Collecting Polaroid cameras is an almost endless task. Polaroid made many models of cameras from fine instruments made with metal and leather with great optics to the lowest level of plastic imaginable. You might decide to only collect one particular model and still be faced with enough cameras to occupy a bookcase.
So when I spotted yet another of a familiar model sitting on the shelf I almost let it stay there. I have at least two models that were from the same period already. With the film packs available but at an increasing price—one internet source mentioned $40 a pack of eight exposures—as well as having to locate some rare batteries or convert the power source to 4xAAA; it just seemed not worth investing any time on.
On the other hand it was only $2, and I haven’t purchased anything photographic for weeks. So I bought it…and I am glad I did!
You might wonder why. It is because my hobby starts with acquiring items and then progresses through my learning about them. Sometimes I fix them. Sometimes I damage them to the point they are only useful for spare parts. I collect much faster than I should, so I often have a bag of goodies to explore.
This Polaroid Automatic 335 camera has occupied me for hours while spending time with it: I had to—
Step 2 Cleaning took another hour while watching television.
Step 3 Shoot and editing: an hour shooting and 40 minutes cropping and adjusting the images mid-afternoon.
Step 4 This time varies as I rough out the story, place the images, and later edit the story. Say two hours.
Total Could be six hours of me having fun split over at least four separate steps. If I have to repair the item that time would climb. Even finding batteries or locating lenses can add many hours split over half a lifetime (I once bought the remote flash sensor for a flash I didn’t actually acquire for almost ten years).
On the other hand it was only $2, and I haven’t purchased anything photographic for weeks. So I bought it…and I am glad I did!
You might wonder why. It is because my hobby starts with acquiring items and then progresses through my learning about them. Sometimes I fix them. Sometimes I damage them to the point they are only useful for spare parts. I collect much faster than I should, so I often have a bag of goodies to explore.
This Polaroid Automatic 335 camera has occupied me for hours while spending time with it: I had to—
- Research the internet to find out where it stands in Polaroids many versions
- Clean it before the “shoot”
- Shoot and then crop / adjust the images
- Write about the camera
Step 2 Cleaning took another hour while watching television.
Step 3 Shoot and editing: an hour shooting and 40 minutes cropping and adjusting the images mid-afternoon.
Step 4 This time varies as I rough out the story, place the images, and later edit the story. Say two hours.
Total Could be six hours of me having fun split over at least four separate steps. If I have to repair the item that time would climb. Even finding batteries or locating lenses can add many hours split over half a lifetime (I once bought the remote flash sensor for a flash I didn’t actually acquire for almost ten years).
AUTOMATIC 335
Polaroid Automatic 335 Land Camera, made from 1969 to 1971
There were about 95,000 of this camera made when normal production quantities ran 350,000 or more. In this time frame Polaroid made nine “300” Models numbered from 315 to 360, five numbers apart.
There were about 95,000 of this camera made when normal production quantities ran 350,000 or more. In this time frame Polaroid made nine “300” Models numbered from 315 to 360, five numbers apart.
Build: Plastic body and plastic shutter/lens housing
Lens: 114mm f/8.8 3-element glass
Viewfinder: Separate rangefinder focus and parallax-corrected viewfinder.
Shutter: 1200 sec to 10 sec (automatic)
Aperture: f/8.8 (colour) or f/42 (B&W)
Exp. Comp: Lighten/Darken control Exposure compensation dial of -1/+2 stops.
Film speed: Two ASA settings of 75 and 3000 (colour and B&W respectively)
Batteries: Used two 3V batteries (one for timer, one for shutter)
Has: Electronic timer, nylon neck strap
Hasn’t: Tripod Socket
Astounding “find” for those still reading—
If you search for “Repair Manual—200—300 series automatic pack land camera” on the internet, the first site listed is labelled “phsc.ca (PDF)”. “phsc” is the short form of the Photographic Historical Society of Canada’s full designation. Based in Toronto this group has amazing depth of knowledge.
From their site you can download 122 pages (10 MB) of manual that will stun you with how organized design and later repairing a camera can be. They will tell you how to repair a camera so you check everything before returning it. Upgrade sub sections are included. At the time—late 1970‘s—all the specialized tools required can be purchased. Speaking of purchased—all the parts down to the smallest screw are listed, priced and could be ordered. WOW!
From their site you can download 122 pages (10 MB) of manual that will stun you with how organized design and later repairing a camera can be. They will tell you how to repair a camera so you check everything before returning it. Upgrade sub sections are included. At the time—late 1970‘s—all the specialized tools required can be purchased. Speaking of purchased—all the parts down to the smallest screw are listed, priced and could be ordered. WOW!
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