Author Topic: Last batch of Polaroid films due to expire in october (Read 7407 times)

sapata · « **on:** September 28, 2009, 11:27:54 PM »

Apparently the last batch of Polaroid films are due to expire in october and the company are helding an exhibition at the Atlas Gallery in London.

http://www.atlasgallery.com/atlas.php

gothamtomato · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2009, 11:52:08 PM »

Quote from: sapata on September 28, 2009, 11:27:54 PM

Apparently the last batch of Polaroid films are due to expire in october

A moment of silence, please.

moominsean · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2009, 01:23:58 AM »

there is still 667 that expired in 2010. maybe they are just referring to 600?

Heather · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2009, 07:51:53 AM »

This exhibit too (also London) is coming up
http://www.pumphousegallery.org.uk/exhibitions/upcomingexhibition
These galleries aren't very creative in picking their topics!

All of my polaroid is out of date right now. I've been using 2008 expired 664 film and only have 2 packs of 600 for my sx-70 left and they expired in March.

Skorj · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:50:08 AM »

Sigh.

Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes. · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:59:37 AM »

Is there not Fuji film and some Indian stuff that can be used ?

original_ann · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2009, 02:29:08 PM »

I'm stocked to the gills with polaroid film but my fear now is that the chems will be all dried up by the time I use it! Some as old as '02...

Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes. · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2009, 02:33:33 PM »

Quote from: original_ann on September 29, 2009, 02:29:08 PM

I'm stocked to the gills with polaroid film but my fear now is that the chems will be all dried up by the time I use it! Some as old as '02...

I just threw out a pile of 5x4 polaroid that had gone dry and hard

broke my heart to do it

Heather · « **Reply #8 on:** September 29, 2009, 03:43:34 PM »

Quote from: ken182 on September 29, 2009, 11:59:37 AM

Is there not Fuji film and some Indian stuff that can be used ?

Indian?
What the hey is that?!

No, seriously, not heard anything about Indian film producers besides bollywood!

There is fuji pack film but not for SX-70/Polaroid600 cameras. Fuji have their own integral film but the cameras it goes in are rather crap compared to an SX-70. The Impossible Project is suppose to sort out B&W 600 film for sale maybe by the end of the year or early next year (YAY!).

Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes. · « **Reply #9 on:** September 29, 2009, 04:16:08 PM »

Quote from: Heather on September 29, 2009, 03:43:34 PM

Quote from: ken182 on September 29, 2009, 11:59:37 AM
Is there not Fuji film and some Indian stuff that can be used ?

Indian?
What the hey is that?! No, seriously, not heard anything about Indian film producers besides bollywood!

There is fuji pack film but not for SX-70/Polaroid600 cameras. Fuji have their own integral film but the cameras it goes in are rather crap compared to an SX-70. The Impossible Project is suppose to sort out B&W 600 film for sale maybe by the end of the year or early next year (YAY!).

I am pretty sure my mate Syd would know, he is a mad keen film head, a mad keen polaroid head and a mad keen pushbike rider, and conviniently is currently cycling around India

So we could ask him! and ha can go look, because he has nothing else to do on his trip but look out for stuff for us guys

Have a look at his "the riders" collection and tell me you aren't moved or amazed!

http://www.winercreative.com.au/

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3Tzut&doc_id=5774&v=X

http://www.winercreative.com.au/photoblog/

Francois · « **Reply #10 on:** September 29, 2009, 04:40:09 PM »

Quote from: Heather on September 29, 2009, 03:43:34 PM

Quote from: ken182 on September 29, 2009, 11:59:37 AM
Is there not Fuji film and some Indian stuff that can be used ?
Fuji have their own integral film but the cameras it goes in are rather crap compared to an SX-70.

