I am using a used 545 and 72 film. Three attempts proved the same result a completely black image.
I looked at the troubleshooting guide for the 545 and found that:
1 - the shutter is working correctly.
2 - the film envelope was pushed all the way in.
3 - the envelope was withrawn till it stopped and any further withdrawal would have taken muscle.

Any suggestions as to what steps I could take to find the problem?

Quote:

On 2004-12-19 07:41, frohnec wrote: I am using a used 545 and 72 film. Three attempts proved the same result a completely black image. I looked at the troubleshooting guide for the 545 and found that: 1 - the shutter is working correctly. 2 - the film envelope was pushed all the way in. 3 - the envelope was withrawn till it stopped and any further withdrawal would have taken muscle. Any suggestions as to what steps I could take to find the problem?

Completely black means only one of two things. Either the film is defective, or no light hit the negative...

You could test for the first by running a piece of film through without putting the holder in the camera. Put film in, pull slide, process as normal. If it isn't completely white, the film's no good... But of course that wastes a sheet of film and the chances of the film being that bad is awfully rare...

So come the questions...

Have you taken successful photos with this camera and lens before?
Did you use the lens shutter or the back FP shutter?
If you used the lens shutter, are you sure the back FP shutter was open? Did you focus on the GG or use the rangefinder?
How did you figure the exposure? Polaroid film correlates to slide film and is very sensitive to proper exposure. Although I've never even gotten close to 'completely black'...

Have you used Polaroid sheet film before? When you sepearted the print from the neg, did it look and sound right (the goo between them)?

You didn't try using electric flash on a shutter that doesn't have x-synch did you?

Taking for granted that the film is not defective, it all comes down to no light hitting the neg, or a whole lot less that should have. So you have to check on the GG if light is actually hitting it, then check your exposure. Unless you did the electric flash thing...

Let us have some more details...

I'm guessing the focal plane shutter was at something besides "O"

O is for open,

T is for trouble.

It is also possible that the metal flange at the end of the paper sheath did not engage with its catch, and so the film slid out with the sheath (avoiding exposure), then back in to yield a black print. The original "500" was notorious for this failure, and I had to bring my early "545" in for repair when the problem developed.

T.R. Sanford is the winner. The metal clip at the end of the holder was not engaging the metal bar on the film. I cleaned it out and the next photo was a success.
Thanks to all for the input.