Filmwasters

Which Board? => Articles => Topic started by: Skorj on July 02, 2009, 04:15:18 AM

Title: Nekotech - Polaroid J33 Instax Conversion.
Post by: Skorj on July 02, 2009, 04:15:18 AM
After watching Sean continue to go down market with his conversions, a double-plus-good conversion was in order. The cheapest Polaroid (a 1960s era J33), with the cheapest FujiFilm film - Instax Mini. The new Instax back cost ten times the J33 - shogani.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3656934548_870c12a5ff.jpg?v=0)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3654049748_d384e06b74.jpg?v=0)

The J33 has a smaller film size than both conventional roll-film (J66, Pathfinder, etc), and pack-film Polaroids, and was a short-lived product as a result. Curiously, the Instax Mini too is smaller than conventional Instax Wide and probably holds a similar place in the market as the J33 did in the 1950s. The Instax Mini film ratio is the same as the J33 and at about 80 to 90% of the area, mating the two formats should result in a moderately accurate framing and print coverage. With the J33 an ISO3000 machine, light filters were used to allow color film (ISO75) in them:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/3654018988_59ea6f8657.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3653221975_35b1ec8a0e.jpg?v=0)

I am glad the original owner did not take the advice of Polaroid and destroy the unused adapter, as one of these was to recalibrate the ISO3000 exposure system to ISO800 Instax. In the process we discovered the previous owner was a famous Major General in the USAF.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2433/3666132407_5d6d7c8429.jpg?v=0)

Being pressed metal, not cast like its bigger sisters, it was easy to cut with a nibbler and a tin-snips. Using double-sided sponge tape, adding the Instax back (from the Diana+ range), was much easy than first expected:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3677363193_83b884512a.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/3678179782_d13158e96d.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/3677363385_c661fca49f.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2512/3678179962_71c87c7bcc.jpg?v=0)

I scanned the original back door sticker, cloned a few more cm and relaminated a new sticker to cover the Diana+ branding. I went though a number of options to fill the body holes, but as this was a cheap and nasty conversion settled on the eighth one - dense foam.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3677363571_db13108432.jpg?v=0)

The neatest trick was arranging the back installation so the Instax print ejects through the original exit slot. Results? Too good! No light leaks, nice color, a bit blurry though due to film-plane distance change. For the next pack, I will try the correction lens that came with the Diana+ kit.

The viewfinder is amazingly clear & bright, and moderately accurate too. If this was a production line, a small mask could be added to the mirror to cut about 10% off the frame (as the J33 has a little large print size).

The 1-2-3 button process (shutter cock, shutter release, and eject) is strangely intuitive, and not kludgy at all. The light stamped metal body, and leather strap handle make it an easy and fun camera to walk around with.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3679830001_93c316b0ec.jpg?v=0)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3679830435_505e6c5f8b.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2563/3680644698_d7e5a1b490.jpg?v=0)

The only issue we have now, is what to convert next... See ya!



Title: Re: Nekotech - Polaroid J33 Instax Conversion.
Post by: moominsean on July 02, 2009, 04:48:10 AM
looks like fun! no issues with the exposure? did you just use the supplied masks, unfettered?

now i want an instax back to stick on something! hmmmm....
Title: Re: Nekotech - Polaroid J33 Instax Conversion.
Post by: Skorj on July 02, 2009, 04:53:24 AM
no issues with the exposure? did you just use the supplied masks, unfettered?

I used the one with the most holes (yellow), and get the slight over-exposure you see here without modifications. The yellow would also open up nicely if needed as well (if too over-exposed).

now i want an instax back to stick on something! hmmmm....

Fujipet! The test fits look pretty good:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3656257893_28172b7394.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3657051916_e090b100d5.jpg?v=0)
Title: Re: Nekotech - Polaroid J33 Instax Conversion.
Post by: Jack Johnson on August 26, 2012, 06:36:02 PM
That Fujipet Instax would be a thing of beauty.
Title: Re: Nekotech - Polaroid J33 Instax Conversion.
Post by: moominsean on August 28, 2012, 01:21:44 AM
I made one, was a pain in the butt.

http://moominsean.blogspot.com/2009/09/fujipet-instax-conversion-dreams-and.html (http://moominsean.blogspot.com/2009/09/fujipet-instax-conversion-dreams-and.html)

I ended up selling it.
Title: Re: Nekotech - Polaroid J33 Instax Conversion.
Post by: Ezzie on October 20, 2012, 07:29:57 PM
Anybody seen the Lomo Belair? Heavily influenced by the J33/66 family it would seem. Reminded me of the conversions here, that´s for sure, even if it is 120.