Author Topic: Polaroid Death Watch (Read 8492 times)

kuru · « **on:** February 08, 2008, 01:37:10 PM »

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/08/polaroid_shutting_2_mass_facilities_laying_off_150/

patchyfogsteph · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2008, 02:38:32 PM »

No!! I just bought two Polaroid cameras this week! Argh!!

kuru · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2008, 02:44:43 PM »

Quote from: patchyfogsteph on February 08, 2008, 02:38:32 PM

No!! I just bought two Polaroid cameras this week! Argh!!

Here is hoping someone licenses the technology. I'd miss shooting with my 690 and my sx70s.

moominsean · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2008, 02:58:36 PM »

that ron glaz guy sounds like an asshole.

http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=PRF000141

but i think analysts are about the most useless people on earth. analyst = pr rep.

gothamtomato · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2008, 03:09:35 PM »

Quote from: moominsean on February 08, 2008, 02:58:36 PM

that ron glaz guy sounds like an asshole.

Yes, he does. Why is it about time? How is it hurting him if Polaroid goes on with their film business?

What is it with these digital assholes? It's like they can't just enjoy shooting digital; they have to prosthletize, and continually try to convince every single person on the planet that they are wrong, wrong, wrong if they are shooting film; that film is no good, digital is the only way, etc. I think they have self-esteem issues and cannot feel complete or legitimate unless everyone else jumps on their little bandwagon. It's like a cult.

They're pathetic.

seekingfocus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2008, 03:27:43 PM »

That's a sad, sad article...

So, am I correct in understanding that they will no longer manufacture ANY film? Not even the consumer integral films... not even 669... not even... oh hell.

Really?

I guess I just never believed it would finally happen. Or at least so bloody soon! Time to start stocking up...

What are the chances that fuji will pick up the tab and continue to manufacture some of those films... 665 and 55 come to mind, as well as a perhaps a peel apart film suitable for transfers (as far as I know none of the fuji films are as of yet).

Gosh, I don't even know what to think about all this. Sad, sad, sad.

-Jason

beck · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2008, 03:38:10 PM »

We can only hope, as Kevin mentions, somebody picking up the pieces and continues to make instant film. Fuji? Even Lomo? I think the SX Blend was a promising step in the right direction...but was it and/or is it enough? It is like when the music CD was introduced and vinyl was officially dead before a cd hit the shelf. Well, for the most part, it did die...only because those so called analysts made us believe so. And here we are today and vinyl has indeed made a comeback, are being pressed at this very moment and selling again. Surly someone will smell a goldmine and, cough...beg the Polaroid Co. for their recipe. We can only hope. I'm going to Walmart to buy every blessed pack of Spectra. I can envision a knock off brand of instant film...ugh.

rolo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2008, 03:49:27 PM »

I knew this would happen but I didn't expect it so precipitously. My stomach aches.

Here's hoping Fuji snaps up the entire line. Their FP films are gorgeous and obviously they've got the technology for integral film (Instax). Maybe with photo people rather than mergers and acquisitions jerks on the production line we'll actually see the return of some varieties (665? Time-Zero?) rather than the death of the entire process.

"It's about time"? Yeah, to shut out a lot of creative people and cut off the history of a unique and distinctive photographic process. I hope that a**hole burns his fingers on caustic goop.

formica · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:07:06 PM »

Quote from: rolo on February 08, 2008, 03:49:27 PM

"It's about time"? Yeah, to shut out a lot of creative people and cut off the history of a unique and distinctive photographic process. I hope that a**hole burns his fingers on caustic goop.

i think you are being much too kind. this kind of asshole deserves a special place in hell. i feared this day may come, but not so quick. the worse part is i see an upswing in people using polaroid(i'm a living example of this actually). but for some people if the profits aren't mega-huge then what's the point? it's a sad sad sad way of looking at things. i really hope someone steps in and manufactures it and does it without costing an arm and a leg to buy(ie blend).

william

beck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:14:54 PM »

I would not mind at all living without that arm and leg for the beloved 667 and would make a purchase at any cost. In the mean time, stock up...

traskblueribbon · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:16:55 PM »

My stomach is in knots. mostly for the fear of my kit becoming nick knacks instead of functional pieces of my photographic arsenal; and the loss of my favorite form of the photographic process.

