Thank you for sharing this. As a lifelong film shooter of 35 years, an ex commercial photographer, and a current film teacher, There aren't too many new tricks that I haven't seen (especially being really into alternative processes). Thank you for showing me something truly new in film photography for the first time in a couple of years. I have so many cameras I can do this with! And I love how labor intensive it is for just one shot! Exactly why film shooting is so special!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I have just started to shoot Instax wide in a Polaroid 110a Pathfinder and I think your technique makes it much easier for me to put the film in the right place. And it allows me also to use a wooden 9x12cm camera from my great-grandfather from around 1910 for this. Love the idea!
wow, i was looking for youtube video for a 400$ instax film back and this showed up... Bought an Instax 100 instead for 20 bucks. Can't wait to try it. Really apprecate it Dave!
On The Nature Of Light This makes me happy to hear! I just got a pack of the monochrome to try but then got distracted by two packs of fp3000B that were gifted to me ☺️
@@DavesFilmLab I loved using the Fp3000B! Lucky you. I still have many Fp100 but the black and white of the 3000 was unbeatable. I'm already cutting old wrongly exposed sheet films to try the instax trick. This weekend it's DIY time!!!
Incredible innovation - I can't tell you how pleased I am to see this, Kudos!! I'm immediately trying to see if I can skeletonize a P&S instax camera so I just have a pocket-sized "development printer" - love it.
Try the instax LINK wide printer! It’s what I’m using now and has the added bonus of printing anything on my phone. Glad to hear you’re digging it! Bought a lomograflok but it sits on the shelf. I’d rather use this method for all my test shots since I can use the same film plane. I know folks have told me that it’s not the same exact film plane, but any amount that it is off… is negated by the medium itself. Instax will never match the sharpness of sheet films. With all of this said… HAPPY SHOOTING!
Wayne Simon yes!!! That’s how I started with this method years ago. Works excellent in the RB67 and its 800 iso is a major bonus. Had to use a 3 stop ND filter often for portraits ☺️
Wow, I just tried it. Totally works, and it's not that complicated. The chemical pods are more stable than I imagined. I was imagining Chinese soup dumplings I guess. Thank you for researching, testing and sharing on this!
Your example photos are beautiful! This makes me want to get a 4x5 camera. Also, I love the color of the sky in Instax photos. It produces such rich and deep blues.
Just gave this a go and it is awesome, I am still working out how to nail the focus with this aero ektar and the mm differences from the film plane of the Instax and the ground glass.
I don’t adjust anything, focus seems to work pretty close and there’s some limitations of the medium itself so I don’t spend much time fussing over the focus with instax but definitely do for sheet film
Oh my God, this is so effing simple and trivial... THAT I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT. Haha. Now I'm angry about myself. Thank you so much for this cool hack!
Nice one! I'll certainly give it a try. BTW: Having shot Instax Mini in a 6x6 camera (Yashicamat 124), I think Instax film actually is only 640 ISO, not 800 ISO, as Fujifilm claims.
buyaport Hey thanks for your comment! Yes, I think metering varies for everyone. My s90 meters at 640 but my cell phone at 800 and my sekonic was actually at 1000. So I think it’s about finding what consistently gives you a proper exposure
I have a c1896 1/4-plate camera that I use for Instax Wide shots - the wooden DDS (originally meant for glass plates of course) is almost exactly the right size. Love the idea of using sheet film to hold the Instax in a 4x5 DDS too - might just try that in my Cambo. Thanks for the tip.
Cool! I've done the same thing but taped the film to the inside of the film holder. I quit doing it because I couldn't quite get the film right every time. Your method with the sheet of film is one of those "ah hah" moments. I'll be trying again now. That being said, how did you shoot the Instax Mini in the RB? Edit: I see the RB video thumbnail, heading to it now!
Jamie Maldonado I’m so hyped to finally share this method with everyone. It’s nothing new or original, but definitely something not a lot of people know about. And subjects get so excited when they get to see results on the spot, makes it worth the slight hassle of carrying an instant film camera & changing bag (both serve dual purpose as a camera and a place to load more sheet film on the go)
@@DavesFilmLab That's so cool! I've been needing to get my 4x5 out and use it, so this is the perfect motivation. And,I realized, a great way to use 3 unshot packs of Polaroid Originals film I accidentally ordered for the wrong camera and couldn't return ...
