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:
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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 6)
Kay said 12:06PM on 2-11-2008
Our childrens organization has been putting on Halloween parties "open to the public" so that the kids have a safe and happy Halloween. This was our second year and we have food, games, prizes, music and this year we added Polaroid pictures w/ a Halloween scene. They loved it. People were standing in line and we had to go buy more film!! They got to take their pictures home with them! We even had picture contests! Now what do we do! Disappoint the kids and parents next year!! Hopefully someone will jump on this and come up with an instant camera, I think they jumped out of the boat too soon. In my personal opinion I think they are just coming back alive. I have seen more people with Polaroid Cameras in the last six months than I have in years. I know we just dug ours out!! We hadn't used it in almost three years! It beats taking pictures and leaving the rolls sit behind and never getting developed!!!!
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v2shnider said 11:53AM on 2-11-2008
Yes, it's very sad that Polaroid will cease production of instant film...however, Fujifilm also makes instant film so not all is lost...yet.
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Christine said 12:06PM on 2-11-2008
This link is bad....I clicked on a link to a story about Dr Jarvik and ended up here!!!
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Christie said 10:45PM on 2-19-2008
AS A CELEBRITY, FASHION, AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER, I STILL REFURSE TO SHOOT DIGITAL, and Poloroids are essential to pleasing big clients. If all photogs had clung to good old stable film, we wouldn't be in this horrid position! Everyone thought TV would replace radio, and movies would replace TV, but all three exist cohesively. The masses have simply stopped buying film, and so labs close. It's tragic.
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JIm said 12:14PM on 2-11-2008
Never fear.......Need Polaroid film ?? You will be able to buy it forever from the crooks on Ebay they have a knack for great twice the price deals on what you need .......
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mike said 12:16PM on 2-11-2008
another worthless camera
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mike said 12:16PM on 2-11-2008
at least it lasted longer than the software suported camera
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Jorge Diaz said 12:17PM on 2-11-2008
Sad to see Polaroid film go.I guess that leaves Fuji still making instant film as far as I know.
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George Poahway said 12:18PM on 2-11-2008
What will happen to all the nice HDTV's Poloroid made? I just seen one of my relatives sporting a Poloroid this past Chritmas. What'll we do now?
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Ivan Camp said 2:27PM on 2-11-2008
Where is the Jarvik/Lipitor commercial article. All I get is the Polaroid aricle?
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Suzanne Brucker said 12:44PM on 2-11-2008
I have been scanning old Polaroids into my computer and making 8x10 prints. My family and friends love getting an album from the good old times in the new, larger format. With the computer technology, I can adjust color, lighten prints that were too dark and crop. The finished product is fantastic. Some of the Polaroids are 40 years old but still hold the color. Can't say the same for old Eastman/Kodak prints. They have become too purple or too green to make good prints. The color is just lost with age. I'm keeping my Polaroid Spectra because some innovative company will produce film. There's nothing like instant photos that last forever.
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CeeJai said 12:45PM on 2-11-2008
I, too think it's a shame that Polaroid is dropping instant film. There should be a law requiring manufacturers to carry/ provide support items and parts for five years or ten years after the last production date of that product. The grace period would depend on the service life of the item.
A warning; instant film does not last indefinitely in the freezer. The expiration date matters even when stored in the freezer. The film may last two years or so, but the quality of the photographs may deteriorate. Of course, if you store it in warm or unstable temps, then it will spoil quicker than the expiration date.
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Jewell Davis said 12:48PM on 2-11-2008
Are all you people that far behind on photography. Come on now sence 1948 pictures have taken on a hole new meaning. You can take pictures and see them on the camera instancely not in one minute, and print it in a few seconds. And to tell you the truth Polaroid never did make a good camera. Get yourself a Canon, Nikon, or Sony something in a digital SLR and happy picture taking it goes to a hole new level.
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Tracy said 12:57PM on 2-11-2008
Don't store your film in the freezer it will ruin the chemicals and it will make the photo paper brittle. Store film in a cool dark place a fridge is fine a dark closet or a cool basement. It does still have an experation date so be carful as the film passes it's expiration date the color's become less vivid and begin to change in Hue.
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Roselind Schwartz said 1:07PM on 2-11-2008
I have used Polaroid all over the world and had such joyous reaction to the instant pictures on my first trip to China. Nothing could replace this. Now if I want pictures of my grandchildren I have an instant reminder of the event. Family always promises to send me copies of theirs, but seldom get it or they put it on line and then I have to print if I can. Can't we do something to keep Polaroid alive??
Ros
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cindy said 1:06PM on 2-11-2008
That's really ashame. Those pictures are all over my house, they seem to last forever. Is there any other company that makes this kind of camera. Digital is on the computer unless you print them out somehow. I will stock up on these, but the film won't last forever unfortunately. It goes bad after a certain time and then the photos don't come out. Such a shame.
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Greg said 1:04PM on 2-11-2008
It's just a matter of time before all film cameras and film will be obsolete. Digital photography has taken over. I really do hate to see them do away with the Polaroids though. Even if the pictures weren't that great it was a fun easy to use camera that was durable and always ready to use. Maybe someday it will make it's second debut as a Kodak.
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CeeJai said 1:06PM on 2-11-2008
Yes, Jewell. You can print them in seconds, if you're near a printer.
No one is knocking the digitals, necessarily. I believe we are saying that there is room for a full spectrum of photography equipment. Older technology is not bad or obsolete. It all depends on when and how your use it. Artists use instant cameras for creating their works, while fashion and other consultants/photographers as well as home decorators use them for staging. They are simple to use, there is an established infrastructure supporting them and they are inexpensive enough to not have to worry about them being stolen, lost or broken.
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Audrey said 1:45PM on 2-11-2008
I'm 81 and can't stand all of this digital stuff! I have always loved the whole concept of Instant Picture Development, but sometimes a Polaroid will turn yellow, not always. I also still miss the Kodak Box camera, it took great pictures. Change is NOT always for the better!
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Lee said 1:20PM on 2-11-2008
Al Schrader says:
Actually, what will replace the Polaroid is something I invented.
A digital camera with a built-in color printer.
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BS
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