Author Topic: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.  (Read 15413 times)

mijonju

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The Konica Instant press was probably one of my favorite camera, for those who are reading this, anyone who owns a hexar or any Konica lenses, know how beautiful the lines and cuts are, they are amazingly beautiful, using Konica Hexanon lenses are like having a personal samurai that slice and cuts the images in ways that even your eye cannot present to you.



Since I love pack film cameras a lot, the Konica Instant Press was one of my favorite samurai to use. But 1 day it died. This is how it all happend.



Nice sunny day, went out to shoot a few expired FP-100c. colors are coming out, stranger and stranger. Lines and lines of blue spirit appearing on photo, even if it was a light patch of blue, I could still feel something wrong with the photo.

I asked the camera in my head, “what’s wrong Konica?”  I felt that the camera replying “I’m not feeling too well Jonju” I tried to cheer it up, and tried to take more shots, but it just got worst and worst. some photos were just so horrible I couldn’t scan them. This next photo was the last photo that came out from the camera.



After this shot, the lens was a little wobbly and I looked closer there was a broken screw in the middle of the lens and bellows. The camera literally said, “Jonju I had fun with you, we took great photos and and nice sunny walks, but its time to say goodbye”
I told myself, “Konica, I won’t let you leave me” I closed the camera, put it in my bag. I was busy for a month, until 1 day. I was surfing the net, I saw another dead camera,it was a faulty Polaroid 250, Konica came in mind. I got the broken polaroid 250 straight away. and Started an operation that took me 3 days to complete.

This is how it was made.



I took out the beautiful lens from the camera, there was 2 inner parts, 1 was to secure the copel shutter and the other is one is the back lens. after removing it. I brought a plastic receipt board thingy, those you use when you pay at the cashier.
drill a hole on at the right angle and secure the bellows to it and add light seals to the corner.
and lock the lens.



Now that everything is in tacked, its time to calibrate the distance on the rangefinder on the polaroid 250.

There are are 3 screws that helps the calibration in all directions.
after that, I even made a half case for the camera and some little tweaks to make it more matching. here is the completed version.



A combination of the sexy large Viewfinder with and it took me 20mins to Sync the lenses distance and the finder, the front plate is actually a board that clips receipts for restaurant uses. I reformed it, drilled a hole and attracted the lens. The only lost after the modification is that I lost 0.4m of focusing distance. This lens use to have the ability to focus at 0.6m but now it starts at 1m.

These are the photos taken by this camera after modification.



Next this was shot at the biggest aperture, and the bokeh in this photo is just sweet and solid.


I personally like this shot, it looks like the end of the world.


Another Depth of field test with this camera my homemade Konicoid.


Finally, the amazing Konica Hexanon lens came alive with the Polaroid body.
In my opinion, such a beautiful rebirth.

Apart from the rebirth of the camera, I had lots of fun with both of my teachers, Skorj and Ken. It was a cold cold Saturday morning.


In case you are wondering what we grown man with a camera do on a cold Saturday morning.


(to check out this photo in detail click on the picture)
This was the photo taken by Artsyken

http://www.artsyken.com/?p=439
Thats all for now, More on my Konicoid soon.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2011, 03:17:44 AM by mijonju »
I LOVE CAMERAS, LIKE A FAT BOY LOVES CHOCOLATE CAKE!

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Ed Wenn

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2011, 12:10:24 AM »
Great story, Michel! And you're right about that lens....phew, what a cracker. Thanks for taking the time to post the details here. I hope you and the Konicoid have many happy and creative years ahead of you.

moominsean

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2011, 12:30:42 AM »
yeah the konica has a crazy sharp lens...i though it might be partly due to the precise focusing mechanism, but looks great with the 250 focus as well! great job combining the two cameras...
"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
                                                                  - John Waters

astrobeck

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2011, 12:37:48 AM »
Holy shiza!
That's one freakin cool camera koni-version.

I love it!

You will probably get orders for them now.

Thanks for the story with the happy ending!

moominsean

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2011, 02:25:10 AM »
oh yeah, haha, i took a shot of that same window in shimokitazawa!
"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
                                                                  - John Waters

mijonju

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2011, 03:19:04 AM »
oh yeah, haha, i took a shot of that same window in shimokitazawa!

oh, coolness! when was that from? nothing changed :) hehe amazing shot by the way :)
 :o
I LOVE CAMERAS, LIKE A FAT BOY LOVES CHOCOLATE CAKE!

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moominsean

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2011, 04:39:58 AM »
two years ago in march... i will be there again this march!
"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
                                                                  - John Waters

Urban Hafner

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2011, 09:43:08 AM »
I was going to stop buying more cameras you know. And you post this stuff and there's Sean's gallery and everything ... I might need to invest into a Land Camera soon. You are very bad people! ;)

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Ed Wenn

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2011, 10:55:36 AM »
Land Cameras are bl**dy awesome; everyone should own one. They also look wicked when being used by a very handsome man  ;D



Photo courtesy of mind_in_motion.


Urban Hafner

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2011, 10:57:55 AM »
That didn't help, you know? ;)

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Ed Wenn

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2011, 12:58:01 PM »
Looking at that photo again, I reckon the photographer Photoshopped some extra wrinkles onto my forehead.
 ;)

The camera looks nice though doesn't it?
Go on.
You know you want to.
 ;D

mijonju

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2011, 02:22:04 PM »
the supremes like them too
I LOVE CAMERAS, LIKE A FAT BOY LOVES CHOCOLATE CAKE!

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Urban Hafner

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2011, 03:17:02 PM »
Well, if the Supremes liked them then I have no choice :) BTW, for all the other people that don't have a choice, but buy a Land Camera here's the thread where I asked about them last year: http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2870

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sapata

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2011, 05:57:07 PM »
Land Cameras are bl**dy awesome; everyone should own one. They also look wicked when being used by a very handsome man  ;D

Photo courtesy of mind_in_motion.


Yep...
I've go one of those beauty... mine is the 355 model, came with a nice hard case, cable release, portrait and close-up lens to attach and leather strap...

Well, if the Supremes liked them then I have no choice :) BTW, for all the other people that don't have a choice, but buy a Land Camera here's the thread where I asked about them last year: http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2870

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Don't forget Patti Smith...
I did this collage few years ago.


Skorj

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2011, 11:22:11 AM »
Wow. Turn my back for a few days, and we get an epic hardware post. Nice work. Love those diagrams... The Konicoid too is one of the sexiest beasts I've seen in a while. We gotta get you back for more.

oh yeah, haha, i took a shot of that same window in shimokitazawa!

I think we need an expedition then in March and let's see what else this marvelous Shimo window can yield? Brunch, then a walk?

I have to do better than this:



Let's set a date! Skj.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2011, 11:25:31 AM by Skorj »

moominsean

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2011, 01:50:52 PM »
defnly want to spend more time wandering shimo! sounds like a meetup and shooting day to me!
"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
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Jeff Warden

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Re: The Death of my Konica Instant Press, breeds a new Konicoid camera.
« Reply #16 on: February 24, 2011, 07:30:56 PM »
What a great project!  Thanks for sharing.

The results speak for themselves and I have to compliment you on your splendid illustrations.  :-)