Polaroid MP-4 Quick setup guide

This product has been approved by Under-
writers Laboratories, I
nc. (UL). As a co ndi-
tion of approva l UL requires th at the
fo ll ow ing safety inform at i on be provided.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
AS WITH ANY ELECTRICALLY OPERATED EQUIPMENT, BASIC SAFETY PRE -
CAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED . REMEMBER:
1. FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS .
2.
DO NOT LEAVE UNIT UNATTENDED.
3. IF UNIT WILL NOT BE USED FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, UNPLUG
FROM ELECTRICAL OUTLET. GRASP PLUG , NOT CORD, AND PULL TO DIS -
CONNECT FROM OUTLET .
4. DO NOT OPERATE UNIT WITH DAMAGED CORD , OR UNIT WHICH HAS
BEEN DROPPED OR DAMAGED, UNTIL IT HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY AUTHOR-
IZED SERVICE CENTER .
5.
DO NOT LET POWER CORD HANG OVER FRONT EDGE OF TABLE OR
COUNTER OR TOUCH HOT SURFACES .
6. UNiT MUST BE GROUNDED. POWER CORD HAS THREE-PRONGED
GROUNDING PLUG , WHICH MUST BE PLUGGED INTO APPROPRIATE OUTLET . IF
SUCH AN OUTLET IS NOT ALREADY AVAILABLE , EXISTING OUTLET MUST BE
CHANGED. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, REMOVE GROUND PRONG
FROM PLUG*.
7. IF EXTENSION CORD IS NEEDED , USE CORD WITH GROUNDING PLUG *
AND SUITABLE CURRENT RATING . CORDS RATED FOR LOWER AMPERAGE
THAN UNIT MAY OVERHEAT. ARRANGE CORD SO THAT IT WILL NOT BE
TRIPPED OVER OR PULLED .
8. THE LAMPS GET HOT. DO NOT TOUCH THEM OR PLACE THEM EXCES -
SIVELY CLOSE TO CAMERA BELLOWS, DRAPES OR CLOTHING.
9. BEFORE STORING , ALLOW LAMPS TO COOL COMPLETELY . DISCONNECT
POWER CORD AND LOOP IT LOOSELY AROUND CAMERA COLUMN .
10. TO AVOID ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARDS, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN
SWITCH UNIT OR OUTLET UNITS, AND DO NOT IMMERSE THEM IN WATER OR
OTHER FLUIDS . DO NOT OPERATE UNIT NEAR WATER OR WITH WET HANDS. IF
SERVICE OR REPAIR WORK IS REQUIRED, CONTACT AUTHORIZED SERVICE
CENTER .
*
THIS APPLIES ONLY IN COUNTRIES WITH GROUNDED ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.
PLEASE KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS
2

Contents
Camera parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The
three different MP-4 models. . . . . . 5
The camera heads. . . . . . . . . . . 6
The MP-4
shutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Lenses for the MP-4. 7
The focusing screens . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The reflex viewer and hood . . . . . . . . . 8
The interchangeable
film holders. . . . . . . 8
How to attach the electrical assembly 9
Attach cameracolumn to baseboard . . .
10
Camera assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Assembly and use of the sliding
camera head . .
.. ... .. ... . . . .. .. . .. 14
Assembly and use of the 44-40
fixed camera head . . . . .. . .. 16
Assembly and use of the 44-44
fixed camerahead .
Assembly oflighting system .
.. .
Camera operation . .
....... . .
How to insert the Polaroid Land
18
.. 20
. 23
Film Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
How to use the Polaroid Land
Pack Film Holder 44-48
......... .
Camera tilt
... ... ... . . .. . . . .... .
Camera column rotation on MP-4
28
. 31
Model XLR ... ... . . .. . .. .. ........ 32
Camera body removal . . . . . ........ . .. 33
MP-4 shutter accessories ..... . . . ..... 33
Some other useful cameraaccessories . . 34
Filters for the MP-4 ....... . . ... . ... . . 35
MP-4 care and maintenance . . . . . . .. 36
For more information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Warranty; Registration; Servicing .... . 36
Polaroid Service Centers and Offices . . . 37
Introduction
The Polaroid MP-4 Land Camera is an
unusually versatile photographic unit. Its
uses in industry, business, medicine,
research, education, the graphic arts, and
in a vast variety of other fields are almost
unlimited. They include photomicrography,
photomacrography, wall chart copying,
slide making, X-ray copying, small object
photography, gross specimen photography,
and many others.
The camera can be used with almost all
Polaroid Land
film types. With these, it can
complete most jobs within seconds, without
a darkroom. The camera can also be used
with wet-process films of some formats.
The selection of lenses, and a special
macro extension,
render possible a wide
range of reproduction ratios, from extreme
reduction to high magnification.
For even
higher magnification, the camera can be
used together with a microscope.
With its wide selection ofaccessories, the
MP-4
is much more than just a camera -it
is a complete photographic system.
The versatility of
the system is truly lim-
ited only by the imagination and ingenuity
ofthe user.
Free and rapid technical assistance
3
If you ever need additional help in the use of your MP-4 camera, or advice on any
other photographic problem, you may call us free of charge, Mon .-Fri., 9 a.m. to 8
p.m. (Eastern Time). From anywhere in the continental U.S.A. except Massachu-
setts , call toll-free at 800-225 -1 618 . From Massachusetts, call collect at [phone] .
Or, write to Industrial Marketing Department, Polaroid Corporation,
575 Technology
Square, Cambridge, Mass.
02139. For assistance in other countries, please contact
the Polaroid office nearest you (see page
37 for list ofaddresses ).