What a great idea! Never thought of it, I can't wait to try it out. To me the most difficult part might be marking accurately the frame area on the ground glass... any idea on doing it properly?
It’s fairly easy. Put the camera on a tripod and shoot a complex scene on instax scene with even light & lots to allow for you to shoot, process the shot, and then mark the ground glass based on the shot you just took. That said... there could always be a slight variable in the framing, so small that I don’t worry about it. Allow for a tiny wiggle room and enjoy the fun being able to process photos on site. It’s still no substitute for sheet film, but a cheap way to take test shots and for me.... to test the shutter speed of my Graflex focal plane shutters
Heh, I always thought the focus would be off by too much because of the film plane difference but it doesn’t look like as much of problem in your shots. Very nice!
Genius! But... Is it only me, or are all of these very, very soft, even compared to images shot with the plastic lens in the Instax wide cameras? Maybe they are slightly out of focus because the Instax sheet is pretty thick and ends up a wee bit closer to the lens or something? Trying to understand how it can even fit in the holder when it's much thicker. Is the regular 4x5 sheet spring loaded against the front, so to speak? I mean, it can't float around in there freely with all that space required to fit _both_ sheets? :-))
This is so awesome! I have never shot with large format film so I don't have any 4x5 film sheets. Is there something else you think I could use to mount the instax film into? I didn't know if like paper or cardstock would be the right thickness? Thanks.
I’m usually shooting wide open with my aero ektar, which is an f2.5 lens. Any offset of the film plane, is made up for the fact that it’s instax film. The film usually appears sharp enough for my liking, and much sharper than instax cameras. Long winded way of saying no, I’ve not experienced any issues with film flatness
@@VitVids Yhup! I have another video where I do exactly that. Instax exposes from the back side (non image side) and Polaroid exposes from the front (image side). This is the main difference between the two, as far as this technique is concerned. ua-cam.com/video/3Rbhp0lsFPw/v-deo.htmlsi=I12cOxF4geHDAfjj
good video, but if you don't want to cut up a 4x5 sheet, then there is the Lomography made Lomograflok back, this exposes the sheet of instax wide too, so no flaf in a changing bag; and as it has a holder, it is universal, will fit in most cameras.
Yea, my issue with that is you have to insert a shim and then refocus when you go to shoot your sheet film. This method allows me to not have to adjust focus again as I’m just using it to do test shots like I used to with FP100c. Appreciate the input though, I’m sure that will suit a lot of people who just value the instant film sheets. My big issue with it is that is the focus being off by something like 19mm
@@DavesFilmLab ok, I just said this, as the lomograflok is a processor in itself, so once shot, you hit the expose button, and it squishes the pod, and develops for you, no extra steps, like the old quick load and polaroid 545 and 505 holders, you could just pull and you where done! and Yes, you do need the shim, the double dark slide holder for sheet film has only 1-2mm of holder in front of the film sheet, in a polaroid the holder and the cartridge have distance to, about 1cm so a lot more, the shim accounts for this, automatically back focusing the image, to bring the focus plane into line with the new film plane.
@@andyvan5692 Correct. I own the lomograflok and find myself using the sheet film holder method more often for proofing. With combination of a 3 stop ND, I’m able to get good test shots for ektachrome without having to refocus my image or adjust the camera. It’s all in what someone’s final result is that they’re going for. If instax is the final result, lomograflok is a good way to go. This video was made before the lomograflok was available, and I’d been using this method for years before it was made. This just offers another way to shoot instax in a 4x5, and isn’t me stating that one is better than another
@@DavesFilmLab ok, didn't realise this video pre-dated the lomograflok production, but a good hack otherwise, and esp. for spring back lf cameras ,where the lomograflok can't fit (you can't open it 1" to swallow the holder).
I just wonder, is there anything special that instax do in the `processing phase` or just make a ride throw the rollers ? I just wonder if it's possible to substitute instax camera with some pure rollers to start development process ? Cheers, great video.
Thanks! Yes, plenty of people use a hand roller with instax. The issue is getting even development, that’s why I prefer to just use the camera instead of the roller method. Rolling the pod evenly over the film is much harder than it sounds
Pacemaker if you can, the anniversary model is older and more limited in terms of the movements on the front standard. I’ve got mine doing swing / tilt very easily but it would not have been possible with an anniversary model
Most likely not. Many of the older graflex 2x3 cameras and Mamiya RB67 will take instax mini but most of the TLR cameras will likely break the chemical pod when they close. That said, you can always give it a try!