I have one and would beg to differ. I'll admit they are not the sophisticated reflex SX-70's but are still very much fun to use (or at least my Instax100 is). Good grip, feels good in the hand, good viewfinder. A bit primitive compared to high end Polaroids but that's just part of the appeal. Only thing I miss is the squarish format...

as for using expired 600 film, I'm currently trying to do something decent with a pack that expired in 2000 and which has turned extra brownish $:-\$

original_ann · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2009, 03:26:01 AM »

Ken that just punched me in the gut! I too have about 60 sheets of Type 52 and my concern is that it's all bad... but something tells me to TRY each one before giving up. (Denial perhaps)

Heather · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2009, 08:44:20 AM »

Quote from: Francois on September 29, 2009, 04:40:09 PM

I have one and would beg to differ. I'll admit they are not the sophisticated reflex SX-70's but are still very much fun to use (or at least my Instax100 is). Good grip, feels good in the hand, good viewfinder. A bit primitive compared to high end Polaroids but that's just part of the appeal. Only thing I miss is the squarish format...

as for using expired 600 film, I'm currently trying to do something decent with a pack that expired in 2000 and which has turned extra brownish $:-\$

I have had two instaxs and one has already broken (hence having two) and I've never liked cheap point and shoot style cameras when it's spitting out ?1/shot film and screwing up, I have to say, I am not a happy bunny at that point. I wasn't a fan of polaroid600 plasticy cameras and my friend randomly picked one up for me at a carboot sale, thinking, hey Heather likes cameras! and I had to break the news to him that I do not like those kinds of cameras at all. Cameras where you cannot turn off the onboard flash and covering it up results in messed up exposure totally suck.

I've used some ex.2005 film and everything was coming out sort of white & orangey so I'm trying to think of what I want to do with my last two packs before they become properly expired since they're only 6months expired right *now* Not sure what the hey I was doing in the last 6+months, I think playing too much with LF stuff.

Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes. · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2009, 09:24:11 AM »

I have had a response from my mate Syd - quote:

"I must admit I haven't been looking out for Polaroid film here in India
and so far as I know there is none manufactured here and a google search
for Polaroid film and India just shows the usual questions about "is there
any left". To my knowledge Australia may be the best bet as all the camera
shops in Adelaide still had fresh 600 stock on the shelves when I left 6
weeks ago and apparently the importer had a warehouse full of the stuff
when polaroid stopped making it. Impossible project should have the first
of there films in production next year......"

So thats the best that can be done dammit all.

Skorj · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2009, 09:48:13 AM »

Quote from: original_ann on September 29, 2009, 02:29:08 PM

I'm stocked to the gills with polaroid film but my fear now is that the chems will be all dried up by the time I use it! Some as old as '02...

This film expired in 1979, so do not assume just because something is old, it will no longer function. Look at me for example, nearly 39 years old and still functioning. Sean too, has many examples of old film, including roll-film Polaroid, working well (or reasonably well anyway) many decades past its expiry date.

It depends too of course as to what you consider an acceptable result. Many see my work, and cry...

A small business hotel in the shadow of the tower. Type-665.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:58:52 AM »

Actually, Skj, your work makes a great case for everyone taking all of their very expired Pola film and shipping it to you so that you can do something beautiful with it.

I too am a big fan of old intsnat film and have no issues at all with regularly using 10-20 year old examples with differing results. It's all about expectation and what you're trying to achieve, but there's no question that the stuff can degrade very quickly to the point where you won't get 'perfect' results. But only very rarely is it totally unuseable. I have a pack of Type 51 that produces nothing, nichts, nada, rien and has been doing so for the last 3 years, but every so often I try out a sheet just in case. I'm stupid like that.

Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes. · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2009, 11:36:09 AM »

wrong thread DOH

moominsean · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2009, 03:35:01 PM »

where can i buy some of this "intsnat film"?

Francois · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2009, 04:32:30 PM »

Quote from: Heather on September 30, 2009, 08:44:20 AM

I have had two instaxs and one has already broken (hence having two) and I've never liked cheap point and shoot style cameras when it's spitting out ?1/shot film and screwing up, I have to say, I am not a happy bunny at that point. I wasn't a fan of polaroid600 plasticy cameras and my friend randomly picked one up for me at a carboot sale, thinking, hey Heather likes cameras! and I had to break the news to him that I do not like those kinds of cameras at all. Cameras where you cannot turn off the onboard flash and covering it up results in messed up exposure totally suck.