... I knew it was coming, I hoped it wouldn't, And I just thought with the internet rummer mill and the echo chamber created by all those great polaroid shooters out there we would have a few more years. but you know, when the business analyses starts flying that something wicked this way comes.

I don't want to be to melodramatic but this is truly horrible. Instant films texture, tonal range, color space, and other unique qualities are unattainable through other processes, this is truly the death of a large part of my photographic journey, and the end of one the worlds great photographic company's, and the loss of good jobs for those who will truly feel the burden of the loss of Polaroid film.

rolo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:34:42 PM »

I've got a good friend (www.sarahsmall.com) who has been shooting a Polaroid a day of herself for YEARS. Shooting this lifetime project digitally is not an option. She's out the door to buy every last pack of 600 film she can find.

And so am I.

seekingfocus · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:50:05 PM »

Gosh the photo of her apartment is great... http://www.sarahsmall.com/biography/

Ten years, eh? Very impressive.

-Jason

moominsean · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2008, 06:22:36 PM »

actually looks like she is using spectra.

seekingfocus · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2008, 12:18:04 AM »

Been think about this all day long... keeps popping back in my head and I still just can't believe it.

Also, happened to come back across a box (by chance) of Polaroids that made it through the storm (Katrina). Not much else did, but the integrals, a few 669s and random others. My negatives did (sorta), but not much else... Digital? Nope. Hard drives? Nope. Inkjets? Nope...

POLAROIDS.

The few photos that remain from my childhood are old cruddy Polaroids.

Anyway, just thinking...

-Jason

Tammy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2008, 01:14:58 AM »

In trying to be optimistic, I hope that the technology can be transfered and some of the films will live on.

Otherwise, I am very disappointed.

That's all I guess I should say about that.

moominsean · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2008, 03:32:49 PM »

people are already starting to overpay on ebay...while polaroid.com still lists thousands in stock.

Wally · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2008, 04:08:23 PM »

Quote from: moominsean on February 09, 2008, 03:32:49 PM

people are already starting to overpay on ebay...while polaroid.com still lists thousands in stock.

B&H, Adorama, and Freestyle all list lots of film in stock as well. I have been wanting to do a personal project with my old Polaroid 600 for a long time now but have never done it. This will give me the kick in the ass to do it. I am thinking buy 5 20 packs and make a portfolio of 100 shots where each shot has to really count as once those are gone they are gone

outofcontxt · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2008, 05:34:56 PM »

Hopefully, Fuji or some other concern will take Polaroid's technology and revive it, just like Harman did with Ilford. Not holding my breath, tho.

I'm really saddened by this whole "firesale" attitude on the part of the new management at Polaroid. While it won't affect me, it will affect a lot of people whose work I truly admire such as Polly Chandler whose work totally relies on 55 film , just to name one.

rolo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2008, 06:32:02 PM »

Quote from: moominsean on February 08, 2008, 06:22:36 PM

actually looks like she is using spectra.

She's used a variety of cameras. She was using a crappy 600 "Classic" recently until I got her an SLR 680. She had never seen one before and absolutely flipped.

Francois · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2008, 10:22:11 PM »

I have a boxful of unused cameras... their film gets discontinued before I even can scrounge up enough money to buy the film for them

Fintan · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2008, 12:17:30 AM »

this news is very depressing, i've always feared this day would come but not this soon.

i love this advert;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7k2uwJmwxo

moominsean · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2008, 01:53:19 AM »

polaroids still exist in the future, so everything is going to be okay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ofl_UP3apM

and check this out. talk about a lot of useless machinery soon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhxfl_Vx-cQ

what the heck is that thing at 20 seconds between the rollfilm cameras and the pinholes? looks like a giant diana.

Skorj · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:54:37 AM »

Regardless of what Polaroid will do, Fuji Film will still be making 100C, 100B, 400B and 3000B for a few more days yet...

traskblueribbon · « **Reply #24 on:** February 10, 2008, 07:28:15 AM »

yes we will still have the peel-apart... I'm gonna miss that 669 blue shift...

moominsean · « **Reply #25 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:05:22 PM »

looks like that zink isn't so original, either:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/digital-cameras/fujifilm-pivi-mp+300-mini-printer-present+day-polaroid-217336.php

seekingfocus · « **Reply #26 on:** February 10, 2008, 07:06:01 PM »

Quote from: traskblueribbon on February 10, 2008, 07:28:15 AM

yes we will still have the peel-apart... I'm gonna miss that 669 blue shift...