Dave thank you for this awesome and informative video, what is the football length of your 4 x 5 lens and what type/brand of ND filter do you use or recommend I know it’s the 3 stops. Have you ever considered DIY the instax wide as a backfire the 4x5 , it’s been on my mind for a while now. Again awesome stuff 🤗🎈
Kern Hercules Kodak 7” Aero Ektar f/2.5. Not sure what brand but 0.9 should be a 3 stop. Making an instax back for a camera out of anything that currently exists will require modifying a camera beyond its ability to be used with sheet film ever again.... or requires using a secondary ground glass to accommodate the film plane moving. With that said, there’s definitely money in whomever can figure out a way to do it WITHOUT requiring me to use a separate ground glass and without requiring modifications to the camera itself
Hi Dave, great video! Definitely going to try this out 👍🏼 i noticed too in your intro you have the graflex in landscape but the front standard can turn to the right/left? Was this a mod you did to the camera?
Yea, it’s an easy mod. Look at the wings that hold the front standard to the rails, they will allow for swing (or front/back tilt in portrait) when ground down (only rounded from the edges though to ensure the front standard still has plenty of real estate to grab the rails)
@@BanogeCottage If you have any trouble, email me at davesfilmlab@gmail.com and I’ll try to steer you in the right direction. Google had a few different mods but this one also pops up under the google images search
I didn't shoot with double-exposure, but sometimes double-exposure pictures come out. Have you ever experienced this? It is very strange. (My cameras are Chamonix 45N-2 and Fujifilm Instax Wide 300.)
My pleasure! It may be, in your metering experience, but I suggest everyone have a relationship with their meter. More people have told me they have success with iso 800 and iso 1000 than 640 so I’m assuming you’ve got a good relationship with your meter and that’s awesome. Glad you’re inspired!
Jacopo Abbruscato Not at all. Focus may be marginally off but I think it’s within such a small margin that it’s not noticeable. Plus, these are test shots to me.... instant film has never been a serious medium to me, but rather a way to proof the image/exposure. Hope this helps!
Is it possible to load 10 sheets, shoot them all, and then load a box back up and process all 10 in a row? Just bought a instax wide to try this out so thank you for the video!
Sure! You could do as many as you want :) the only limitations on processing are that 10 fit in a pack at a time. I only keep two holders loaded for a total of 4 sheets and rarely make it to the forth before wanting to process, so I’ll load more as I process... if I’m going to carry a bunch of holders, I’d rather allocate them to conventional film instead of instax
Christian Honican I cant speak toward that specific camera, but where there’s a will... there’s a way. Tinker around and loading single sheets of instax mini, instax wide, and polaroid instant films will be possible in a number of different cameras. Will be only a single shot method but instax is fairly cheap, remember that it exposes from the back side
I have a 2x3 or 3x4 not sure I just bought that at eBay but it has a broken ground glass. How do I find out which one I got? All it says is speed graphics and kodak no. 2 113mm tessar lens. Do I need a ground glass if I want to stick a the back of a instax wide camera to the back of the camera? Great video I’ve saw this a while back before I got the camera how do yo decide at what f stop to put it in or do you just shoot wide open for the background dof. I’m new to film. Thank you
Groucho Marx A quick measurement should clear up that question. 2x3 will shoot instax mini & 3x4 should fit instax wide. Sounds like you have a 2x3. Does your focal plane shutter work? You only need a ground glass if that’s how you want to focus, you can also use the rangefinder if it’s calibrated and working well.
Dave Rollans Films thanks it 2 1/4” by 3 1/8” so it’s a 2x3 I think? Thank you so that means I would need a mini camera. How do I calibrate the range Finder?
you can roll it yourself but the likelihood of it looking good... is slim. I’ve never spent more than $30 on an instax wide camera so they’re worth having around. I load the shots one by one, keeping the instax pack in the fuji camera, which allows me to also use the instax camera any time I want
Blog Vermelho With a 2x3 cut film back that has graflok channels cut into the sides. This allows me to shoot the sheets, using this similar method. DM me on Instagram @ cinedar if you have further questions or need help finding cut film holders
@@DavesFilmLab I just tried it and not sure if its the backwards film thing you mentioned or what but the shot didn't develop. I think it might also have to do with when you load a polaroid it spits out a dark slide so I have to load a dark slide in when I put it back in or else it won't work right. Trying again now.
