OK, so for a couple of years I kinda resigned myself to never again shooting another type 55, or any more glorious 665s. Now I'm getting back into LF photography and can't help wondering...
WHY is it impossible for SOME company out there to produce an item for which people are lining up, forming fanclubs, signing petitions, buying 5 y.o. out-of-date stock from across the planet on eBay. Is every single factory in China and Rumania dedicated to producing plastic toys for McDonalds to insert into our Happy Meals?
There is a website http://www.the-impossible-project.com/ which details the purchase of the entire Polaroid factory by a Dutch consortium who hope to start manufacturing again:
(Quoting from the website)
Impossible b.v. has been founded with the concrete aim to re-invent and re-start production of analog INTEGRAL FILM for vintage Polaroid cameras ... Therefore Impossible b.v. has acquired the complete film production equipment in Enschede (NL) from Polaroid, has signed a 10-year lease agreement on the factory building; and has engaged the most experienced team of Integral Film experts worldwide.
etc, etc ... BUT they also say that they they have only 12 months (that's when they run out of money) to come up with a new formula for the films, since "some of the essential, original components ... are not available any more"
So:
1. What are the essential, unavailable components (which Fuji seems to still be able to access)
2. Is it truly financially unviable for someone (i.e. Fuji) to continue to make LF and/or BW instant film for which there is maybe a niche, but a very stable and willing-to-pay-thru-the-nose niche market?
In the words of Pauline Hanson: "please explain".
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