Polaroid made more than the commonly known instant cameras.
Before instant film cameras, Polaroid made Land cameras. These produced large, high-quality images off rolls of film instead of instant pack film. Because the Polaroid Land cameras were popular in the 1940s and 1950s, the film hasn't been made for decades. Don't throw away your Polaroid Land camera, though. Instead, convert it to use modern 120 mm roll film with a few tools. This medium-format film creates negatives almost four times the size of standard 35 mm film, which provides you with crisp, large prints.
Instructions
1. Pop open the back film chamber of your Polaroid Land camera. Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the bottom-right corner of the film chamber.
2. Screw the bolt into the camera from the bottom, into the hole you just drilled. Slide a washer onto the bolt inside the camera to help hold it in place while allowing it to turn.
3. Attach the round knob to the head of the bolt, outside the camera body. Find these multipurpose knobs at local hardware stores, similar to a knob you use to turn up the volume on a stereo. This knob allows you to advance the 120 mm film. Tape black cloth or paper around the base of the bolt inside the camera to keep light from filtering in.
4. Place the 120 mm take-up spool in the left film chamber receptacle. It's about an inch shorter than the chamber, as 120 mm film isn't quite as big as Polaroid Land film was. Create shims to hold the spool in place using wadded construction paper, two 1/4 rounds of cork or tightly folded fabric. Press the shims tightly into the space left at the top and bottom of the spool.
5. Place a roll of 120 mm film into the now-stable spool. Pull out the lead and tape it to the bolt on the right side of the film chamber to allow you to advance the film when you turn the bolt.
Tags: Polaroid Land, film chamber, your Polaroid Land, advance film, bolt inside, bolt inside camera, inside camera