Andrew Persing you can just close the pack with the shot in there... there’s no difference in it spitting out the darkslide and it processing your shot
@@andydreadsbmx Polaroid film like 600, I-Type, or SX-70 expose from the front, not the back like Instax. That's why the cameras all have a mirror to reverse the image!
![Lomography LomoGraflok 4x5 Instant Back [Instant Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/f6ikxjLsb2w/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for sharing this. As a lifelong film shooter of 35 years, an ex commercial photographer, and a current film teacher, There aren't too many new tricks that I haven't seen (especially being really into alternative processes). Thank you for showing me something truly new in film photography for the first time in a couple of years. I have so many cameras I can do this with! And I love how labor intensive it is for just one shot! Exactly why film shooting is so special!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I have just started to shoot Instax wide in a Polaroid 110a Pathfinder and I think your technique makes it much easier for me to put the film in the right place. And it allows me also to use a wooden 9x12cm camera from my great-grandfather from around 1910 for this. Love the idea!
I felt bad for the table's feelings when he said "I don't care about this table".
wow, i was looking for youtube video for a 400$ instax film back and this showed up... Bought an Instax 100 instead for 20 bucks. Can't wait to try it. Really apprecate it Dave!
Holy crap. THIS IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!
You genius!
On The Nature Of Light This makes me happy to hear! I just got a pack of the monochrome to try but then got distracted by two packs of fp3000B that were gifted to me ☺️
@@DavesFilmLab I loved using the Fp3000B! Lucky you. I still have many Fp100 but the black and white of the 3000 was unbeatable.
I'm already cutting old wrongly exposed sheet films to try the instax trick. This weekend it's DIY time!!!
Incredible innovation - I can't tell you how pleased I am to see this, Kudos!!
I'm immediately trying to see if I can skeletonize a P&S instax camera so I just have a pocket-sized "development printer" - love it.
Try the instax LINK wide printer! It’s what I’m using now and has the added bonus of printing anything on my phone. Glad to hear you’re digging it!
Bought a lomograflok but it sits on the shelf. I’d rather use this method for all my test shots since I can use the same film plane. I know folks have told me that it’s not the same exact film plane, but any amount that it is off… is negated by the medium itself. Instax will never match the sharpness of sheet films.
With all of this said… HAPPY SHOOTING!
I tried this with my girlfriend's Kodak 3A folder. I just cut a piece of heavy paper to fit in place of film and it worked great.
That amazing depth of field omfg. It is exactly what I would love to achieve.
Andy It’s possible to achieve in large format even with lenses that aren’t “fast” by conventional 35mm standards
I don't have 4 x 5 or an Instax camera, but this still wonderful!
So simple and effective without modifications.....I have to try this out on my RB67 with a mini.....Thanks Dave.
Wayne Simon yes!!! That’s how I started with this method years ago. Works excellent in the RB67 and its 800 iso is a major bonus. Had to use a 3 stop ND filter often for portraits ☺️
@@DavesFilmLab so this requires the Polaroid back right?
SixtySix no just a regular film holder
Wow, I just tried it. Totally works, and it's not that complicated. The chemical pods are more stable than I imagined. I was imagining Chinese soup dumplings I guess. Thank you for researching, testing and sharing on this!
Tian Yang My pleasure! Glad you’re enjoying it as much as I do
Your example photos are beautiful! This makes me want to get a 4x5 camera. Also, I love the color of the sky in Instax photos. It produces such rich and deep blues.
Andrew Allen Thanks! In my eyes, 4x5 will teach you more about photography than any other camera system
Dave, this is a very cool video and idea for using the Instax film in 4x5. Thanks for posting!
Just gave this a go and it is awesome, I am still working out how to nail the focus with this aero ektar and the mm differences from the film plane of the Instax and the ground glass.
I don’t adjust anything, focus seems to work pretty close and there’s some limitations of the medium itself so I don’t spend much time fussing over the focus with instax but definitely do for sheet film
Wonderful Tutorial! Thanks!! I'm sold. Gratefully just subscribed!!
Impressive ! I have a Tachihara and despaired ever being able to obtain the instant test shots. THANK YOU !
Just love the finger nail polish color
The portrait @7:45 is stunning!!
