Gadgets on the Go: No More Polaroid Instant Film
I can’t believe that Polaroid is discontinuing its instant film, which has been in existence since the 1940s. They’re going to start phasing out the films next year. I believe a lot of artists use the Polaroid film to incorporate in their mixed media art or to use as plain Polaroid film art. I guess they’ll have to do without it or switch to Fujifilm.
My husband bought a Polaroid ImpulseSE about 25 years ago, and the camera is still working just fine.
Polaroid ImpulseSE camera, with 3″ x 3″ photos.
I was looking in my freezer the other day and found Polaroid films SX70, 665, and 669. (I think someone said to put the film in the freezer so that it would last longer.) I used the SX70 for photos at a couple’s shower so that I could create an instant scrapbook at the shower. People at the party were wondering who I was since I was walking around with the “funny looking” camera, which had an improvised flash system.
Polaroid SX70 Land Camera Model 2 with Vivitar flash attachment
One other toy I found in my camera drawer was a Polaroid i-zone that works with 1″ x 1″ film.
Polaroid i-zone Instant Pocket Camera
I’m not throwing anything away. In fact, I’m going to start hoarding the film and keep the cameras as antiques.
Photos: Amy Rudberg
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this confirms all my fears amy. i have taught polaroid transfer for 20 years. i still get folks calling the CPC (chicago printmakers collaborative) asking me to teach them this technique, but i have been telling potential students that the future production of 669 film is iffy, and i cannot in good conscience teach them methods that will be obsolete soon. i own 5 daylabs (anyone want to buy one?). i also have the capability to do 8×10″ prints. such a shame to see these all go to waste. i can apreciate your wanting to “horde” film while you can still get it, but the sad reality is that the film does have a shelf life. if the film is bad, you’ll start to see red streaks through your exposures. i’ve worked in the 20 x 24″ format as well - so sad to have to give it up. i also own a bunch of old polaroid cameras, all of which work well. bummer, huh?
Deb,I have the daylab and I wasn’t sure what it was for. And the 669 film has been sitting in my freezer for a couple of years.I guess I was going to do the transfer art but didn’t have the time. I was thinking of buying more 600 film to create an antique scrapbook just using the Polaroid film. Hey, maybe we could put together a show called “The Last Polaroid Film Show” before the film goes extinct. Amy
ha! i love that idea, “the last Polaroid film show”. we could do it at the CPC. mary o’shaughnessy could be in it as well as a few others i know. however, this just in, from a friend who works over at helix:
“Here is a link to Helix’s website. Go to the sidebar, and click on films. You will then see a listing for Fuji’s instant film products. Fuji is offering color instant films in two sizes. 3.25 x 4.25 pack film size, like Poloroid Type 669 film, and 4×5 size, like Polaroid Type 59 film. Currently the pack film size is $9.95, per pack. The 4×5 size is $25.95 per box. Both have 10 sheets per pack/box.
I haven’t used either film, but I understand that the Fuji instant films have higher color saturation than the Polaroid versions, just like Fuji’s other color film products.
www.helixcamera.com”
he then sent this:
“Here is a link to Fuji’s website, which has additional information on their instant film products.
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/proPhotoProductsInstant.jsp?NavBarId=item778804
I don’t know if you remember Polaroid’s Type 689 Provivid instant film. It was the high color saturation version of Type 669. I have been told that Fuji’s FC100 had colors similar to Type 689. In fact, Fuji may have actually manufactured the Type 689 film for Polaroid.
Hopefully, Fuji will continue to offer these products to fill the needs of the art, and commercial, photographers who wish to continue using Polaroid type products. ”
so there ya go! we’ll have to try these out before we throw away those daylabs….
deb