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Using a Razzle in Norway |
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I guess the Polaroid 120 was my first introduction to the larger format camera that no longer had film available. I
purchased this Japanese version in 2000 from a collector friend of mine who thought the camera was long since outdated. I spent much time pondering a use for this fine camera, so after several months of
deliberation, my first converted Polaroid was developed in early 2001 and was fitted with internal winder mechanism for using 120 rollfilm. Shortly afterward the first 4x5 version came into being. This
camera accepted standard 4x5 holders, but only allowed the camera`s original format of 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches. I consequently built many conversions with many different configurations, including the
strange 'barn door' back by which holders were inserted and withdrawn from the left as apposed the normal right handed method.......Maybe because of the fact that I am left handed? My next innovation was
the 'SnapBack'. This was a simple device that allowed the fitting of most sheetfilm backs, but unfortunately denied use of roll film backs. The clunky nature of the coventional backs together with the lack
of availability finally led me to develop the 'RAZZLOK' .......a simple lightweight and easy to produce system that accepts virtually all styles and types of holder. The early days of 120 rollfilm conversions began as
a 6x9 were later enlarged to the 6x12 format, however they required the original bellows be replaced and some extensive machining of the body to be carried out, so with the advent of the Razzlok I ceased to
manufacture further 6x12 cameras in 2005. I will attempt to describe the various Polaroid models and explain the differences between them. Models I have modified to one format or the other include the 95B, 110,
110A, 120 and the 110B and more recently, the 900. The Polaroid 110A comes equipped with the Prontor shutter with speeds from 1 sec to 1/300th of a second, quite acceptable, especially with finer grained slower
speed films, and the Rodenstock 127mm f4.7 lens is most favoured by those who have tried it. I must admit, it does have a certain quality, and it`s quite amazing, when you consider we are looking at a camera
manufactured on or before 1960! There is also a slightly more economical glass, which was an option at the time, the German Ennit Munchen 3 element lens, which is surprisingly sharp at certain
apertures. Upon examining shots taken with the former lenses by photographers I`ve met, they seem very impressed by the quality and resolution, remarking that in one transparency, (Extachrome), veins in the leaves
on the ground some distance away could be seen with the aid of a 2x loupe! That`s what I love about these cameras and what prompted me to explore further conversions. The finders fitted to the various models are
interesting to say the least. The earlier 110 Wollensak Raptar lens equipped version, although lacking the later big brightline finder is still one of my favourites, having the old Kalaart coupled rangefinder and
pop up style viewfinder with the press wire frame that is adjustable in height to compensate for parallax error, very fifties, basic and functional, not to mention accurate. The Kalaart type was also fitted on the
early Linhofs, with its small peepsight eyepiece and compact design, it was considered the best in design of all rangefindersat that time. The 110 was, I consider the prettiest of all the polaroid series, sporting a
chromium finish to bright parts and a darker almost black leatherette. Unfortunately the 110 seems to be constructed of a different material and can shatter quite readily when machining. A high degree of
caution is required when any milling is attempted, or you will finish up with a damaged body! The 110 was superceded by the 110A with a completely re designed viewfinder. A Leica style
finder: one window for the rangefinder and a second for viewing. With this new design the distance is calculated by looking through the range window first, then composing via the view window. The view window was
now corrected for parallax at close distances, but the viewing window was rather smaller in dimension than the model to follow, which has spoilt us with its big brightline finder, much improved parallax correction, and
now all in one. Much faster focusing and composition was now possible, thereby rendering the model 110B the most popular. The 110B was the last of the sturdy metal bodied Polaroids, built around
1960, prior to the plastic boxes that everyone knows, of which I`m sure mysteriously multiplied if left lying around together, until they were in every corner of the globe! The other models that share a similar body to
the 110A`s and B`s are the 150, with its peculiar lens and shutter arrangement, and the auto exposure model 900 with its even more peculiar battery assisted shutter arrangement! If the battery failed, it could be
switched to manual mode, to get by until a replacement became available. The interesting thing about the 900, is that it shares the big finder found on the popular 110B, however the body arrangement differs.making it
somewhat difficult to adapt the wonderful shutter mechanism of the B. The Japanese made 120 Pathfinder model has the identical finder/s to the 110A but can also be fitted with the 900 rangefinder, also making it a much