Thank you! Had to use a 3 stop ND filter to combat the 800 iso & f2.5 aperture but it sure did work out 😋
thanks for the tips but your shots are fabulous!
Jason Lin Thank you for your kind words 🙏
Thanks for sharing! It is easier then it looks like. It's a slow process, but hey, it's 4x5!
What an awesome idea! I have a Hasselblad cm500, hope I have a back for it. And it looks tons of work but worth it!!
Oh my God, this is so effing simple and trivial... THAT I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT. Haha. Now I'm angry about myself. Thank you so much for this cool hack!
Carsten Schmitt Glad you dig it! Definitely simple enough to be overlooked :) Happy Shooting!
Nice one! I'll certainly give it a try. BTW: Having shot Instax Mini in a 6x6 camera (Yashicamat 124), I think Instax film actually is only 640 ISO, not 800 ISO, as Fujifilm claims.
buyaport Hey thanks for your comment! Yes, I think metering varies for everyone. My s90 meters at 640 but my cell phone at 800 and my sekonic was actually at 1000. So I think it’s about finding what consistently gives you a proper exposure
Great photo and very creative way to shoot them!
Phạm Quang Thanks! It’s a lot of fun
yes very nice ... good hack dude, some really nice portraits there too..
I have a c1896 1/4-plate camera that I use for Instax Wide shots - the wooden DDS (originally meant for glass plates of course) is almost exactly the right size. Love the idea of using sheet film to hold the Instax in a 4x5 DDS too - might just try that in my Cambo. Thanks for the tip.
Cool! I've done the same thing but taped the film to the inside of the film holder. I quit doing it because I couldn't quite get the film right every time. Your method with the sheet of film is one of those "ah hah" moments. I'll be trying again now. That being said, how did you shoot the Instax Mini in the RB? Edit: I see the RB video thumbnail, heading to it now!
Those are some really great shots!
sylvio cavalcanti Thanks! 🙏
This is brilliant! Time to get some Instax Wide stuff at long last.
Jamie Maldonado Definitely advise getting a 3 stop ND filter too given it’s high speed
@@DavesFilmLab Duly noted. Thanks for the heads up! This is going to be a lot of fun.
Jamie Maldonado I’m so hyped to finally share this method with everyone. It’s nothing new or original, but definitely something not a lot of people know about. And subjects get so excited when they get to see results on the spot, makes it worth the slight hassle of carrying an instant film camera & changing bag (both serve dual purpose as a camera and a place to load more sheet film on the go)
@@DavesFilmLab That's so cool! I've been needing to get my 4x5 out and use it, so this is the perfect motivation. And,I realized, a great way to use 3 unshot packs of Polaroid Originals film I accidentally ordered for the wrong camera and couldn't return ...
Really made my day. Thanks for sharing Bro :)
Sascha Hirschner Happy to hear that! Really warms my heart to share with others
BRAVO!!!!!!! great opening too!
great video. Only problem is making the outline on the groud glass. would't that make it useless to switch over to plate film?
@@jputnick Thanks! No, you just ignore the crop lines. Many 4x5 cameras I’ve seen come into the camera shop, had crop marks.
An excellent intro to start with, besides the rest
Petko Iordanov Thanks!
Hey, thanks..I haven't tried it yet..But thumbs up..😮
To the person that thumbed the video down...."youre wack" . Great video!
frugal photographer So much about this comment made my day 😂 thank you very much!
Youre welcome! Cheers!
That's an awesome idea, simple but very effective, I always thought the white side was light sensitive, not the other way around
Cool large format camera👍
I think I will try this with my Zeiss Ikon Maximar using Instax mini ❤
What a great idea! Never thought of it, I can't wait to try it out. To me the most difficult part might be marking accurately the frame area on the ground glass... any idea on doing it properly?
It’s fairly easy. Put the camera on a tripod and shoot a complex scene on instax scene with even light & lots to allow for you to shoot, process the shot, and then mark the ground glass based on the shot you just took. That said... there could always be a slight variable in the framing, so small that I don’t worry about it. Allow for a tiny wiggle room and enjoy the fun being able to process photos on site. It’s still no substitute for sheet film, but a cheap way to take test shots and for me.... to test the shutter speed of my Graflex focal plane shutters
Heh, I always thought the focus would be off by too much because of the film plane difference but it doesn’t look like as much of problem in your shots. Very nice!
