same way.

I'm wondering if the same part would work for your camera. If so, it's not so much a conversion as it is finding the right part.

D. Bryant
5-Jul-2008, 11:55
Someone gave me one of these a few years ago and I in turn gave it away as quicklt as I could. You might consider that.

Don Bryant
It can be set up as a pretty serious copy camera since graphlex backs can be used with it. In it's day many studios used the MP4 to do copies on concentional film and Polaroid . As is, it makes a pretty clumsy general purpose camera tha weights a lot.

Don Bryant

raucousimages
5-Jul-2008, 14:52
I am actualy suprised how often I use mine. It makes a good pinhole camera until wide angle when the focus rod gets in the picture. And I use it in the rain and in wind blown sand/dust. Next year I hope to take it as my only camera to Burning Man. It lets me shoot 4X5 so I have a large neg and selective developement in a camera I don't care if I break. I take it places I would never take "good" cameras and lenses.

Besides I never know when I will need a boat anchor, wheel chok, club, jack stand, battering ram etc...

Vlad Soare
6-Jul-2008, 21:11
Someone gave me one of these a few years ago and I in turn gave it away as quickly as I could. You might consider that.
Yup. And then the person he would give it away to will come here and ask what to do with it, and this thread will start all over again. :D

Turner Reich
6-Jul-2008, 21:26
What can I do with this beast?

I guess the question is really what can't you do with it.

raucousimages
7-Jul-2008, 07:34
You can't fold it!

Turner Reich
7-Jul-2008, 13:37
You can't fold it!

Unless you put in some hinges or have a hydraulic press! :D