Camera parts
w
4

A. Sliding camera head
B. Camera body
C. Shutter
0. Lens
E. Camera body locking knob
F. Vertical carriage locking lever
G. Height adjus tment wheel and lever
H. Vertical carriage
I. "Pre-view" ca bl e re l ease
J. Fi lm holder
K. Counterweight springs
L. Counterweight spring box
M. Spring attachment rod
The three different MP-4 models
The MP-4 camera is available in two different
sizes. The larger model is available with one
of two different column types, as described
below. The camera body and basic operation
of all the MP-4 cameras is i(lentical.
MP-4 Standard Model:
Total camera height: 46 in. (116 cm)
Column height: 35 in. (90 cm)
Baseboard area, overall:
18 x
23 in. (46 x 59 cm)
Lighting:
Four 150 watt 120 volt* reflector
floods, run off the 120 volt AC supply .
MP-4
Model XL:
Total camera height: 66 in. (168 cm)
Column
height : 55 in. (140 cm)
Baseboard area, overall:
23 x 29 in. (59 x 74 cm)
Lighting:
Four 150 watt 120 volt* reflector
floods, run off the 120 volt AC supply .
MP-4
Model XLR:
Identical with the XL, with the following
exception:
The column can be rotated about
the base, to enable the camera body to be
swung to the rear of the baseboard, or to any
angle in between. For details on the use of
the camera in this way, see page 32.
*
220 -240 volt areas: For areas of the world
where the voltage is 220-240 volts, a 220-240
volt lighting
assembly is provided. Lamps of
the appropriate voltage rating must also be
used in those areas.
N. Focusing knob
0. Millimeter scale (focusing column)
P. Ground glass
Q. Reflex viewer and hood
R. Locking screw
S. "Exposure" cable release
T. Millimeter scale (main column)
U. Lamp arms (adjustable)
V. Electric outlets
W. Baseboard
X. Switch box
Y. Column locking lever (Model XLR only)
Z. Column
MP-4
Standard and MP-4 XL (left) have non-
rotating column; MP-4 XLR (right) has
rotating column.
5

The sliding camera head
This feature enables you to view and focus
the camera without removing the
film holder.
You simply slide the camera head one way in
order to view and focus, and in the opposite
direction
in order to take a picture. The left
section of
the head is designed to hold the
ground glass and reflex viewer and the right
section
is for the film holder.
The fixed camera head 44-40
(available in U.S.A. only)
This is an adapter which enables any one of
the Polaroid MP-4
film holders to be mounted
on the camera. To change from a picture-tak-
ing to· a viewing position, the
film holder
must be removed from the camera.
The fixed camera head 44-44
This is an adapter which enables you to
mount any one of the Polaroid MP-4
film
holders on the camera. It features a reliable
locking system which keeps the
film holder
secure once it has been inserted. This
is espe-
cially useful when
the camera body is tilted
or removed from the column; also for photo-
micrography and photomacrography, when
very long exposure.times may be necessary.
To change from a picture-taking to a viewing
position, the
film holder must be removed
from the camera.
6

