Author Topic: Polaroid 665 film Problem (Read 5662 times)

Mojave · « **on:** January 26, 2011, 03:59:53 PM »

I bought some of this film off ebay and every pack was defective. The film would not pull out of the pack. I have not had this issue with any polaroid film before. Tried it in 3 different cams and each pack did the same thing. When I pulled the packs apart, I found that the negatives were fused together at the end where the negative is attached to some paper. I am right now trying to negotiate with the seller for some type of refund but I dont hold out much hope for that since the film was sold as is.

My question here is has anybody else experienced this kind of problem with peel apart film? There was nothing wrong with the emulsion in any of the packs. None of the emulsion packs had burst or oozed or leaked or anything and all the packs were perfectly sealed as far as I could tell. It was like the glue that held the paper to the negative melted and fused them all together. Im thinking only extreme heat could do that but Im wondering what anybody here thought.

Thanks all

johann · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2011, 04:17:57 PM »

Yep, I had a similar situation with some really old 669. Couldn't pull out any of the polas out after i lost the paper lead each time.

I'm sorry this happened to you on such precious film. I hope you get something back.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2011, 04:27:42 PM »

Yes, I had the same problem a few years back - wasted a whole pack.

Mojave · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2011, 04:39:43 PM »

Im sorry you both had that experience too.

This film wasnt that old. Expired only in 07. Do you know if heat causes this, or is it something else maybe, like some kind of moisture getting into the pack?

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2011, 04:53:14 PM »

Mine just seemed as if it had dried out and stuck everything together.

Mojave · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2011, 05:31:07 PM »

So then just drying out can cause it. Well that's a bummer. I think thats the last batch of that film I ever buy. Its just too risky. I lost my shirt on that purchase and its not something I'll likely forget for some time.

sapata · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2011, 06:46:57 PM »

Sorry to hear that...

That hapenned to me as well, fortunately at the time poeple were not treating the film as if it was gold !

Mojave · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2011, 07:11:27 PM »

I sure wish the folks at that Project 55 are successful and can start making that film. I keep reading that Polaroid wasnt even losing money on their film and that just killed it off. I just dont get it.

astrobeck · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2011, 07:44:35 PM »

So sorry to hear this, that is a bummer especially when you have high hopes of making some cool photos with the film.

I've had that happen too though... The Polaroids looked like nuclear waste!

Mojave · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2011, 07:55:08 PM »

Nuclear waste?!! Oh my, that must have been interesting.

Yeah, its a real bummer. I think I am more upset about not seeing any shots than I am about losing the money. And it just seems odd that all 3 packs had the same problem. I guess Im feeling like he didnt tell the whole truth about what this film has gone though. Im thinking it got left in a hot car or something. The paper that is attached to the negative material is attached by glue of some sort and I know that glue can melt in extreme heat and I cant help but think that the seller left all of this film in a car or something and that why they all had the same problem. An 07 expiration date isnt that old so I should think that at least one of those packs would have functioned properly even if the emulsion didnt spread evenly.

Oh well, lesson learned. Fuji film for me from now on. Speaking of which, I see Adorama is now selling the 3000b45. I heard they were going to start selling it hear in the US but when I looked for it, I couldnt find it and that was just a few weeks ago, but I just saw it there this afternoon as I was getting some Fuji film to help lessen the pain for losing all that 665 film.

Skorj · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2011, 10:40:19 AM »

Quote from: Mojave on January 26, 2011, 07:55:08 PM

And it just seems odd that all 3 packs had the same problem. I guess Im feeling like he didnt tell the whole truth about what this film has gone though. Im thinking it got left in a hot car or something.

This is a common occurrence for expired pack-film I am afraid. The seller might not have been aware, as I doubt a mere day (or two) in a car would have this effect. This is a long-term mis-storage problem. Do not be disheartened though, as old 665 can be a treat!

I've used some from the early 1970s with no problems:

and from the 1980s too:

But as they say, take a risk, get a reward. I just spent \10,000 on an unopened box of 1999 expired Type-667 and every pack was dry. シヨガナイ　as they say. Skj.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2011, 10:56:55 AM »

Quote from: Skorj on January 27, 2011, 10:40:19 AM

But as they say, take a risk, get a reward. I just spent \10,000 on an unopened box of 1999 expired Type-667 and every pack was dry. シヨガナイ　as they say. Skj.

Skorj, please watch your language. This forum is of delicate mental disposition.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:07:18 AM »

I love those two, Skorj

Skorj · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:37:48 AM »

Quote from: Phil Bebbington on January 27, 2011, 11:07:18 AM

I love those two, Skorj

ありがとうございます!

