Impossible films 'save' Polaroid photography from extinction

[Thebes]

Also the new film to put it bluntly looks like crap. Why anyone would use this is beyond me. If you are looking for simple instant cameras and film the Fuji Instax System is much better and much cheaper

Lots of people used to manipulate SX-70 images. Though perhaps why anyone would manipulate them is beyond you, dunno...

[Duane Polcou]

I attended the press conference at the NYC office of The Impossible Project this Monday 3/22. The two principals of the company producing films explained that much of the material Polaroid used to produce integral instant films is no longer available, specifically the substrate material. So basically they have started from scratch to reformulate the film architecture and to modify the coating machines they received from Polaroid to new tolerances. They explained that for color film, color dyes need a storing period before they can be incorporated into a mass produced film and they haven't even begun to tackle that as of yet.

On display were prints from their new film and enlargements made from scans from the SX-70 type prints. They are what I would call low contrast sepia. They explained that this is the first offering from their company and if all goes well (i.e., there is an actual market) that other films will follow.

Given the logistics and expense of transporting all of that machinery to Europe, finding a factory, starting R&D, and hiring a crew, I have nothing but respect for these people. Their enthusiasm for instant film is amazing.

However, when asked (by myself) if they would ever produce film packs for medium and large format camera backs, they replied no, as the technology for peel-apart film and integral film are entirely different, and one should look to Fuji for these products.

[Wallace_Billingham]

What is this judgement based on please, can you elaborate?

Sure here is slide show from them that you would think represents the best images they can find

http://www.the-impossible-project.co...cts/collection

Here is a real world test shot by the reviewer at the British Journal of Photography

http://www.1854.eu/2010/03/handson_w...ble_px100.html

I am a big fan of lowfi images. I shoot with a lot of pinhole cameras, and Holga cameras. It costs $22 and for that you get 8 shots. You better not expose it to even mild cold or mild heat so shooting in the winter or the summer is out.

You would think that for the premium price they are charging it would be better. You can get better results shooting paper negs in a pinhole camera made from an oatmeal box

[goamules]

...here is slide show from them that you would think represents the best images they can find...You can get better results shooting paper negs in a pinhole camera made from an oatmeal box

HA! I agree. It looks like a bunch of my early fogged, overexposed wetplates!

Garrett

[CG]

I dunno. More interesting than many technically perfect but emotionally stunted work I've seen too many places. I like the look of some items on that site. All that said, I'd like to see the stuff myself and see what it is capable of.

[djcphoto]

While I am a little disappointed in what I've seen of the new film so far, and the pricing, I went online today to order a pack to see for myself. However, when they added $11 to the cost for shipping I got out of there really fast! Seriously, $33 for eight shots is outrageous. My SX-70 is destined to stay in retirement...

[Robbie Shymanski]

So, I will just go out with the hipster crowd with my first generation SX-70 with the super-sweet leather case, make sure everyone know I have it, mock shooting with it, actually shoot with my D-Lux-4, manipulate in PS, post on Facebook, no one will know the diff, and I save $33!