Yeah and as mentioned before the Fuji films do not transfer! What about transfers? Just because the format and compatibility are the same does not mean they are adequate replacements... and that goes for quite a few of the other films in the Polaroid line. They will like not no be replaced as Fuji already has such "comparable" films. Even though the actual propertied of said films are not the same!

-Jason

Tammy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 10, 2008, 08:43:10 PM »

Yeah, transfers and lifts. This is what is desired, and the only reason I use the Polaroid color films at all. Type 59 is impossible to find anyway, and type 79 is ok, but not the same. And type 55. I am no Polly Chandler, but I do almost all my 4c5 portrait stuff for my personal self on type55. It's the most beautiful film.

So, optimism is ok, but these films and the integral stuff, are the real works of Polaroid. I'd love to see that carried onward somehow.

Francois · « **Reply #28 on:** February 11, 2008, 06:39:26 PM »

I just found this on the Polaroid website
Polaroid Leadership change

It explains everything in a way...
The new CEO comes from Best Buy and the man in charge of sales comes from Electrolux!

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #29 on:** February 11, 2008, 08:38:50 PM »

...this kind of makes no sense at all, but since Harman (Ilford) seem intent on being the only game in town when the dust settles, it would be cool if they licenced the Pola film types that Fuji aren't currently covering.

Of course it would be just as cool if Fuji did it themselves, esp 665 and 55.

Let's be positive/negative.......sorry, couldn't resist the pun.

Francois · « **Reply #30 on:** February 11, 2008, 10:22:30 PM »

Well, follow my reasoning:

Best Buy sells TV's, appliances and computers
Electrolux makes appliances in Europe and vacuum cleaners in America

These people obviously know a lot about appliances and very little about photography other than a camera is a "unit" of merchandise that needs to be sold.

Polaroid is launching into the LCD television business, something which is sold by Best Buy.
Best Buy also sells appliances and vacuum cleaners... but no film products.

I might be wrong but it looks like it's how things work for now...

astrobeck · « **Reply #31 on:** February 11, 2008, 11:04:57 PM »

and like socks in the dryer.....all lost!

gothamtomato · « **Reply #32 on:** February 11, 2008, 11:19:32 PM »

Yes, when Polaroid was bought out by the consumer electronics company, all they really wanted was the Polaroid name.

It is a trusted American brand, and they always had the plan to use it for electronics products.

formica · « **Reply #33 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:21:44 AM »

Quote from: seekingfocus on February 10, 2008, 07:06:01 PM

Quote from: traskblueribbon on February 10, 2008, 07:28:15 AM
yes we will still have the peel-apart... I'm gonna miss that 669 blue shift...
Yeah and as mentioned before the Fuji films do not transfer! What about transfers?

-Jason

i just read in this thread on flickr that the fuji films do transfer, but you have to do them in darkness for some reason. i guess that limits doing them in the field(or makes them a little more difficult to do in the field). apparently you can lift the image, but it won't stick unless you glue it down...

william

corduroysurf · « **Reply #34 on:** February 16, 2008, 08:08:54 AM »

a sad sad day ...

Artsyken · « **Reply #35 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:48:47 AM »

I wonder how much would it cost to start making our film?

Wally · « **Reply #36 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:26:08 AM »

FWIW

Sams Club had 4 packs of 600 today for $35. They had a BUNCH of them too.

patchyfogsteph · « **Reply #37 on:** February 18, 2008, 03:32:23 PM »

I mentioned this in the other Polaroid thread, but Costco has five packs for $45.

ndroo · « **Reply #38 on:** March 11, 2008, 01:30:14 PM »

Just so sad

I bought my 2 cams some months back and now ...

Fuji doesn't wanna do it ...

and I pray someone will continue doing it but NOT LOMOGRAPHY

Author Topic: Polaroid Death Watch (Read 8492 times)

astrobeck

corduroysurf