Mojave · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2011, 02:02:15 PM »

Awesome shots Skorj! Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you for the words of advice. The seller swore the film was stored in a fridge since purchase which made it sound like it was stored properly as all people say that storage in a fridge is best, but I dont know if it is. He lives in Santa Monica and it gets very humid there though I doubt that can matter since the film is encased in foil. Who knows. He says he is thinking over what to do. We'll see what he does. I really want to try that film out very much so Im hoping he will at least send me a pack.

There is a person selling a whole case of it on eBar right now. 50 packs for a starting bid of somewhere around 1800 US.

gregor · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2011, 02:07:40 PM »

I seem to have that issue about 1 out of every 5 packs. It's unusual however, that 3 packs (even from the same source) would have the same issue. Usually some type of packaging damage is the cause. Even the smallest tear, the size of a pinhole, can dry the emulsion over time.

It's worth asking the seller for replacement packs. While it's unusual for that to happen, I've had success asking.

Everyone here will have a different opinion, but I don't store mine in the refrigerator. I store mine in a cool closet in the pantry and turning it over every 30 days.

Mojave · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2011, 02:11:24 PM »

Thank you very much Gregor! I do hope he will replace the film, at least one pack, because I really want to try it. I was prepared to lose some of it, but all of it is a bit much for me to take.

So if I do get some eventually, I think I will store it in closet in the winter months and in the fridge in the summer, if it lasts that long.

gregor · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2011, 02:16:15 PM »

I was just going to add that if you do store it in the refrigerator wait at least 2 hours (if not 4) for the film to warm up before shooting...

Also keep in mind that most of the ebay sellers don't know a thing about the film and saying it was refrigerated is de rigueur for ebay speak.... They just know they have stumbled on a gold mine ;-)

Mojave · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:00:04 PM »

This guy says he shoots the film in his own land cam, a 190 or something like that but I cant remember the exact number.

And even though I said I wasnt going to buy this film again, I am still stalking ebay for some. Could have had two boxes for less than 50 US yesterday but decided against it. Next time I think. I swear, I am seriously tempted by that box of 50 packs, but I cant imagine buying that and having every single box come out bad, or even half, and being out so much money. Kinda makes me feel sick.

gregor · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:17:18 PM »

IMHO if the film is critical to a project or body of work you're shooting, it's a necessity. If not, it's an expensive novelty.

You can always tell the guy, "I'd rather work out some type of partial refund or partial replacement than give a negative rating..." Ebay sellers cringe at the word negative!

Mojave · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:41:56 PM »

I agree Gregor, and I can give him good feedback but I cant give the product good feedback. How can I, it didnt work at all. But if he gave me a pack that did work than I can give feedback on that instead, so yeah, I hope he does give me a pack of film.

I want to try this film for portraits with my Crown. In my mind it would make awesome portraits with all the artifacts Im sure I'd see, but I wont know for sure until I try it. It might turn out looking a lot like Fuji b&w instant and if that is the case, I would much rather buy the fuji because it is sooooo much cheaper. I can 4 packs of Fuji for the price of one pack of 665, and thats for a cheap pack of 665. But, I think the 665 will have a specific look with artifacts that I wont see with the Fuji so yeah, I really want to try it.

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:52:23 PM »

Mojave..sorry this happened to you...I have had similair issues in the past..I think gregor had the perfect response for your seller...I have been doing ebay for about 12 years and have 100% so I know I would feel frightfully bad if someone wasn't happy with something I sold..on a lighter note..I sent the 545i back to you yesterday! hope it gets there quickly!

Mojave · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:54:43 PM »

Oh, thank you so much Diane! I think I might have to look for type 55 then. Yay!!! Thank you so much!!!

gregor · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:56:32 PM »

Well, as you have seen with my work, the artifacts can give a collodion type look without mucking about with a lot of collodion chemistry, and Skorj has a unique style as well from his handling of the film.

You may be aware of it already, but if you're using a 405 back on a Graflex, you'll need the ground glass mask that shows the frame lines for polaroid pack film. If you don't have that mask, shoot a couple of boxes of standard fuji pack film (the 3.5 x 4.25 not 4x5) to gauge how you compose your shots.

As for ebay ratings, let's take that offline. As a buyer you're entitled to some type of satisfaction unless the posting was clearly stated "As is." Feel free to email me...

Mojave · « **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2011, 04:04:44 PM »

Thank you so much Gregor, and Skorj's examples are exactly the reason I want to try this film so badly. I really love shooting portraits and I think this film would be amazing for portraits.

I marked the ground glass for the smaller images and somehow managed to get it right after a single shot. Got lucky with that one. I shot indoors in a controlled environment to be sure I could mark it off properly. I know its of a toy, but I really like the shot. This is on Fuji 100c.

Author Topic: Polaroid 665 film Problem (Read 5662 times)

astrobeck