5x4 Polaroid back problems.

[Fourtoes]

Ok I got hold of a 545i holder and some t55 film to give my new MPP VII a go this weekend.

Do you think I can even get film to load into it? Can I heck.

Followed all instructions on holder. Arm at L position, rollers are all clean. The end of the film gets just past the rollers and then just stops tight.

The only thing I can think of is that the film release button R is jammed. At the moment it is in rather than out. Is this correct. It doesnt change if I move the arm from L to P as I assumed it should.

The two metal clips/clamps at the other end of the holder that I assume hold the end of the metal strip on the polaroid film in place are in the down position.

I hope you guys understand what I mean and can shed some light on a rather crappy reintroduction to film photography.

Thanks in advance.

Tony

[KenS]

Ok I got hold of a 545i holder and some t55 film to give my new MPP VII a go this weekend.

Do you think I can even get film to load into it? Can I heck.

(snip)
Tony

Tony,

You probably have an 'end clip' from a previous film envelope stuck down in the end of the holder that is preventing the holder from 'catching' the bottom end of the 'new' envelope you are trying to insert. A pair of 'fine' pliers should assist in its removal. The 'captured end clip' is NOT that obvious to see... you may have to disassemble... but it can be often done with fine pliers without such drastic action.

The first time I encountered the same problem, I was almost driven to distraction.

Ken

[Fourtoes]

I can see the two holes with the metal clips/teeth that must hold on to the end clip of the film. There doesnt seem to be anything beyond that.

Any ideas how I take it apart. I can remove the rollers adn theres two screws near that.
There ar also 3 micro screws in the film plane area. Anything else I should know before I rip it all apart?

[BenZucker]

ok, put the holder on the table with the film side facing you, put one hand on the flat part of the holder, use the other to lift open the rounded part (with the roller), this will expose the rollers. you can then undo the hooks on either end of the top roller to lift it open and make sure everything is clean in there. After that look on the side of the holder. there is a clip on each of the long sides of the holder that keep it pressed together, with your finger nail you can pull these clips off (start pulling from the side that faces the lens) after you pop these off you can lift off about half of the holder. this is where you will see if there is anything stuck in the bottom of the holder (perhaps a clip from an old packet of film,etc) Hope fully this made sense. you should be able to figure out whats going on after you take it apart a bit. its not as involved as it sounds.....

[Fourtoes]

Ben you are a star. Those clips I hadnt noticed. I have done as you suggested and the R button just popped out. On moving the arm from L to P and back the R button pops back out again.
Excellent.

Now off to waste another sheet of t55.

back in a mo.

[Fourtoes]

Ok I hate it.

Film went in easy straight away. Click at the end. Set up and pull out the envelope.

Now here a question does just the one side of the envelope pull out or both sides?
Both came out. So I expose and try to push envelope back in. Goes most of the way and the last inch just gets stuck.

Oh the wonders of digital imagery.

At this rate I wont have any polaroid left so it'll not matter at all.

My other question is maybe I have a dodgy batch of t55.
The way its loaded it looks as if it it exposes through the positive onto the negative. Surely this is backwards. It should expose through the -ve film onto the +ve paper??

[Rick A]

Ok I hate it.

Film went in easy straight away. Click at the end. Set up and pull out the envelope.

Now here a question does just the one side of the envelope pull out or both sides?
Both came out. So I expose and try to push envelope back in. Goes most of the way and the last inch just gets stuck.

Oh the wonders of digital imagery.

At this rate I wont have any polaroid left so it'll not matter at all.

My other question is maybe I have a dodgy batch of t55.
The way its loaded it looks as if it it exposes through the positive onto the negative. Surely this is backwards. It should expose through the -ve film onto the +ve paper??

Both sides should come out and stop without seperating from the rest of the assembly. After the shot, push the envelope back in, then switch the lever to P , while holding the lever with your thumb, steadily pul the envelope out. Let the film develope according to the time/temp chart on it, then peel apart, and marvel at the magic of it all.

[BenZucker]

ok, this is how it works, you push in the film till it clicks. the click is the clip locking into the holder . when you pull the paper tab up the negitive is the only thing that stays in the holder to be exposed. you expose the film, push the paper sleeve back down, flip the leaver to process (which also hits the "r" button) the r button is what releases the clip and allowes the whole packet to move out of the holder as one unit. make sure that you are loading the film in the right way (it says on it that (this side faces lens) on only one side of it, so be sure that you have it right.

[Fourtoes]

Hi Rick,

Both sides did come out, so thats ok. But couldnt get it all the way back in.
After switching to P and pulling out the envelope comes out closesly followed by the negative seperately.

All replies greatly appreciated.

[Fourtoes]

Ok, Had another go.

Worked fine. Envelope out and then pushed ALL the way back in, switch to P and pulled, came out as one piece. Shame it was overexposed?...........Back to the drawing board tomorrow.

Thanks for the help people.
I'll let you know how I get on.