Polaroid 110a, 110b, 120 4x5 Conversion

Polaroid cameras from the 1960s were truly remarkable. They boasted excellent build quality and high-quality lenses. Unfortunately, the roll film these cameras used was discontinued in the 1990s, and any remaining film has long since expired, rendering these cameras nearly unusable today.

Thankfully, there are a few options on the market to revive them. Most involve converting the cameras to use a Graflex 4x5 mount or Instax (wide) film. For example:

• Graflok 4x5 by Instant Madness
• Instax wide by Instant Madness
• Graflok 4x5 by Rezivot
• 4x5 by Morten

While these solutions address the film problem, they tend to be bulky, rough around the edges, or quite expensive. I wanted something more elegant, with an OEM feel. That's why I designed a custom 4x5 back that accommodates a standard two-sheet film holder.

Design

My design has the following attributes:

• Maintains the original camera's aesthetic.
• 3D printed using durable ABS/ASA.
• Conversion is 100% reversible. No cutting or drilling required.
• Easily replaceable parts.
• Spring loaded mount for easy holder swaps.
• The lens can still fold into the camera body.
• Flat base with a new tripod mount.

The film holder is easily inserted from the right side. To remove it, simply lift the tab and slide the holder out.

Drawbacks

This back is designed exclusively for standard two-sheet film holders. Unfortunately, backs like the Lomograflok and Grafmatic are not compatible.

The negative is not fully covered. This was deliberate to maintain the aesthetic. However, it still provides more than twice the surface area of a 6x9 120 film.