Hessel Folkertsma It May be scientifically off by a little bit I think the instax medium is somewhat forgiving of that
Dave Rollans Films Thanks, it’s very interesting!
Genius! But... Is it only me, or are all of these very, very soft, even compared to images shot with the plastic lens in the Instax wide cameras?
Maybe they are slightly out of focus because the Instax sheet is pretty thick and ends up a wee bit closer to the lens or something? Trying to understand how it can even fit in the holder when it's much thicker. Is the regular 4x5 sheet spring loaded against the front, so to speak? I mean, it can't float around in there freely with all that space required to fit _both_ sheets? :-))
This is so awesome! I have never shot with large format film so I don't have any 4x5 film sheets. Is there something else you think I could use to mount the instax film into? I didn't know if like paper or cardstock would be the right thickness? Thanks.
Paper should work, pending it’s stiff enough to hold the film in place.
What an awesome idea. Have you tried shooting wide open? Any ‘film’ flatness issues? Thanks!!
I’m usually shooting wide open with my aero ektar, which is an f2.5 lens. Any offset of the film plane, is made up for the fact that it’s instax film. The film usually appears sharp enough for my liking, and much sharper than instax cameras. Long winded way of saying no, I’ve not experienced any issues with film flatness
Great, that's super helpful and just what I needed to know. Thanks@@DavesFilmLab
Awesome! Gonna give it a try. Have you tried doing the same with Polaroid film?
@@VitVids Yhup! I have another video where I do exactly that.
Instax exposes from the back side (non image side) and Polaroid exposes from the front (image side). This is the main difference between the two, as far as this technique is concerned.
ua-cam.com/video/3Rbhp0lsFPw/v-deo.htmlsi=I12cOxF4geHDAfjj
Works like a charm! Thank you!
good video, but if you don't want to cut up a 4x5 sheet, then there is the Lomography made Lomograflok back, this exposes the sheet of instax wide too, so no flaf in a changing bag; and as it has a holder, it is universal, will fit in most cameras.
Yea, my issue with that is you have to insert a shim and then refocus when you go to shoot your sheet film. This method allows me to not have to adjust focus again as I’m just using it to do test shots like I used to with FP100c. Appreciate the input though, I’m sure that will suit a lot of people who just value the instant film sheets. My big issue with it is that is the focus being off by something like 19mm
@@DavesFilmLab ok, I just said this, as the lomograflok is a processor in itself, so once shot, you hit the expose button, and it squishes the pod, and develops for you, no extra steps, like the old quick load and polaroid 545 and 505 holders, you could just pull and you where done!
and Yes, you do need the shim, the double dark slide holder for sheet film has only 1-2mm of holder in front of the film sheet, in a polaroid the holder and the cartridge have distance to, about 1cm so a lot more, the shim accounts for this, automatically back focusing the image, to bring the focus plane into line with the new film plane.
@@andyvan5692 Correct. I own the lomograflok and find myself using the sheet film holder method more often for proofing. With combination of a 3 stop ND, I’m able to get good test shots for ektachrome without having to refocus my image or adjust the camera. It’s all in what someone’s final result is that they’re going for. If instax is the final result, lomograflok is a good way to go. This video was made before the lomograflok was available, and I’d been using this method for years before it was made. This just offers another way to shoot instax in a 4x5, and isn’t me stating that one is better than another
@@DavesFilmLab ok, didn't realise this video pre-dated the lomograflok production, but a good hack otherwise, and esp. for spring back lf cameras ,where the lomograflok can't fit (you can't open it 1" to swallow the holder).
I just wonder, is there anything special that instax do in the `processing phase` or just make a ride throw the rollers ? I just wonder if it's possible to substitute instax camera with some pure rollers to start development process ?
Cheers, great video.
Thanks! Yes, plenty of people use a hand roller with instax. The issue is getting even development, that’s why I prefer to just use the camera instead of the roller method. Rolling the pod evenly over the film is much harder than it sounds
Hi Dave. Subscriber #2001 here 🙂 cool stuff 👌🏻
monmioamio sweeeet! 🙏
I’m here because of Nico. He mentioned you in his News show ua-cam.com/video/wrrmM5piAIo/v-deo.html
Thanks. Now please... tell me which Speed Graflex I should try and buy?
