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.

Camera assembly
1. Attach vertical carriage to column: Loosen
the locking lever
(A) on the carriage by at
least one full revolution.
Carefully push the lower end of the carriage
onto tlie column, making sure
that the two
white rollers
(B) slide down behind the rails
(C).
Lower the carriage further , until the two
white rollers
(D) at the top rest against the
top ofthe column.
Slowly
rotate the height adjustment lever
(E)
in a counterclockwise direction and, as
the carriage slowly goes down, make sure
the white rollers feed in behind the rails, as
shown.
Lower the carriage by about two more
inches, and lock it on the column by tight-
ening the locking lever (A).
A
D
11

2. Attach spring hou sing
and counterweight spring:
Add the spring housing to
the column by simply
inserting it into the column
top, as shown, with the
spring ends facing the front.
Reinsert the pin, being sure
that it goes through the loop
(B)
at the spring end.
Tighten the pin.
Attach the counterweig ht
spring to the vertical car -
riage. Remove
the pin (A)
by unscrewing
it and pulling
it out.
Wind
the vertical carriage
down the column, until it is
at an easily accessible
height.
WARNING : Never loosen or remove the pin (A) unless the vertical
carriage is at the top of the column and locked in position.
12
Unlock the vertical car-
riage, bring it all the way to
the top of the column, and
lock it again.
Lock the vertical carriage
in
position.

3. Attach camera body to
vertical carriage: Loosen the
knob (A) until it is in a verti-
cal position, as shown. Also
loosen the screw (B) by
about three rotations.
4. Put shutter on camera:
First screw the "exposure"
cable release into its socket
(A).
Push the camera body on all
the way, as shown. Rotate it
back and forth slightly, until
Then align the smallest of
the three tabs (B) on the
shutter panel with the
smallest of the cut-outs (C)
on
the camera body.
CAUTION: When there is no lens on the shut-
ter, the shutter blades are exposed and
unprotected. They are very delicate; do not
touch them.
5. Attach lens to shutter: Carefully screw the
lens that is to be used into the shutter in the
manner shown.
you feel
it click into the true
vertical position . Tighten
(B) and then (A).
Push the shutter unit onto
the camera in that orienta-
tion, and
rotate it in a clock-
wise direction until it comes
to a firm stop.
13

Assembly and use of the
sliding camera head
Assembly:
1. Hook the camera head onto the left side
ofthe camera body, as shown.
2. Lower the head carefully, taking care
that the pins (A) engage in the corresponding
holes
on the camera body.
3. Lock the head in place by pushing the
latch (B) in toward the camera body.
How the camera head slides: To place the left
opening in
the head (the viewing position)
over the camera lens, depress
the button (C)
and, while holding it in, push the head to the
right as far as it will go.
To place the right
opening (the
picture-taking position) over
the lens, depress the button
(D) and push the
head all the way to the left.
14

4. Connect the long "pre-view" cable release:
Do this with the camera head in the picture-
taking position.
It should be pushed all the
way to the left.
Attach the release to the shutter, by
screwing it into the "pre-view" socket (E).
Set the lens at its largest aperture (small-
est f-number).
Look
at the shutter from above; the shut-
ter blades should be fully closed. Now push
the head all the way to the right, to the view-
ing position. The
shutter blades should open
fully.
If the above does not happen, you
should adjust the plunger end (F) of the
release in one direction or the other, until the
shutter functions as described.
WARNING: When using the sliding camera
head together with heavy accessories, such
as one
or two macro extensions, always lock
the vertical carriage on the column as soon as
you have
raised or lowered the camera . If
you do not, the camera may begin to slide
down
the column, due to the extra weight.
5. Attach the ground glass: One end of the
ground glass frame has two small protrusions
(G) near its base. Hold the frame in the left
hand,
with the protrusions pointing to the
left.
Slide
the ground glass frame into the camera
head from
the left, as shown. Slide it in all
the way, so that the two retainer pins on the
ground glass frame engage securely in the
two spring loops on the camera head.
15

