My Uncle was a professional photographer and used a 500 back in the day. As you say he would use a Polaroid back for an instant check before shooting to normal film.
I wish someone would make a 668/669 compatible instant film so I could reuse the polaroid back on my Bronica ETRS. Expired film selling on ebay for silly money.
Fun. Shot a bunch of test shot polaroids on the 500cm in the 80’s and 90’s. No longer have the back but still have the 500cm and lenses. 🙂 a 2 1/4 square digital back would be great ( that is not an outrageous price). Think there are only 645 ?
I had the exact same issue with the dark slide. Frustrating and Nons wouldn't replace it stating it was my fault. Glad I'm not alone. Love shooting instax in the 500cm, but I really wish they'd fix this issue. Thanks for the review.
I recently purchased this Nons back for my 500cw since it was sitting in a cabinet with film backs and 5 lenses. I wanted to pull it out to shoot again as it was my primary camera for decades before I went full into digital in 2002, but it was hard to justify with fewer labs involved in processing/scanning for use. I’ve only used it briefly since I got it and am figuring out the exposure differences using the Instax Square film packs. It’s definitely a shift from digital (Nikon and Fuji) and true film shooting, but it’s kind of fun with a totally different vibe. My only real complaint, like you, is the dark slide getting bent the first time I went out to use it. I’ll work around that by leaving the back on until I’m ready to exchange for a new pack of film.
The build and quality is great, the only con for me is the horizontal position of the blank space. --- Just personal feedback: Fuji have a great film, but for me is to 'good, and precise' comparing to Polaroid. I have more vibe with my cheap Polaroid shoots than the Fuji. The size 6x6 is somehow to small for my taste. Still more affordable comparing $/per shot.
I’m very interested in a product like this because of my area it takes about two weeks to a month to get my scans and negatives back I wish that there was a company making something like this for 35 mm but there isn’t a good 35 mm instant stock right now so I will be purchasing one of these as well as a Hasselblad, 500
I already get this non back, and have some experience for using it. I think this the best instax camera the world because Hasselblad lens and filters are very good, if you take the colour portrait photo indoor without the flash, please add original Hasselblad cr filter, outdoor maybe use cb filter for landscape. And about the flash I can say godox is shit, the best one I use is Metz, and I do not have profoto also don’t the result. Also light meter which is with a white ball one should be used for portrait
I backed the Kickstarter and they actually pivoted that product to support both instax formats but it's a nightmare, the product is very poorly made, and i ended up ordering the Nons back anyway!
That’s really interesting and makes perfect sense. It just never dawned on me that I was shooting medium format when I used an old school Polaroid camera back in the 80’s but the projected image really was medium format sized. (Granted the tiny lens on a standard Polaroid camera was crap)
Very nice. I don't have access to a Hasselblad 😄 But I do have an old SX70, so maybe I'll break that out. In any case, great shots and a great model. I liked the first shot in the seating area. Thanks for this.
Het Matt, great as always. I know nothing about this camera but have a question. Do the ‘purists’ view the use of a digital back in this camera the same as using the insta back?
Rotating the camera with a waist-level finder is problematic. I never got an a-16 back years ago for my Hasselblad for the same problem. It can be done, but it’s very difficult in use. But your point is taken, and I’m going to try it if my ‘blad is on a tripod.
I don't pull out the pitchfork but I'll take away your greeting! Don't show me those photos, uglier than the Instant Kodak of the 70s. On the other hand, I curse myself that I sold the 500 CM in the year 2000. So much so that I would like to go back to photographing in medium format but digital, if I find a good used one.
Hello Matt, I had two of these back in the 1970's until some time in 1990 when I sold it ti go digital and the polaroid film back and others, but was shooting 5x4 and 10x8. Now I have move back to Hasselblad with both X1D and X2D great camera if you use them as designed. But loving the Nikon Z system to.
In the past , before digital era, such backs were used in professional photography for checking lighting set. I mean a photographer set up all flashlight, took a picture, corrected power and position of lamps, checked again, and if everything was right than took a picture on the film. IMO using this cra.p nowadays is completely pointless, for extreme hipsters only.
My Uncle was a professional photographer and used a 500 back in the day. As you say he would use a Polaroid back for an instant check before shooting to normal film.
I wish someone would make a 668/669 compatible instant film so I could reuse the polaroid back on my Bronica ETRS. Expired film selling on ebay for silly money.
I like them. Definitely a vibe. The glamor is there.
Wow, the images looks like they were taken in the 60s, like some of the photos I saw in my parents albums. Film is certainly making a comeback.
Great job you two!! I think the last of the 3 B/W photos is my favorite. MF is something that i have always wanted to try perhaps in 24'
Great Job!!