I've used some ex.2005 film and everything was coming out sort of white & orangey so I'm trying to think of what I want to do with my last two packs before they become properly expired since they're only 6months expired right *now* Not sure what the hey I was doing in the last 6+months, I think playing too much with LF stuff.

I guess I probably got luckier on this front than you... though with my latest pack of film, I think I'm pushing the envelope a bit... Here's an indoor attempt at a decent self portrait:

(note to self: Polaroid inside with expired film and no flash is a big no-no

)

[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]

Francois · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2009, 04:36:25 PM »

Quote from: ed.wenn on September 30, 2009, 10:58:52 AM

I have a pack of Type 51 that produces nothing, nichts, nada, rien and has been doing so for the last 3 years, but every so often I try out a sheet just in case. I'm stupid like that.

I'm wondering about something: has anybody ever tried to re-hydrate dried out goop packs in Polaroid sheet film by using something like an hypodermic needle and a bit of water? I'm really curious to know if it would work...

gothamtomato · « **Reply #20 on:** September 30, 2009, 11:41:48 PM »

Quote from: Francois on September 30, 2009, 04:32:30 PM

Here's an indoor attempt at a decent self portrait:

I think you look great.

edthened · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2009, 12:25:40 AM »

Quote from: Francois on September 30, 2009, 04:32:30 PM

... Here's an indoor attempt at a decent self portrait:

Och a think yoo shooda brushed yer haer a bittie !!!

original_ann · « **Reply #22 on:** October 01, 2009, 02:36:37 AM »

Whooooo do y'know that just received a package from Germany today packed with some polaroid lovelies? That's RIGHT - me.

- 4 Twinpacks of 664 (iso100, exp Jul2009)
- 4 singles 125i Studio Silk (exp Mar2008)
- 3 Viva (iso125, exp Jul2008)

moominsean · « **Reply #23 on:** October 01, 2009, 05:25:22 AM »

fyi, there is an ebayer with tons of square viva on ebay for $10 a pack...

original_ann · « **Reply #24 on:** October 01, 2009, 12:46:44 PM »

Let me go check that out - thanks moominsean!

Francois · « **Reply #25 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:30:58 PM »

Quote from: gothamtomato on September 30, 2009, 11:41:48 PM

I think you look great.

Though the brown skin tone it gives me looks pretty strange to my eye since I usually reproduce in the same color range as white cheese

Quote from: edthened on October 01, 2009, 12:25:40 AM

Och a think yoo shooda brushed yer haer a bittie !!!

Well... I did brush my hair for the picture. I simply had it covered with a nice felt hat...
And don't worry Ed, I don't have a bowling ball Afro or a mullet hidden under the hat

Quote from: original_ann on October 01, 2009, 02:36:37 AM

Whooooo do y'know that just received a package from Germany today packed with some polaroid lovelies? That's RIGHT - me.

- 4 Twinpacks of 664 (iso100, exp Jul2009)
- 4 singles 125i Studio Silk (exp Mar2008)
- 3 Viva (iso125, exp Jul2008)

Way to go Ann! It's always at times like this that you like the mailman... Why can't the utility companies send free packs of film to all their clients, It would make paying the bills a lot nicer $:-\$

sapata · « **Reply #26 on:** October 01, 2009, 07:05:37 PM »

Quote from: Francois on September 30, 2009, 04:36:25 PM

Quote from: ed.wenn on September 30, 2009, 10:58:52 AM
I have a pack of Type 51 that produces nothing, nichts, nada, rien and has been doing so for the last 3 years, but every so often I try out a sheet just in case. I'm stupid like that.

I'm wondering about something: has anybody ever tried to re-hydrate dried out goop packs in Polaroid sheet film by using something like an hypodermic needle and a bit of water? I'm really curious to know if it would work...

That really sounds a good idea francois...!