Topic: Getting started with Polaroid

[Lori]

Hello Filmwasters

A photographer in our neighborhood used to take Polaroids of kids on Halloween. See http://www2.jsonline.com/news/site/slideshow.asp?slideshowid=543&SlideOrder=3
Click to the beginning of the slideshow to see a cool old camera (a 360?) in action!

I?m thinking it would be fun to revive this tradition, but I know nothing about the gear, expense, etc.

Can anyone recommend a good starter Polaroid camera and film? At this point I just want to take instant prints but in the future I might get into transfers. And I'd like to be able to plug in a cord (or use the hotshoe and a cord? or a Pocket Wizard-type trigger?) for an off-camera flash if that's possible.

Thanks for any advice!

Lori.

[This-is-damion]

hello,

welcome!


great idea for a project,   easiest polaroid is the 600 series,  (the stuff readily available from shops) this is integral film and fits the new polaroid cameras 9which can be bought off ebay for a couple of pounds) this film isnt very versatile and cant be transferred.

for polaroid transfers you need to use pack film such as 690, 679 etc (confusingly -this isnt referred to as 600 series despite being numbers in the 600's )and for pack film you need either a colourpack 2 or the land cameras like the 240, 260, 340, 360 etc

a great resource is here
http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landdcam.htm

click on pack film for a full list!

or also Jim Skeltons page
http://polaroids.theskeltons.org/



either way great idea and good luck with it!   if you have any other questions fire away

[This-is-damion]

should have mentioned that the old cameras can generally be picked up cheaply  -ebay being your best bet.

the film isnt so cheap!  in fact its quite expensive.   in the UK you can get the colour film, expired for maybe ?5 - ?10 a box,   any maybe ?7.50 - ?10 from some webshops,    new -its ?15 for 10 pictures.

[Skorj]

Plus! Right here, further info on a range of Polaroid systems can be found here:

Filmwasters Articles Section.

If you want to progress into image transfers, I would start with an auto pack-film camera. Maybe a hard case, as they are so cheap. But, a 360 would also be a good start because of the flash capability. Up market a bit more the 180/190/195 make a damn good machine too flash synching for conventional flash units, and taking all the pack films you can eat...

Feel free to ask specific questions! Skorj.

[Lori]

Great, thanks gents -- the links are inspiring.

This guy gave away the Polaroid prints as Halloween "treats" but that might get a bit expensive... especially considering how many kids came by our house this year!

I'll research this out and let you know how it goes.