favoured model. The Japanese built 120 was fitted with a Seiko shutter that gave speeds up to 1/500th of a second and an amazingly small aperture of f90 without the addition of a 'pinhole' lenscap. My latest 4x5 back is the 'RAZZLOK 2' 4x5 full frame. I have found it to be very fast, reliable and most of all, simple! Standard holders slip in and out with ease. I much prefer to use standard holders, hence the introduction of the RAZZLOK 2. I have never been a fan of Polaroid film and find the reliabilty and simplicity of standard holders together with real filmstock far surpasses the very clumsy 545 with gooey film which may or may not function correctly. Another disadvantage of using Polaroid film is the financial cost of each shot! The main advantage of the RAZZLOK 1 is its ability to grip the holders securely by tightening the four thumbscrews. This operation takes only seconds and safeguards against pulling out
the holder when removing the darkslide or film sheet (in the case of the 545). The 'RAZZLOK' system is very light and when fitted to a 110B results in a combined weight of just under 3 1/2 pounds
(110B). I find this can easily be carried around all day. The new Razzle 900 is quite an exciting innovation. It shoots like a normal 4x5 with the added advantage of having rangefinder accuracy. For
the first time since original Polaroid rollfilm ceased production around 1990, the 900 can be used as hand held camera that is so simple, robust, and realistically priced. It`s slightly heavier than the 110B, but
doesn`t suffer from the supposed 'bendy strut syndrome'. This has been popularised by some eager (Ogre) to add complication what is essentially a simple camera. (I must confess, I've never suffered any problems
with 110A/B struts). I decided to remove the useless 'Red Switch' from the rear doors of all cameras as it simply added weight and its removal gives the body a smoother line. I also elected to
incorporate an access hole for the swing mirror adjusting screw so now there's no need to remove the finder's cover. Simply by checking that the mirror's split image position coincides with the sharpness of the
image sighted on the ground glass, alignment and accuracy of the range finder is always assured.
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The standard 110B Razzle wins easily when it comes to weight It's simply the lightest rangefinder assisted 4x5 in the world at just under 3 1/2 pounds ready to shoot! |
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Much has rhetoric been stated about the original Polaroid 110B/900 finder and its ability to cope with the 4x5 frame......the following shots are a true representation of the standard finder after conversion. Please note that the original finder remains untouched and apart from minor adjustments to the swing mirror to bring the ground glass image and what you see through the finder into unison, there's no need for smoke and mirror - pull the wool over your eyes technology! I now provide an access hole in the rangefinder housing so fine adjustment is possible in the field. This feature is now standard on all Razzle conversions. |
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Image at left is finder at THREE feet showing the parallax frame kicking in. At right is actual ground glass images......(please excuse the reflection). |
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As you can see, the standard finder, totally unmodified (providing you keep to the original 127mm f4.7 Rodenstock lens) needs no modification to facilitate correct parallax compensation. |
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Recent comments received regarding the Razzle 4x5: |
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"The main purpose of this note is really this. Your work is inspiring and this morning, someone you have never thought of before saw your work and was so inspired by it, it changed his thinking ... Thank you sir, thank you" Kinda makes it all worth it ............ |
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Dean - I was out of town for the last week so I just got the camera today and it's wonderful. I've only put in a couple test
Polaroids and they came out perfectly. That lens is super sharp! Thank you very much for the great work. Jonathan |
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Polaroid Razzle fitted with a 90mm Angulon and Razzlok 4x5 back. |
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This camera is nothing less than fantastic! And it And all the way from Norway!
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A friend of mine showed me your genius cameras, and I'm very interested in purchasing one. I have been working with hand held rangefinders and 4x5 field cameras, wishing I could combine them. You did From Ryan in Austin Texas......... |
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Hi Dean I have been on the road for a few weeks and finally got my assistant to forward the new "Razzle" to me in New
Orleans a few days ago--- I love it! The best one yet; The 900 rids you of the big knob on the front and the track bed and latch are much more positive. The rangefinder is deadly accurate and the single tightener is is
as efficient as it gets. Keep up the great work! A few kind words from Chris Usher.............! |
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FYI, I've done a lot of work with intellectual property consultants and engineering firms, and I have been fascinated at all the
posturing. I can tell you with complete assurance that no patent, pending or otherwise, would stand up to a challenge. I have run across several old Polaroid conversions at flea markets dating back over 20
years. Any patents would fail the "obviousness" test instantly. What I think is being pursued is the "be a jerk" strategy, which many firms that own a lot of questionable patents do. It becomes a question not of whether the patent is valid, but of who is willing to spend the most money for the longest time.
