Polaroid Land 95

[renaldo]

Edwin Land, who was a physicist, invented the "immediate picture" system in 1947. There has been some dispute that "someone" had an earlier system, but it was Land who made it all available for the consumer and founded the Polaroid Company.

He named that first commercial camera of his the Polaroid Land 95 and it was first sold in a department store in Boston. The camera had several swinging accesses, and took roll film. The resulting print was 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches, and was black/white.

The camera weighed 5 pounds and was a pretty sight.

In 1948 it sold for USA $90. I recently acquired a 1948 model 95 for $35 and in beautiful shape, bellows et al. A fine addition to my accumulation of cameras!

[Dave]

I have the 95A, which is slightly later variant. I can remember my best friend's father using one of these. Film for it was very expensive. Too bad there is none available today to even test it. Land also had one of the first auto focus cameras in the SX-70 Sonar, an "active" focus concept in a very unusual body. This was a folding SLR!. The body was also made without the auto focus. The SX series is a very interesting construction of a folder. Mine cost $21, in about mint condition.

Dave

[renaldo]

Just a Polaroid update...if anyone is interested...the LAST film and CAMERA production will end this month!! The company says supply of both should last through most of 2009. I will be looking for Spectra model film for my wife's camera.

[Deleted]

Here's my Polarois Land Speedliner 95B--pretty much mint (I also have the box)

[Andrew]

i know zero about Polaroids but that is one fine looking camera wayne, i can only imagine where the film pops out from

the glass loooks on the small side but everything else looks first rate eh

[Deleted]

The craftsmanship in those early Polaroids is remarkable. They were as well made--probably better made--than a lot of the film folders of the period. Heavy, too. There isn't any plastic in a Model 95--all steel.

[renaldo]

Since 3 different members have posted on this camera in variants...95, 95a and 95b...here are some things pertinant to them.

Lens: 135mm, f/11, 3 elements
Shutter: 4 speed everset rotary-leaf design; 1/8-1/60 plus bulb
Exposure: Set by Light Value Scale via Polaroid Light Meter.

The earliest cameras were made for Polaroid by Samson United of Rochester, NY, with the lens made by Wollensak

Model 95 made from 1948-1953. Had a flex or solid(later models) aiming stalk. Sold for $90.
Model 95a made from 1954-1957. Did not have an aiming stalk. Sold for $95.
Model 95b(also called the Speedliner) made from 1957-1961. Sold for $100.

The 95, 95a and 95b also had different film codes.

In 1957 Polaroid Company was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Just an observation: The fake leather covering which is supposedly on the cameras is a decent thickness and appears quite real to me.

[Deleted]

$90 was a sizable chunk of money in 1947. A Leica probably didn't cost a whole lot more.

Thanks for the info, Renaldo.