Polaroid 'Instant' Film Could Be Back, Thanks to Retro-Loving Chemists
Call us old-fashioned, but there's nothing quite like pulling the ol' photo album down from the bookcase and flipping through the past few decades with friends and family. Sure, perusing pics on Facebook is a surefire way to blow a few hours, but, for our money, physical copies still reign. (This probably explains why that digital photo frame we got for Christmas is still gathering dust in storage.) Attempts to recapture Polaroid's instant imaging with digital tech have failed to gain much traction with photo enthusiasts.
Perhaps this love for the analog explains the drive behind a group of primarily Dutch scientists in Germany that are attempting to revive production of the iconic instant film, which was groundbreaking when it came out in 1972. Because Polaroid dismantled its manufacturing efforts, the new team has to recreate the chemicals that allowed the original Polaroid film to develop in just a few seconds. The company abandoned its instant film products last year, forcing devotees of the camera format to stock up on film as production ended.
Florian Kaps, the Austrian investor spearheading the revival effort, hopes to start production of the insta-film later this year. Regarding the market for an analog technology in an increasingly digital world, Kaps told the New York Times, "If everyone runs in one direction, it creates a niche market in the other."
Although Kaps optimistically estimates that there are over a billion Polaroid cameras worldwide, it remains to be seen whether or not analog film fans will pay hard-earned cash for refills. If you're just looking for the retro look without the cost, you can always approximate that cool Polaroid style with free apps and filters available on the Web. [From: NYTimes]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dawn Laciak at The Collector Detector said 8:13PM on 5-27-2009
We're a seller of vintage and classic cameras (http://TheCollectorDetector.net), and I can tell you that every model of Polaroid we have sells right out the door as soon as we get them in. It seems that they are only gaining in popularity as an art medium, and a whole new generation is interested in them.
We are constantly being asked where our customers can obtain the film, and I have been following Florian Kaps' efforts for the past six months and rooting for him! We'll all be so thrilled to have a steady supplier of films with the original Polaroid recipes (or as close as possible).
Fuji does make some instant films to fit the pack film Polaroid cameras, but they aren't very good for manipulation, which is an art form that has been popular with artists for the last decade or so, but which has been gaining more popularity with each passing year.
Thanks for this article!
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CURVY said 8:35AM on 5-28-2009
I prefer instant and Digital pictures. I like digital, because you get clear pics of big sizes. You snap the pic, transfer them to your computer, edit, and you're done.
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Chuck said 6:40AM on 5-29-2009
We used to use this stuff a lot. But it was usually referred to as the 60 second disappointment.
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Chuck said 6:54AM on 5-29-2009
Personally, it is all my Polaroid pictures that have faded over the years turing into lost memories. Regular Kodak processed photos and digital phtots have lasted much, much longer. It is Retro becuase it was not reliable - Retro does not always mean better! As for Dawn L, she is obviously just slipping in a free advertisement for her business ... Right ... keep selling cameras you can't get film for, under the heading of RETRO!
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AwakeAware said 9:40AM on 5-29-2009
I beg to differ...a lot. Perhaps your picture taking technique left something to be desired and leading you to your "60 second disappointment." Air temperature, humidity,exposing the face of the picture to light too soon after taking it- those contribute to photo quality. Do you live in the arctic or Florida? Too cold and too hot-outside to use this film with consistent results. After shooting a polaroid, you should always turn it face down and even put something over it (like a towel) to block light as it develops. Give it a full 10 minutes before you look at it and you may find a treasure. Composition is all up to you. And as for the longevity of the picture itself- perhaps you aren't old enough to have pictures from the 1970's that now look very green or yellow. Though my old 35mm shots look just fine on archival paper. I took my favorite polaroids and scanned them into my computer because I know they will eventually fade. Isn't it a bit like the old fescoes on church walls? After some time, the sharp crisp colors lose their intensity, but, ahhh, what art work they were for a while.
zbinky84 said 7:56AM on 5-29-2009
I do like digital but would like to see Polaroid come back, that would be great, always liked that, and have a real instant image, not a copy. Hope it comes back.
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norton said 8:59AM on 5-29-2009
The first Polaroid Land Camera caused pandemonium when it went on sale at Jordan Marsh in Boston on November 26, 1948. What is this discussion about in 1972? Color?
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MJ said 9:14AM on 5-29-2009
I think it's great that someone wants to keep this film going. Maybe a lot of people like the newer formats, but as a teacher, I have always loved Polaroids. The company even used to have a program for providing reconditioned cameras at a very low cost for classroom use. You would be surprised at how excited kids (of any age and socioeconomic status) get at the process-- taking a picture, watching it go from "nothing," to seeing themselves in a very short time. Digital cameras don't provide the same effect -- you still have to look at the tiny image first, or take the time to download onto a computer. I've also used my Polaroid while working with inner-city kids in a summer program and on a mission trip to Panama. The niche may be small, but from my experience, the rewards are priceless.