Pacemaker if you can, the anniversary model is older and more limited in terms of the movements on the front standard. I’ve got mine doing swing / tilt very easily but it would not have been possible with an anniversary model
This is really cool! Would this work on a TLR camera like the Yashica D?
Most likely not. Many of the older graflex 2x3 cameras and Mamiya RB67 will take instax mini but most of the TLR cameras will likely break the chemical pod when they close. That said, you can always give it a try!
Great tutorial!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! It’s a super fun method and works really consistently
Stunning. Any website where we can see full resolution samples? 😁
Gabriel Palacios Thanks! I do not.... they really can only be enlarged to about 11x14 before the quality loss is very apparent
Interesting! I have a Mamiya Universal with 4x5 sheet holder adapter but still can't understand how to frame subject correctly.
Sandro Khutsishvili You have to draw crop marks in your viewfinder or on your ground glass
Dave thank you for this awesome and informative video, what is the football length of your 4 x 5 lens and what type/brand of ND filter do you use or recommend I know it’s the 3 stops. Have you ever considered DIY the instax wide as a backfire the 4x5 , it’s been on my mind for a while now. Again awesome stuff 🤗🎈
Kern Hercules Kodak 7” Aero Ektar f/2.5. Not sure what brand but 0.9 should be a 3 stop. Making an instax back for a camera out of anything that currently exists will require modifying a camera beyond its ability to be used with sheet film ever again.... or requires using a secondary ground glass to accommodate the film plane moving. With that said, there’s definitely money in whomever can figure out a way to do it WITHOUT requiring me to use a separate ground glass and without requiring modifications to the camera itself
Hi Dave, great video! Definitely going to try this out 👍🏼 i noticed too in your intro you have the graflex in landscape but the front standard can turn to the right/left? Was this a mod you did to the camera?
Yea, it’s an easy mod. Look at the wings that hold the front standard to the rails, they will allow for swing (or front/back tilt in portrait) when ground down (only rounded from the edges though to ensure the front standard still has plenty of real estate to grab the rails)
@@DavesFilmLab thanks Dave, will look into that also 🙂
@@BanogeCottage If you have any trouble, email me at davesfilmlab@gmail.com and I’ll try to steer you in the right direction. Google had a few different mods but this one also pops up under the google images search
I didn't shoot with double-exposure, but sometimes double-exposure pictures come out. Have you ever experienced this? It is very strange. (My cameras are Chamonix 45N-2 and Fujifilm Instax Wide 300.)
young-hoon Gihl something else is going on because it should only be getting a single exposure unless you intend on multiple exposures
Thanks for sharing. Great idea. BTW: Fujifilm is more like 640 ISO...
My pleasure! It may be, in your metering experience, but I suggest everyone have a relationship with their meter. More people have told me they have success with iso 800 and iso 1000 than 640 so I’m assuming you’ve got a good relationship with your meter and that’s awesome. Glad you’re inspired!
Amazing! Do you have issues with the fact that the film isn't exactly on the focal plane?
Jacopo Abbruscato Not at all. Focus may be marginally off but I think it’s within such a small margin that it’s not noticeable. Plus, these are test shots to me.... instant film has never been a serious medium to me, but rather a way to proof the image/exposure. Hope this helps!
Why dont you use a Lino Ink Roller for processing the film?
Tulio Cause I want it to turn out like it should 😉☺️
Awesome! Thanks
Thank you for sharing
C L E V E R !
Is it possible to load 10 sheets, shoot them all, and then load a box back up and process all 10 in a row? Just bought a instax wide to try this out so thank you for the video!
Sure! You could do as many as you want :) the only limitations on processing are that 10 fit in a pack at a time. I only keep two holders loaded for a total of 4 sheets and rarely make it to the forth before wanting to process, so I’ll load more as I process... if I’m going to carry a bunch of holders, I’d rather allocate them to conventional film instead of instax
Could you potentially do this using a polariod land camera m80 and instax wide?
Christian Honican I cant speak toward that specific camera, but where there’s a will... there’s a way. Tinker around and loading single sheets of instax mini, instax wide, and polaroid instant films will be possible in a number of different cameras. Will be only a single shot method but instax is fairly cheap, remember that it exposes from the back side
Hey friend thanks for the video! How well do you think this would do for proofing for portra 400? Would an ND2 get me close?
Sure! I use it with a 3 stop ND to proof Portra 160
@@DavesFilmLab and when you meter you use the exact same settings as you would with portra 160 with decently close results?