Fun. Shot a bunch of test shot polaroids on the 500cm in the 80’s and 90’s. No longer have the back but still have the 500cm and lenses.
🙂 a 2 1/4 square digital back would be great ( that is not an outrageous price). Think there are only 645 ?
I had the exact same issue with the dark slide. Frustrating and Nons wouldn't replace it stating it was my fault. Glad I'm not alone. Love shooting instax in the 500cm, but I really wish they'd fix this issue. Thanks for the review.
Oooh man, that B-roll of you shooting the Hasselblad . . . Sploosh!
I recently purchased this Nons back for my 500cw since it was sitting in a cabinet with film backs and 5 lenses. I wanted to pull it out to shoot again as it was my primary camera for decades before I went full into digital in 2002, but it was hard to justify with fewer labs involved in processing/scanning for use.
I’ve only used it briefly since I got it and am figuring out the exposure differences using the Instax Square film packs. It’s definitely a shift from digital (Nikon and Fuji) and true film shooting, but it’s kind of fun with a totally different vibe.
My only real complaint, like you, is the dark slide getting bent the first time I went out to use it. I’ll work around that by leaving the back on until I’m ready to exchange for a new pack of film.
The build and quality is great, the only con for me is the horizontal position of the blank space.
---
Just personal feedback: Fuji have a great film, but for me is to 'good, and precise' comparing to Polaroid.
I have more vibe with my cheap Polaroid shoots than the Fuji. The size 6x6 is somehow to small for my taste.
Still more affordable comparing $/per shot.
I’m very interested in a product like this because of my area it takes about two weeks to a month to get my scans and negatives back I wish that there was a company making something like this for 35 mm but there isn’t a good 35 mm instant stock right now so I will be purchasing one of these as well as a Hasselblad, 500
I already get this non back, and have some experience for using it. I think this the best instax camera the world because Hasselblad lens and filters are very good, if you take the colour portrait photo indoor without the flash, please add original Hasselblad cr filter, outdoor maybe use cb filter for landscape. And about the flash I can say godox is shit, the best one I use is Metz, and I do not have profoto also don’t the result. Also light meter which is with a white ball one should be used for portrait
I backed the Kickstarter and they actually pivoted that product to support both instax formats but it's a nightmare, the product is very poorly made, and i ended up ordering the Nons back anyway!
That’s really interesting and makes perfect sense. It just never dawned on me that I was shooting medium format when I used an old school Polaroid camera back in the 80’s but the projected image really was medium format sized. (Granted the tiny lens on a standard Polaroid camera was crap)
Very nice. I don't have access to a Hasselblad 😄 But I do have an old SX70, so maybe I'll break that out. In any case, great shots and a great model. I liked the first shot in the seating area. Thanks for this.
Het Matt, great as always. I know nothing about this camera but have a question. Do the ‘purists’ view the use of a digital back in this camera the same as using the insta back?
The only issue with this back is that the border is on the side.
Rotate the camera…
Rotating the camera with a waist-level finder is problematic. I never got an a-16 back years ago for my Hasselblad for the same problem. It can be done, but it’s very difficult in use. But your point is taken, and I’m going to try it if my ‘blad is on a tripod.
While med frmt not in my future I am all for anything that makes photography fun and novel
Hohoho. This is going to be my own Xmas present. I still have my 503 that I haven't used for a decade.
Enjoy!
Wow, that is awesome, you got very cool cameras in your videos!
I prefer my instead Bluetooth printer
I don't pull out the pitchfork but I'll take away your greeting! Don't show me those photos, uglier than the Instant Kodak of the 70s. On the other hand, I curse myself that I sold the 500 CM in the year 2000. So much so that I would like to go back to photographing in medium format but digital, if I find a good used one.
They’re easy to find. Go for it 👍🏼
Hello Matt, I had two of these back in the 1970's until some time in 1990 when I sold it ti go digital and the polaroid film back and others, but was shooting 5x4 and 10x8. Now I have move back to Hasselblad with both X1D and X2D great camera if you use them as designed. But loving the Nikon Z system to.
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
In the past , before digital era, such backs were used in professional photography for checking lighting set. I mean a photographer set up all flashlight, took a picture, corrected power and position of lamps, checked again, and if everything was right than took a picture on the film. IMO using this cra.p nowadays is completely pointless, for extreme hipsters only.
Same could be same for records, film and internal combustion engines
Brilliant video! I have a 500c, considering the Nons film back.
I cannot find access to the files? Am I missing something?
learn.mattgranger.com/courses/nons
Check out the sample files: learn.mattgranger.com/courses/nons
Love this