Assembly and use of the 44-40
fixed camera head
1. Attachment: Hold the head so that the
hinges of the two latches (A) are nearest you.
Open the latches, as shown.
Place the head on
the camera body. Be sure
it
is seated correctly. Push in the two latches
(A) to lock the head in place.
2. Connect the long "pre-view" cable release:
Attach it first to the shutter, by screwing it
into the "pre-view" socket
(B).
Set the lens to its largest aperture (small-
est f-number).
Then attach
the plun ger end of the release to
the camera head,
in the following way. Pull
out
the arm (C) as far as it will go. While
holding it there, insert the plunger end of
the
cable release in the way shown. Secure the
plunger end firmly with
the two nuts (D).
16

Slowly release the arm (C). Its movement
should
depress the plunger and cause the
shutter to open fully.
Insertion of a
film holder will cause the arm
(C) to be pushed out again. This should cause
the tension
in the cable release to be relaxed
sufficiently for the
shutter to close fully.
If the shutter blades do not open fully when
the arm
(C) is relaxed, or do not close fully
when
that arm is pulled out, then you should
adjust the plunger end (D) of the release
in
one direction or the other, until the shutter
functions as required.
3. Attach the ground glass: First, remove
the U-shaped adapter (shown on page 26)
from the camera head.
Hold the frame in
the right hand, with the
small protrusions (E) pointing to the right.
Slide the ground glass frame into the cam-
era head from the right. Slide it in all the
way, so
that the two retainer pins on the
ground glass frame engage securely in the
two spring loops on
the camera head.
17

Assembly and use of the 44-44
fixed camera head
1. Attachment: Hold the head so that the
hinges of the two latches (A) are nearest you.
Open the latches, as shown.
Place the head on
the camera body. Be sure
it
is seated correctly. Push in the two latches
(A) to lock the head in place.
2. Connect the long "pre-view" cable release:
Attach it first to the shutter, by screwing it
into the "pre-view" socket
(B).
Set the lens to its largest aperture (small-
est f-number).
Then attach the plunger end of the release to
the camera head in
the following way: Turn
the knob
(C) counterclockwise so that the pin
(D) is in a
retracted position. Insert the
plunger end of the cable release as shown
(the tip of
the plunger should touch the pin).
Secure the plunger end firmly with the two
nuts (E).
18

Turn the knob (C) clockwise. The pin (D)
should depress the plunger and cause the
shutter to open fully.
If the shutter blades do not open fully, adjust
the plunger end (F) of
the release until the
shutter functions as required.
3. Attach the ground gla ss: Hold the ground
glass frame in the right hand, with the small
protrusions
(G) pointing to the right. Turn
the knob
(C) counterclockwise as far as it will
go, against
the pressure of the spring. This
will raise the arms (H).
Starting with the side farthest away from
you, slide
the retainer pin of the ground glass
frame into the opening of
the arm. Now slide
the nearer pin into the nearer arm. If neces-
sary, pull the arm out and over as shown.
Note: Due to the locking system on this cam-
era head, some earlier model MP-4 ground
glass frames may not
fit properly and should
not be used.
19

Assembly of lighting system .
L Fasten lamp arms to baseboard: The two
lamp arms must be fastened to the left and
right sides of the baseboard. Use the special
locations near the rear edge of the
baseboard.
The locking lever (A) on each lamp arm
should face
the front of the baseboard, as
shown.
Fasten the lamp arms securely to the
baseboard, using the screws supplied with
the arms.
RIGHT-HAND LAMP ARM.
MP-4 MODELS
XLR & XL.
RIGHT-HAND LAMP ARM.
MP-4 STANDARD MODEL.
Note: Dimension A is slightly
longer than dimension B.
Correct location of cross bars and lamps: The
diagrams above show
the correct location of
arms and lamps for each camera model. Note
20
2. Angle lamp arms correctly: Angle them as
indicated by the two marks (B), and lock
them in position with
the lever (A). This set-
ting
will give you the lamp position that is
suitable for most general copy work. For
special lighting requirements, the lamp arms
may be angled in any way desired. (See page
22.)
that the cross bars are attached a little differ-
ently to the lamp arms of
the Model XLR and
the Model XL.