Polaroid To Abandon Instant Film Products
Polaroid Corp., which introduced its first instant camera in 1948, is officially getting out of the instant film business, announcing today that once it produced enough film to last through 2009 it would shutter its last facility that makes the iconic develop-as-you-watch prints.
Like other companies long successful and entrenched in the film-making business, Polaroid has had its ups and downs in the digital age. It filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2001 as it tried to pursue a digital imaging future and was acquired by a private investment firm called the Petters Group in 2005. They stopped making instant film cameras for consumers a year ago.
As a result of this latest decision, the company is closing two production facilities in Massachusetts and laying off about 150 workers.
Now the company's name and famous logo appears on digital cameras, photo printers, and even LCD TVs. Its inkless digital photo printer introduced at CES has captured some early praise, although the market for home photo printers is uncertain.
From Bloomberg and The Boston Globe.
Related links:
Like other companies long successful and entrenched in the film-making business, Polaroid has had its ups and downs in the digital age. It filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2001 as it tried to pursue a digital imaging future and was acquired by a private investment firm called the Petters Group in 2005. They stopped making instant film cameras for consumers a year ago.As a result of this latest decision, the company is closing two production facilities in Massachusetts and laying off about 150 workers.
Now the company's name and famous logo appears on digital cameras, photo printers, and even LCD TVs. Its inkless digital photo printer introduced at CES has captured some early praise, although the market for home photo printers is uncertain.
From Bloomberg and The Boston Globe.
Gallery: Polaroid Through The Ages
Related links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
nolalday @ Feb 8th 2008 7:07PM
Such a shame...After surviving Katrina the only family photos that survived where the Polaroids..classic and resistant to the end.
Al Schrader @ Feb 9th 2008 6:02AM
Actually, what will replace the Polaroid is something I invented.
A digital camera with a built-in color printer.
Al Schrader
Industrialist
alfredschrader@aol.com
ascatal @ Feb 9th 2008 11:11AM
the end of an era i can remember seeing polaroid cameras as far back as i can remember and even though there will still be polaroid cameras it won't be quite the same and nor do i see anyone stepping up to fill the small and most likely shrinking niche that Polaroid is abondoning, as it is clear to me the advent of digital cameras and at home photo printing has relgated the polaroid technogoly to the tech graveyard right next to the mimmograph machine and the 8 mm home movie cameras
Vicki Crump @ Feb 9th 2008 11:19AM
Man - I can't believe this - What do I do with a Spectra AF Polaroid camera I used in my business for closeups since I won't be able to get film for it? vickitpl
steve d @ Feb 9th 2008 8:58PM
vic crump u better sell it quick on e bay before everyone reads this i personaly mis the real cams this digital stuff stinks
steve d @ Feb 9th 2008 8:58PM
vic crump u better sell it quick on e bay before everyone reads this
i personaly mis the real cams this digital stuff stinks
Ashley @ Feb 9th 2008 10:40PM
Oh no!! I love my Polaroid Instant Camera, is there anyway that I can continue to use it? Where can I find film after its all gone? This is crazy, the digital world is greatly consuming us, I hardly even hold dollars anymore, everything is in bank accounts, electric money! I have to go to the nearest store and buy about 30 packs of film. I wish this was a joke.
Deborah Madison @ Feb 10th 2008 1:32AM
I just used my camera today; I'm going to buy every 600 sun film I can find.
george hand @ Feb 10th 2008 2:32PM
Never quite understod why the new Polaroid didn't make a digital camera that would also produce instant pics. So simple and something that many people -- especially commercial users such as real estate people -- could really use. Could easily enough be piggy-backed on one of their current models and provide the best of two possible worlds. (Similar to the idea of some earlier poster who claimed to have "invented" something similar except that the Polaroid = the "instant printer."
Dan @ Feb 10th 2008 3:20PM
Like all the other Polaroid fans we are going to buy all the film we can. Does anyone know the best way to store the film until we use it?
Thanks!