@@fulltang1 Yes indeed, I expose 160 at 100 so it works out well
I have a 2x3 or 3x4 not sure I just bought that at eBay but it has a broken ground glass. How do I find out which one I got? All it says is speed graphics and kodak no. 2 113mm tessar lens. Do I need a ground glass if I want to stick a the back of a instax wide camera to the back of the camera? Great video I’ve saw this a while back before I got the camera how do yo decide at what f stop to put it in or do you just shoot wide open for the background dof. I’m new to film. Thank you
Groucho Marx A quick measurement should clear up that question. 2x3 will shoot instax mini & 3x4 should fit instax wide. Sounds like you have a 2x3. Does your focal plane shutter work? You only need a ground glass if that’s how you want to focus, you can also use the rangefinder if it’s calibrated and working well.
Dave Rollans Films thanks it 2 1/4” by 3 1/8” so it’s a 2x3 I think? Thank you so that means I would need a mini camera. How do I calibrate the range Finder?
Dave Rollans Films I saw a video on the focal plane shutter everything seems to be in order but the needs to be cleaned and greased
Groucho Marx Yea Thats 2x3. It’ll shoot medium format roll film or instax mini using a 2x3 “cut film” holder
Dave Rollans Films great. Im going to bolt a instax camera to the back of this.
Do you have to load the film back into the instax camera for processing, or can you roll out the chemicals pack yourself in the change bag?
you can roll it yourself but the likelihood of it looking good... is slim. I’ve never spent more than $30 on an instax wide camera so they’re worth having around. I load the shots one by one, keeping the instax pack in the fuji camera, which allows me to also use the instax camera any time I want
Can you use a red light in the dark room to achieve this as well?
No, this film is panchromatic
Do you have anywhere you’ve uploaded the shots you’ve gotten with the instax in your 4x5?
Instagram @cinedar
So, can this same approach be used for a 6x7 medium format camera ?
Only with certain cameras. I was able to use a 2x3 cut film back to shoot instax mini with an RB67
Is there a way to develop/process without the camera?
Found my answer in the comments (not really successfully).
WooooooooooooooooooooooW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Estévez ☺️🙏
hhhahahaha I LUVED THIS VIDEO SO MUCH
Which 4x5 camera are you using ??? :)
Graflex Pacemaker Speed Graphic from late 1940’s
Awesome!
António Tomás Thanks!
booom bro perfect
Why you have red paint on your nail?
kekko99ization For shits and giggles 😂
@@DavesFilmLab i didn't understand. I'm italian and i bet you are using a slang phrase but i don't know what do you mean
kekko99ization it roughly means “it’s just for light hearted fun”
How you do it on the RB67?
Blog Vermelho With a 2x3 cut film back that has graflok channels cut into the sides. This allows me to shoot the sheets, using this similar method. DM me on Instagram @ cinedar if you have further questions or need help finding cut film holders
awesome!
How do you have your ND filter attached to the Aero?
MechanicalCanvas I used glue to glue a “XUME” magnetic filter adapter to the front of the lens and am able to just drop filters into place quickly
MechanicalCanvas 77mm is what I bought since all my filters were already 77mm... I’ve had no issues with vignetting
So cooooool :-)
Would this set up work on a polaroid with the I-type film?
Andrew Persing I can’t see why not but personally don’t have an I-Type camera to test. It worked with the 600 & sx70 films just fine
@@DavesFilmLab I just tried it and not sure if its the backwards film thing you mentioned or what but the shot didn't develop. I think it might also have to do with when you load a polaroid it spits out a dark slide so I have to load a dark slide in when I put it back in or else it won't work right. Trying again now.
Andrew Persing you can just close the pack with the shot in there... there’s no difference in it spitting out the darkslide and it processing your shot
@@andydreadsbmx Polaroid film like 600, I-Type, or SX-70 expose from the front, not the back like Instax. That's why the cameras all have a mirror to reverse the image!
oh crap, he chipped a nail
I wish I understood that
Great results, but the whole process is way too impractical for me. Too bad.
It's good enough until you can get your hands on the lomograflok Instax back
I’m gonna try this. Those nails tho 😕😕😕
John Jay ?
John Jay You should! It’s really easy and fun. And I do what I want with my nails ☺️
Instaxsux
Those are some really great shots!