In the Weeds No. 2 Fujifilm FP-100c Negative Reclamation

Speed Graphic Graflex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c Negative Reclamation

I have toyed with the Fujifilm FP-100c negative reclamation process many times, usually with disappointing results, but sometimes I get an interesting outcome. This is one of those times. For me, it is the imperfections of the process that make it attractive. The resulting negatives are very thin and low contrast, at least in my experience, and scanning them is a challenge. The results have a pastel quality giving an ethereal feel or maybe my kalopsia is showing.

The original instant print can be found here: In The Weeds.  

Scanned using an HP Scanjet G4050 using Vuescan 9 x64 (9.5.85).

In The Weeds

Speed Graphic Graflex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c

I love instant film, especially the old pull and peel type which, unfortunately, appears to be a dying format. I will miss being able to load a pack of Fujifilm's FP-100c into my Polaroid 405 back and turning my Speed Graphic into a massive instant camera. There is just something about the soft contrast of this type of instant film that makes it unique.

Scanned using an HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM Software.

Low Winter Sun

Speed Graphic Grafex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c - The sky was an amazing blue this afternoon and I took the chance to break out the Speed Graphic and shoot some Fujifilm FP-100c.
Scanned with a HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM software.

Instant Autumn

Speed Graphic Grafex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c - Autumn is my favorite season, the crisp cool air, the color and the world just seems to smell cleaner... Shooting up through the changing leaves of a mammoth Black Walnut Tree, a single cloud floating by in the clear blue sky. Perfect.
Scanned with a HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM software.

Light, Shadow and Instant Film 2

Speed Graphic Graflex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c - I just liked the tones and contrast beneath my feet. The FP-100c did a great job rendering them. This film never ceases to amaze me, it captured the scene perfectly.
Scanned with a HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM software.

Light, Shadow and Instant Film.

Speed Graphic Grafex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c - The mid-day sun pouring into my living room on a cool Autumn day. The Speed Graphic makes a great instant camera using the Polaroid 405 instant back. Framing can be challenging using the 4x5 format optical viewfinder of the Speed Graphic due to the 3x4 format of the pack film used in the 405 back. Someday I need to spend some time making a mask for the viewfinder more accurate.
Scanned using a HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM scanning software.

Polaroid Automatic 100 4.5v Battery Modification

The Polaroid Automatic 100 - This was my first instant camera. Actually this is the very camera used to take many of my baby pictures as it came into my family about the same time I did. To me, this is the classic Polaroid Pull and Peel pack film camera. Film is still readily available to these cameras in the form of Fujifilm FP-100c Color and FP-3000b Black and White. The original Polaroid Type 108 Color Film used in this camera was ISO 75 so you do have to make a minor adjustment for the slight faster Fujifilm FP-100c ISO 100 film.

Image source www.dianacamera.com Kai Yamada

The Achilles Heal of these cameras always seems to be the odd Eveready No. 531 4.5v battery that powered the automatic shutter. Generally only available from camera stores, the 531 was slightly larger than a AA battery and had 9v battery type connectors on each end. These batteries had a nasty habit of leaking when left in the camera too long, damaging the cameras internal connectors. Though still available the No. 531 is increasingly hard to find and expensive, so finding a more readily available and less expensive alternative is a must for those of us that want to continue using these cameras. The most common alternative is replacing the No. 531 with an external 3 AA or AAA Battery Holder. I chose the Radioshack Model #270-412 3 AAA 4.5v holder.

The conversion is relatively straight forward, simply a matter of removing the old 9v type connectors from the battery leads in the battery compartment of the camera and soldering the leads from the new battery holder to the leads of the camera. You can find detailed instructions at Instant Options, as well as a videos of the process on YouTube here and here. The battery holders demonstrated vary, but these are good starting points. To the left you can see my completed conversion with the battery holder mounted outside of the camera with velcro.

The biggest annoyance in the process is the fine gauge of the internal camera lead wires and the lack of slack for trimming and stripping the insulation. Any mistakes and the leads get short fast, so be careful and try to get the right the first time. Also if you do mount the battery holder on the back of the camera, remember to mount it a low as possible, mounting it to high can make focusing and viewing awkward. Do no mount it too far to the left as it will interfere with your ability to hold the camera firmly enough to pull the film after exposure.

The battery compartment door must also be notched to allow for proper routing of the new battery leads outside of the old battery compartment. The battery compartment door is thin aluminum and is easy to cut with a strong razor blade or wire snipes. The edges are sharp, I would suggest using a grommet or electrical tape to protect the wires from damage.

Mission accomplished, a new life for an old camera.

Polaroid Automatic 100 Specification

Lens: 114mm f/8.8 3-element glass

Shutter: Electronic; 10 seconds - 1/1200

Separate window view/rangefinder assembly (has a hinged base-- flips up for use and is held in place with a magnetic catch-- folds down for storage and fits inside the camera's plastic cover)

Viewfinder: Projected framelines and automatic parallax compensation.

Exposure Control: Aperture-priority automatic only

Film speeds: 75, 150, 300, and 3000 ASA.

Exposure compensation: Dial with range of -1/+2 stops 

Construction: Metal Body and metal shutter/lens housing; has tripod socket

Instant Tilty, Shifty, Swively, Twisty

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 FujiFilm FP-100c - A little experimentation with Tilt, Shift and Swivel.

This 1st shot is was not front or back swivel. Note the Depth of field and focus of the forward rear paw.

On the 2nd shot the the lens plane and film plane are swiveled, again not the focus of the foward rear paw.

Aperture on both shots is the same at f8.0, but you can clearly see the paw on the second image is shot is in sharp focus. Obviously this technique is not revelation to experienced large format photographers, but is is uncharted territory for me. Just another destination on this journey.

Scanned using a HP Scanjet G4050 Scanner and HP Scan Pro Software.

Wilted Passions (Instant Love)

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 FujiFilm FP-100C Instant Pack Film - I do not believe our strongest passions ever die. They may wilt, dormant, but they are always there. We may never choose to breathe life back into our passions. Ignored they shrivel, simply awaiting the warmth of our attention to be revived. For me, Photography was one of those wilted passions. A love that the became a career, and the career displaced the love. The love is back.

I am finding my way with large format photography. 35mm and Medium Format had always been my weapons of choice. The tedious nature of view cameras did not appeal to me in my unfocused youth. I guess  have calmed, if only a little.

Not So Instant Karma FujiFilm FP-100c Negative Reclaimation

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 FujiFilm FP-100C Instant Pack Film - My first attempt at  FujiFilm FP-100c Negative Reclamation, obviously flawed but still an interesting process. Who knew there was a negative under all that slime. There are a number of sites detailing the process, but this is one of the best FujiFilm FP-100c Negative Reclamation. Just a hint, test your tape to make sure it will stand up to the bleach used to remove the backing material. Regular electrical tape does not cut it, the bleach released the adhesive pretty quickly, resulting in my less than perfect result. I have also seen Clorox Bleach "gel" recommended for better control of where the bleach goes. More experimentation with this process to come.

Instant Karma

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 FujiFilm FP-100C Instant Pack Film - I will always love Instant film, especially the pull and peel style film originally made famous by Polaroid. There is something magical about it. The prints are truly a one of a kind moments in time frozen on paper. You can scan it, copy it and print it, but you will never recreate that exact image ever again. The true essence of analog. This was just a quick, one off shut to test my recently acquired view camera. All Hail instant, long may it Peel.