Hi All,
I've inherited a Polaroid MP4 land camera 44-01 and stand. It also has a variety of lenses. Would this be of interest to anyone?
Marci
Polaroid land camera and stand
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Re: Polaroid land camera and stand
Will get those to you today!
Re: Polaroid land camera and stand
FWIW, the Polaroid MP4 makes a fine camera/copy stand once the 4x5" Polaroid slider is replaced with either the factory or an easily-made camera holder. One could also easily use it for afocal work above a microscope - separating the camera from the scope to eliminate most vibration.
Have no idea if some of the original lenses, reversed, are any good for macro work.
Have no idea if some of the original lenses, reversed, are any good for macro work.
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Onlineenricosavazzi
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Re: Polaroid land camera and stand
The Polaroid MP4 manual PDF on my site may be of help: http://www.savazzi.net/download/manuals ... nd_use.pdf .
Of the Tominon lenses that usually accompanied the MP4, the 35 mm f/4.5 is probably the most useful for photomacrography today, followed by the 17 mm f/4. However, lens speed is a bit on the low side. See for example https://www.closeuphotography.com/tomin ... -35mm-lens . These lenses are for relatively high magnification, and should not be reversed.
The 50, 75, 105 and 135 mm are not so exciting for use with modern cameras, and a good macro lens for SLR/DSLR can provide a similar or better IQ. Contrast tends to be low because of the legacy lens coatings and lack of adequate lens shades.
--ES
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Re: Polaroid land camera and stand
I've had excellent results from the 50mm, and very good results from 75mm. The 50mm in fact is a very good lens for 1:2-2:1, with large coverage and good sharpness. From what I can tell it is a symmetric design, though I think it was intended for medium mags in the MP4 system. I do see some variation between copies I've owned. The 75mm is a decent performer up to 2:1. Both are obviously limited by their max apertures but IMO they are under-appreciate.enricosavazzi wrote: ↑Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:50 am
The 50, 75, 105 and 135 mm are not so exciting for use with modern cameras, and a good macro lens for SLR/DSLR can provide a similar or better IQ. Contrast tends to be low because of the legacy lens coatings and lack of adequate lens shades.