Fuji PA45 holder

[kevs-2323668]

Badger has it new for $200--if anyone sees any bargains out there, please let me know. thanks!

[vinny]

now isn't a good time to buy one of these. Fuji has dropped the stuff in the usa. Read the instant film thread. That said, they come up used here lately for about half that.

[kevs-2323668]

Vinny, I found the thread, actually I was advised to buy the
3.25 x 4.25 size anyhow -- which is much cheaper and give you a basic idea of whats happening. No client -- this is all self generated fine are I'm doing. this is still going to be made correct?

[vinny]

the little pa-145's aren't that common in the u.s. Look for a polaroid 405 instead. the medium format instant has more of a demand as of now, for passports, etc. so hopefully fuji doesn't pull it.

[Brian C. Miller]

You can buy the PA-145 holders from Japan Exposures (http://www.japanexposures.com) or if you can read Japanese, Yodobashi (http://www.yodobashi.com/). (Yodobashi, PA-145 (http://www.yodobashi.com/%E5%AF%8C%E5%A3%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB%E3%83%A0-FUJIFILM-PA-145-%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E3%83%9B%E3%83%AB%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC/pd/100000001000151684/))

Otherwise there might be something in someone's store, but they don't pop up that often.

[kevs-2323668]

I think also there is a old Polaroid holder that will work with the Fuji instant pack film too?
I don't think that site, sells anything does it?

[Robert Ley]

Vinny had it exactly correct in that you can use the Polaroid 405 holder. I have one and it works very well. Here is one on Ebay as I write http://www.ebay.com/itm/POLAROID-405-FILM-BACK-FOR-4x5-AND-4x5-FILM-HOLDER-/270904627998?pt=US_Film_Backs_Holders&hash=item3f132c931e

Anymore questions?:rolleyes:

[kevs-2323668]

Thanks, thinking of using the smaller size film, any opinions on that?

[vinny]

it's small, too small to be much use to me. Learn how to use a spot meter instead.

[Robert Ley]

Unless you are using the Fujiroid as a final image or are doing image transfer, your money would be better spent on a good meter and learning to use it properly. If you are just interested in a preview image, many use a digital P&S. I will occasionally use my Canon G9 for that purpose and it works quite well but i would never use it to determine my exposure.

[kevs-2323668]

Rob, I have meters and Canon 5D. My guess really then is that preview film is mostly then to check you shutter is ok? Would be a bummer to do a 5 hour shoot with models (non commercial shoot, still important) to find out it stopped working that morning...
PS Robert, did you notice that seller for 405 is from Hong Kong? Not my favorite idea buying from Asia (I think the shipping is more than the unit)

[rdenney]

The nice thing about mechanical shutters is you can hear them work. You can pull the lens board off the camera and test the flash synch between each shot if you so desire. And they get exercised every time you open them for focusing. Some experience will calm your nerves.

Rick "who uses Fujiroid to test setups, not equipment" Denney

[kevs-2323668]

Rick, did not know. So that freak story of losing the whole shoot because of no polaroid is much less likely with 4x5 over medium or 35mm? You know if your shutter is not working... then can switch lenses.

[rdenney]

The shutter problems I've had were due to old lubricants and dirt. The speeds are slow, and maybe the shutter won't close reliably on the slowest speeds because the slow-speed mechanism hangs. That's easy to test on site: set the shutter to one-second and release it. If the timing mechanism (the source of the buzz) comes to a stop or has gaps, or of the shutter stays open for much more than one second, send it in for routine servicing.

The flash synch is also easy to test. Hold the lens/shutter so you can see the blades in the lights and with the lights plugged in, release it. You should see only open shutter in the light of the flash. If you see shutter blades, the synch is off. Send it in for routine servicing.

Back when I did weddings, I tested both frequently. A bad flash synch at a wedding is the stuff of night sweats.

More serious shutter failures are very much more rare. And they'll be obvious when they occur.

Rick "noting no interlocking aperture control or film advance mechanisms to silently go wrong with a LF shutter" Denney