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Martha Jo Dennison said 9:18AM on 5-29-2009
I think it's great that someone wants to keep this film going. Maybe a lot of people like the newer formats, but as a teacher, I have always loved Polaroids. The company even used to have a program for providing reconditioned cameras at a very low cost for classroom use. You would be surprised at how excited kids (of any age and socioeconomic status) get at the process-- taking a picture, watching it go from "nothing," to seeing themselves in a very short time. Digital cameras don't provide the same effect -- you still have to look at the tiny image first, or take the time to download onto a computer. I've also used my Polaroid while working with inner-city kids in a summer program and on a mission trip to Panama. The niche may be small, but from my experience, the rewards are priceless.
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Gail said 9:30AM on 5-29-2009
I have 2 polaroid IZONE camera (the ones that make the tiney photos/and photo stickers. One is also a digital that came out when digital cameras were first coming out. It didn't work the greatest, but was cool to have the 2 in one.
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brad said 9:21AM on 5-29-2009
I'm still not ready for alot of new devices, yet I have a blackberry, but polaroid that rocks!! I like having pictures that wern't alterted after, I like the suprise and family and friends having their real emotions. Not being altered after to get rid of red eye etc, photos are supposed to be spontanios and real feelings so this article is great and I would love to have a polaroid camera again. Even just real film cameras, you never knew what you got until developing the pictures and even blurry who cares they were memories of a good time.
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AwakeAware said 9:30AM on 5-29-2009
Hooray! I adore polaroid cameras and have taken some phenomenal pictures with them over the years. I was so sad when I heard they weren't making film for them anymore and I reluctantly added my camera to the collection I have of old Argus and 4X4 box cameras on a display shelf. The author of the article is so right; there is nothing like a printed picture. I have great memories of kids parties and sending each child home with a polaroid from the party. If they are doing a head count of who will buy polaroid film again- count me in!
AOL- how about doing a survey and asking your reads how many of them would by the film if it were made available??
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cmcatri said 1:26PM on 5-29-2009
I'm with you. I still have two Polaroid cameras and would use them if I could get film for them again. Susie from Ohio
Boo Hoo said 10:26AM on 5-29-2009
I had a polaroid, a hemroid and a Rolls Royd, and they were all a pain in the ass.
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chanel_anjelique said 10:43AM on 5-29-2009
I LOVE polaroid cams!! The pix may not be as great as taking digital pix but its the art of it that i love!
Digital cams are fun for partys and holidays but if you want to make something look artistic i've always found polariod was my fav!
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femyninity said 10:47AM on 5-29-2009
WOW I WOULD LOVE IT IF THEY BROUGHT THE INSTANT CAMERA BACK. I HAD 2 GROWING UP!!!! IT BEATS HAVING TO DOWNLOAD, EDIT AND PRINT A PIC FROM A DIGITAL CAMERA ESPECIALLY IF U WANT TO RIGHT AWAY!! I LIKE DIGITAL PICS TOO BUT THIS IS ALOT FASTER!!! AND WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, THE PIC WILL NO DOUBT BE AS CLEAR AS A DIGITAL PICTURE IS!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!! YAY!!!!!
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kiki0333 said 11:20AM on 5-29-2009
I agree with you AwakeAware!! They were great for taking pictures and sending kids home with a picture. I used them at my kids birthday parties. My sons birthday is around Christmas and we would have "Santa" there to take pictures with the kids. When my daughter turend 13 we took pictures of her and her friends (like a picture booth for the kids) so that they could have the memories with them instantly. I like Polaroid and would buy a new camera and film. I got rid of my Polaroid once I heard they wouldn't be making film anymore but I would get a new one if they were to come back "in style"!!
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susan said 12:27PM on 5-29-2009
I think you should bring back the polaroid camera but with the ability to choose which pictures you wanted to develop. That way there would be no 60 second disappointment.
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char said 12:26PM on 5-29-2009
I have used Polaroid for years. It is great to take pictures of kids and send a picture home with them that day !!!
This grandma is counting on film being available.
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Joaquin said 12:29PM on 5-29-2009
Norton, I believe you may be correct. I know that I had a Polaroid Camera with black and white film back in the 1960's. And my neighbor had one in the 1950's. So it is incorrect that Polaroid film made it's debut in 1972. More likely that they meant to say that Polaroid COLOR film came out in '72.
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