What can I do with this beast?

[seventhframe]

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.

[IanG]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

The lens looks like it's on upside-down.

[Geert]

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