The MP-4 shutter
The MP-4 system uses a self-cocking, lens-
less shutter. The lenses for the MP-4
do not
have built-in shutters; each lens can be
attached to the one universal shutter, which
is mounted
in a lens board, for easy camera
attachment.
The
shutter speeds range from 1 sec. to
1/125 sec., and there is a "B" setting for time
exposures. There is also a flash socket with
"X" synchronization. Lens
aperture settings
are incorporated into each lens.
The
shutter accessories are described on
page
33.
Lenses for the MP-4
A. 135mm lens; f/4.5 to f/ 32
B. 105mm lens; f/4.5 to f/ 32
C. 75mm lens; f/4.5 to f/ 32
D. 50mm lens; f/4.5 to f/32
E. 35mm lens; f/4.5 to f/ 32
F. 17mm lens; f/4 to f/ 22
The focusing screens
Three ground glass focusing screens are
available for the MP-4. All are for use with
Polaroid Land
film holders described on the
next page. They also can be used with most
wet-process 4 x 5
sheet film holders, and
some wet-process roll
film holders.
They
are scribed for Polaroid 4 x 5 sheet
film and 3 1/ 4x 4 1/4 in. pack film formats. (The 4
x 5 pack
film image area extends from the
right-hand
marking to about 1 /s in. (3mm)
beyond the left-hand marking.)
Ground gla ss 44 - 50: This is a standard
ground glass screen, for general-purpose
photography.
Ae rial image ground glass 44 -51: This is a
ground glass with a clear-glass circle
in the
center. The image can be focused on the
ground glass in the normal way, or it can be
focused in the clear spot as an "aerial image."
Aerial image focusing is particularly useful
in
photomicrography and in some areas of low
light-level photography, such as high-magni-
fication photomacrography.
Cali bra t ed g rou nd glass 44 -5 4: It is cali-
brated in inches and centimeters, to measure
reproduction size.
7

The reflex viewer and hood
This accessory snaps onto the ground glass in
the way shown. The viewing hood on the
front excludes all ambient light, so that the
image
on the ground glass may be seen most
clearly.
The viewer contains a minor, which
directs the ground glass image forward ,
rather than upward. This makes viewing and
focusing much more convenient.
The image you see
is the same you would
see on the ground glass alone. However ,
with the reflex viewer
the image will appear
the right way up,
but reversed from left to
right. This reversal will not, of course,
appear in your picture.
The interchangeable film holders
The MP-4 can be used with the following:
1. Polaroid #545 Land Film Holder for
Polaroid 4 x 5 Land sheet films.
2. Polaroid #550 Land Film Holder for
Polaroid 4 x 5 Land pack films.
Some MP-4 sliding heads and 44-40 fixed
heads must be modified slightly to accept this
film holder. Contact Polaroid Corporation
(see page
3) for details.
3. Polaroid Land Pack Film Holder 44-48,
for series
100 and 600 films.
4. Polaroid Land Pack Film Holder Model
405, for series 100 and 600 films.
With the Model
405 pack film holder, the
location of
the image area is not the same as
that scribed on the ground glasses. For accu-
racy
in composition, a framing template and
instructions for its use
are provided with the
holder.
The Polaroid 4 x 5
film holders and the Model
405 pack film holder can be used with a wide
variety of 4 x 5 cameras and instruments, as
well as with
the MP-4.
In addition, a number of roll and sheet
film
holders for wet process films can be used
with the MP-4.
8
2

How to attach the 120 volt
electrical assembly
Before beginning with the camera assembly,
the electrical circuitry should be attached to
the baseboard. Turn the baseboard upside
down and place it
on a flat, clean surface.
1. Attach the switch unit: Screw the box
with the two switches firmly to the front cen-
ter of the lower face of the baseboard, using
four of
the screws provided. The switches
must face outward, as shown.
You will find
four screw holes in the proper location.
2. Attach the two outlet units: Take the cable
coming from one side of
the switch unit and
carefully lead it around the front edge of
the
nearest baseboard leg. Lay the cable into the
notch specially provided
on the front edge of
the leg.
About two-thirds of
the way toward the
back of the baseboard, and near its edge, you
will
find another four screw holes. Fasten the
outlet unit to these, using four more of the
screws provided.
Attach the other outlet unit to the opposite
side of the baseboard, in the same manner.
This picture shows how
the fully assem-
bled
120 volt circuitry should look.
How to attach the 220-240 volt
electrical assembly
This circuitry is supplied in one solid U-
shaped unit. Simply screw it to
the lower
side of
the baseboard with the screws pro-
vided, as shown.
9

Attach camera column to baseboard
MP -4 Model XLR : Fasten the column post to
the baseboard, as shown, using
the four nuts
and bolts provided. A special wrench
is sup-
plied for tightening the nuts; use a suitable
screwdriver to hold the bolts while you are
doing this. The column
post must be posi-
tioned as shown, with
the milled section (A)
MP-4 XL and Standard Models: The column is
most easily attached with
the baseboard in a
vertical position and
the column placed hori-
zontally. Attach
the column to the baseboard
in such a way
that the millimeter scale faces
toward the baseboard.
Insert the four bolts,
10
pointing toward the center of the baseboard.
Slide the camera column onto the post and
secu
re it firmly with the locking knob (B).
The column of the Model XLR can be
rotated through an angle of
180 degrees. For
details, see page 32.
first through the
co lumn base and then
through the baseboard. Add the washers,
and then the nuts. Tighten the nuts with the
special wrench provided; use a suitable
screwdriver to hold the bo l ts while tight-
ening them.