Your site is a complete overload of ideas, guys like you don't need patents. Ed in New Jersey............... |
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Dean - I've been shooting with the camera you sent and I love every inch of it. Using it is almost as nice as hearing the oohs and
ahhs when I pull it out of the camera bag. Jonathan
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Hi Dean, Just a quick check-in on my camera. Are we still looking at a Christmas 07 delivery? I'm starting to cover the
Presidential elections here and would love to have the camera next time I'm photographing the candidates. thanks so much, Stephen |
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Hi Dean, I'm kind of embarassed to admit this, but the Blue 900 is quite a fondleable camera. It's so damn pretty.
Finally getting some time to walk around with it and it makes me grin just looking at it. Bart
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Mr. Jones- I bought your CD and this summer I converted a pola 900 to use a graflex 1000 shutter which is easily detached so the camera can be stowed away. Without your CD it would have been nearly impossible. Though its not a step by step guide, it gave me the confidence to do the conversion myself. Thank you for the valuable information! I have shot several sheets through the camera and I am excited to shoot even more. Maybe I can share some with you someday. Johnnie |
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Hi Dean, You might not remember me well, but I bought a modified J66 6x12 camera from you at the end of 2005. I think you've still
got a link to some of my pictures in your gallery area. I made the mistake of selling that camera when I settled (in London), as I didn't have a car at the time and it was getting to hard to lug around, on and off of
planes, etc. I bought a DSLR and a panoramic head – but it just isn't the same! As a testimonial, you're 6x12 J66 stood up to some severe punishment when we were backpacking around Western Mexico – the heat in July,
the dust and the curious little kids that would try to scale the tripod by lifting themselves up via the viewfinder! Brent Singer
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One of my favourite lines came from Bill Schmidt recently, who said ' Even though I'm paying you, I feel as if you are doing me a favour'! Thanks Bill........
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'My new Razzle 900 is everything I could dream of— compact, light, easy movements, a killer coated Sironar lens, holds a modern flash, easy to use and, as you said, that baby is almost too damn sharp! The rangefinder is deadly at all distances—totally exact!! I have not had an assignment to use it on yet, but I will email pix as soon as that happens'. Chris Usher upon receipt of his latest 900
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I thought I would give you a Banarama update. The camera performed wonderfully!! I have just returned from a 3 week trip to Thailand
where I shot over 400 sheets of 4x5 Tri-x with the Bananarama and it went GREAT!I I wanted to thank you again for your wonderful work. When I can save up some money I would like to buy
a second and possibly a third camera. I want to get one camera with movements(possibly like the one you made for Chris Usher, a black Razzle 900 with 150mm f5.6 Sironar Lens) and maybe a wider camera lens 110B
camera (the bananarama has a 135mm) Thanks Gerry
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I had the wonderful opportunity to contribute artwork for Amnesty Int. depicting an article under the UDHR@60. Because I needed a large final print, I wanted to be
versatile, and 4x5 was my only option if shooting my fave Polaroid P/N film, so I asked Dean if he could make such a camera for the project. Sure enough he made me a black and beautiful 900 w/ a fuji 150mm 6.3. These
are the most versatile hand-holdable 4x5's there is and for the price its unbeatable. The Razzlok is completely stable and fast for DD's, and Grafmatics. With digital being paramount, I think making unique, classic, and
artistic images will always trend, and Dean's Razzles are defiinitely leading the way... Thank you again for making such an amazing instrument, and I can't wait for the next.....Greetings from Canada. Love
and Peace, Alfonso Thanks Alfonso!
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Dear Dean, ....again to confirm my happiness with the camera I got. I do love it . I will take the camera with
me in the snow in the mountains and look forward to have such a handsome camera in my luggage. With my best regards and hoping you got my appreciation now really Maurice |
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"I wanted to send you a photo of my father that I took with the Razzle 900. The picture is a part of an epic project I am working
on about my family. It's probably one of the most important pictures that will be a part of the series. On an emotional level, every time I look at the photo, I feel like either someone has punched me in the gut or that
I want to weep. I think this picture pinpoints the exact moment of when I noticed my father as becoming older and frail. I am no longer looking at him with the eyes of a boy. I don't think I could've caught this
picture with my 8x10 and am lucky to have had my Razzle 900 by my side this very moment. For that, I am eternally grateful to you Dean. Your camera is a wonderful piece of photographic equipment and you are a true
visionary who is continuously challenging yourself into progression. Good luck in the new year". Thanks Nelson....
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