Polaroid 8x10 film holders more expensive than lenses?

[Merijn]

Hey guys,

I’m assembling my first set of 8x10 tools and I couldn’t help but notice that 8x10 polaroid film holders are often more expensive than many nice large format lenses on eBay.

Is it just eBay madness or are those film holders actually so rare that they go for many hundreds of dollars?

If it’ll be easier secure common film holders for actual film or exposing directly on photographic paper, I’m not opposed to using those instead. I’d hoped to do 8x10 Impossible polaroids because the factory is in my town so I’d have an easy source.

So any tips on acquiring affordable 8x10 polaroid film holders or non polaroid film holders are welcome. I’m somewhat disinclined to spend hundreds of dollars on a holder if I could have spend it on a lens.

[StoneNYC]

Nope they're crazy expensive, just wait until you look for the machine to process the film as in the Machine that you have to place the holders into in order to have them roll through and spread the developer inside of the sheet for development.

This stupid expensive for no logical reason except that there aren't enough of them out there and it's all the rage right now.

Regular 8 x 10 holders should be purchasable for $50-$100. I personally buy new ones from Chamonix because I value their build quality and prefer wood to plastic, but the fidelity plastic ones can be had for $50 or so used.

The Polaroid ones will cost you much much much more.

Good luck. If you find more than one cheap one please let me know because I'm also interested but can't afford the crazy prices of the machine/holders.

[DrTang]

they used to be super cheap until umpossible announced they were coming out with 8x10 P film again - then everyone (including me at one point) started scrambling to get a set up to shoot the marginally working, 20 bucks a shot film

*shrug*

old 8x10 P film WAS like heroin though.. you'd sell your house and car just to shoot more

it was THAT fun

[Ted R]

Originally the Polaroid system was the almost exclusive zone of the professional photographer, it was used among other things to confirm exposure before shooting film. They were very expensive originally and very few were made. When the Polaroid film was discontinued the whole system, holders and machines, became obsolete and many were thrown away. When Impossible revived 8x10 it was adopted by amateurs, so now you have millions of photographers chasing thousands of Polaroid machines and prices have jumped back up. The original Polaroid color system was wonderful, I was glad to sell my Polaroid hardware for more than it cost me :-) Eventually someone will start making holders and machines once more.

[koh303]

old 8x10 P film WAS like heroin though.. you'd sell your house and car just to shoot more

@150$ per shot for expired stuff, people are doing just that.
I shot an entire case of 809 film the other day, if only i had the cash in my pocket instead for the worth of each sheet....

[koh303]

Eventually someone will start making holders and machines once more.
Someone already is.

[Tracy Storer]

Do tell.....?

Someone already is.

[Fred L]

Whoever holds the patent on the manual processor could make some decent coin by restarting production of their units. I found one locally for a fair price and even then, it still hurt. However, it's nothing like the price they're selling for now. I've also stopped looking for extra 81-06 holders as those are the ones people really want although the 81-05 will work , they just need a bit more finessing loading the receiver sheet.

[koh303]

Whoever holds the patent on the manual processor could make some decent coin by restarting production of their units. I found one locally for a fair price and even then, it still hurt. However, it's nothing like the price they're selling for now. I've also stopped looking for extra 81-06 holders as those are the ones people really want although the 81-05 will work , they just need a bit more finessing loading the receiver sheet.

81-05 holders are not compatible with the calumet field processor.

[koh303]

Whoever holds the patent on the manual processor could make some decent coin by restarting production of their units.
They are readily available...

[Jonathan Barlow]

The "Calumet" field processor is still being made by its original manufacturer, Golden Engineering, Inc. of Centerville, Indiana. And yes, it's compatible only with the Polaroid 81-06 film holder.

[Fred L]

I was under the impression the Calumet processor by Golden was not being made anymore unless they restarted ? Can only guess they're expensive.

re: 81-05, they work with the Polaroid electric processors as is. The 81-06 work as well but you need the loading tray.

[Merijn]

they used to be super cheap until umpossible announced they were coming out with 8x10 P film again - then everyone (including me at one point) started scrambling to get a set up to shoot the marginally working, 20 bucks a shot film

*shrug*

old 8x10 P film WAS like heroin though.. you'd sell your house and car just to shoot more

it was THAT fun

I didn't realise the Impossible 8x10 was that popular. I had a tour of the factory a couple of weeks ago and the 8x10 film is assembled by hand on a little table in the back of the factory using a couple of simple tabletop tools.

[StoneNYC]

Does anyone have a link to these new processors?

[koh303]

http://www.catlabs.info/product/polaroid-8x10-calumet-manual-processor-brand-new-in-box-tested-impossible-pq

[StoneNYC]

http://www.catlabs.info/product/polaroid-8x10-calumet-manual-processor-brand-new-in-box-tested-impossible-pq

Thanks.

[Jonathan Barlow]

I spoke to someone at Golden Engineering some time ago. The retail price of the field processor is $799.

[phillip2446]

nice

[Racer X 69]

I spoke to someone at Golden Engineering some time ago. The retail price of the field processor is $799.

The one offered at the link above is $1,995.

[Qamaro]

Someone already is.

@Koh303 - I know your response was in back in '16 but it looked like you implied, if I read correctly, that someone was working on new holders / processors. I didn't see anywhere in the thread where you provided the information though (links, artical, thread, etc.). What is the latest, did this end up falling apart? Did I miss a thread? Is it top secret? Any and all info welcome... Thanks!

[aguycalledandre]

@Koh303 - I know your response was in back in '16 but it looked like you implied, if I read correctly, that someone was working on new holders / processors. I didn't see anywhere in the thread where you provided the information though (links, artical, thread, etc.). What is the latest, did this end up falling apart? Did I miss a thread? Is it top secret? Any and all info welcome... Thanks!


I came upon this thread today. Although a few years old, I thought I might chime in. I came across what appears to be a site selling new holders. I am waiting to hear back from them on price.

https://cameza.shoplineapp.com/products/dialogue-new-8x10-instant-film-holder

Cheers,
André

[WilliamV3]

I came upon this thread today. Although a few years old, I thought I might chime in. I came across what appears to be a site selling new holders. I am waiting to hear back from them on price.

https://cameza.shoplineapp.com/products/dialogue-new-8x10-instant-film-holder

Cheers,
André

This is great news! Looks like the holder is available now (November 2020) and the processor is in production.

[ic-racer]

Where to you get the film for the holder?

[Oren Grad]

It's the Impossible / Polaroid Originals / now just plain Polaroid again 8x10. They produce it in batches and it frequently goes out of stock for a while. Currently the Polaroid website says "Please note: Our 8x10 film is currently out of stock, with a new supply expected early 2021. Sign up to stock notifications to be alerted as soon as it’s available."