These backs were designed to allow an instant preview of exposure for a shot, with the developed 6×4.5cm picture occupying just a portion of the larger Polaroid film image area. As Polaroid Land Pack film is no longer in production, these backs are useless, or rely on finding incredibly expensive—and most likely damaged—expired stock. Regardless, they still seem to fetch a decent price on the second hand market.
The size of the back meant that some additional accessories were needed to use the ETR cameras without hinderance. The use of Speed Grip E was recommended to cock the shutter for the next shot, as the film back interfered with the use of the winding crank. To mount the camera on a tripod, the Tripod Adapter-E was needed.
Generational Differences
Two distinct versions of the Polaroid Land Pack Film Back were produced, the earlier model having a flat plastic surface and wire latch, and the later model having a leatherette surface and a plastic locking lever.
Although there was no change to its capabilities, the supported film types were updated in the manuals of the newer generation film back. This is because some new film types had been released, and one of the previously supported film types had been renamed.
| Film Type1 | ASA/ISO | ETR/ETRS | ETRS Mk-II/ETRSi | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 (B&W) | 3600 | Supported | Supported | |
| 88 (Color) | 75 | Supported | Supported | |
| 105 (B&W) | 75 | Supported | – | Renamed as 665 in 1977. |
| 107 (B&W) | 3600 | Supported | Supported | |
| 108 (Color) | 75 | Supported | Supported | |
| 665 (B&W) | 75 | – | Supported | Released 1977. |
| 667 (B&W) | 3000 | – | Supported | Released 1977. |
| 668 (Color) | 75 | – | Supported | Released 1977. |
| 669 (Color) | 80 | – | Supported | Released 1977. |
Available Products
The following table summarises the components described on this page, showing the various ETR System generations during which they were available. Names are taken from the component instructions or product packaging, unless otherwise noted.
| Generation | Name | Literature | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETR | Polaroid Land Pack Film Back | Manual | – |
| ETRS | Polaroid Land Pack Film Back (on packaging) Polaroid Land Pack Film Back E (in manual) | – |  |
| ETRS Mk-II | Polaroid Land Pack Film Back (on packaging) Polaroid Land Pack Film Back E (in manual) Polaroid Film Back E (shortened name in manual text) | Manual |  |
| ETRSi | Polaroid Land Pack Film Back (on packaging) Polaroid Land Pack Film Back E (in manual) Polaroid Film Back E (shortened name in manual text) | Manual |  |
- See http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Polaroid_instant_film for a full list of Polaroid instant film types. ↩︎