Kate @ Feb 10th 2008 3:32PM
ASK AT A CAMERA STORE...RE: FILM STORAGE. SOMEONE WILL BE BUYING IT UP TO SELL ON E-BAY, FOR SURE. I TRIED TO GET A NORELCO AIR FILTER..NOW MADE BY PHILIPS, AND GOOGLE REFERRED ME TO A WEBSITE....ALL SOLD OUT; NONE AVAILABLE. THAT WILL HAPPEN WITH FILM, TOO.
Parrish @ Feb 10th 2008 9:02PM
Miss the Polaroid name "as you knew it"; miss the uniqueness of instant photography. Miss the genius of its founder, Dr. Edwin Land, who, while at the helm, was "sooooo good" to his people. Yes, maybe he stayed on too long. Don't miss its broken "promise" to its many "early retirement employees" for continued health insurance coverage. Don't miss its "near the end" leaderhip incompetentcy that caused its FORCED employee stock buying program (that many used as a 401-K)for over a decade, to totally crumble in bankruptcy; no employee who "stayed" got a penny despite every week a payroll deduction! No one blames, or should, the current ownership; they had no hand in this; wish them well; I do. They simply rescued "the Polaroid name". Miss its unique products related to instant film; miss the many scattered manufacturing plants and support buildings dotting the greater Boston area and beyond. Miss the once eye-catching Polaroid building at Tech Square in Cambridge, not far from Dr. Land's modest home. Miss its one time mighty, happy and loyal work force who were so undesrving of what the old regime did to save itself at the end. This was the workforce that would scoff at outside union representatives in their attempt to encourage a union! Banded together, this was a blue collar workforce; there was no problem big or small they could not band-aid or solve independently! And in many instances, that they did! Miss most of all, the Waltham - Route 128 landmark - the brick building with its cafeteria behind the glass. They say the bulldozers will be warming-up in the near future. I'll miss that; I started there.
Jennifer @ Feb 11th 2008 9:13AM
The best way to store film is in the fridge, but even if you buy all the film you can it still has an expiration date and this will affect your pictures
Naptime43 @ Feb 11th 2008 9:14AM
This is crazy! My 13 yr old daughter asked for a polaroid for Christmas, now the instant pic's of all her friends adorn her walls - an idea off a decorating show. Now all the girls are asking parents for them. Polaroid is about to miss a typhoon of income, I suspect this was about to be a very hot teen comodity~~
ElkM @ Feb 11th 2008 9:19AM
For many years we have used polaroid cameras to take pics of Halloween trick-or-treaters when they come to the door. They get their picture along with an assortment of the usual tooth-rotting stuff! The parents love getting the pics of their kids in costume to put on the refrigerator door. I'm just not sure how we will be able to continue this tradition without handing the treaters a polaroid and telling them to hold it by the white edges 'til the picture develops! Even little ones know this technique and get a kick of seeing themselves appear on the paper!
JON WYATT @ Feb 11th 2008 9:27AM
What a shame. For years as I travelled thru third world countries with my Polaroid. I would take pictures of young children and hand them the print. With wonder and amazement they would watch their image materialize before their very eyes. Often the only photograph of themselves they have ever had or seen! I will miss that delight.
larissa @ Feb 11th 2008 9:35AM
i swear by 35 mm and polaroid. :(
mike @ Feb 11th 2008 9:41AM
Put the film in the freezer. I will last indefinetly.
Nikki @ Feb 11th 2008 9:53AM
I am so heart broken by this!!! When all of my children were born, their very 1st pictures were taken with my polaroid. I am a nurse working in Nursing Homes and we use Polaroid cameras to take pictures of our new admissions some of who don't know their own names, and this is an instant for of identification for them. I say everyone that finds this to be a travisty should write to Polaroid and let them know just how much we will miss this product, perhaps enough of us could get them to reconsider!!!
marlin d. @ Feb 11th 2008 9:53AM
Polaroid won a lawsuit against Kodak to make them stop producing instant cameras and film. Maybe this would be a good time for Kodak to buy back the rights to make instant cameras and film. They would have no competition this time around.