Passing of an era for sure. I can't imagine what the average EE new grads are doing in the labs these days, but in my days, I spent countless hours holding a Polaroid lab camera up against the CRT of a Textronix oscilloscope. I was always able to capture the best image of a trace. I can't believe this is less than ten years ago that i"m talking about.
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Polaroid Quitting
- Thread starter Ted Quanrud
- Start date
JulesJ
Forum Pro
As I said before, splitting hairs.
Jules
Why can't you blow bubbles with chewing gum?
Jules
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Why can't you blow bubbles with chewing gum?
JulesJ
Forum Pro
See here....
http://www.polaroid.com/studio/20x24/index.html
Jules
Why can't you blow bubbles with chewing gum?
http://www.polaroid.com/studio/20x24/index.html
Jules
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Why can't you blow bubbles with chewing gum?
Ed_S
Veteran Member
Marty,
Good points. As I said, I think the price point along with camera IQ were the Achilles heel. Polaroid did make some arguably professional cameras along the way, but concentrated on snapshot cameras. While the technology was and is remarkable, the small aperture fixed lenses were a major limitation for their own cameras. Most of us couldn't justify anteing up for a professional medium or large format camera with a Polaroid back and who would carry such a monster around for general shooting. Polaroid bought into what the late Peter Wensberg (formerly of Polaroid) claimed Kodak had done when the two companies were in mortal combat over instant photography, namely claiming these were party or snapshot cameras. And through its corporate travails never were able or never chose to produce a combination of a high quality photographic instrument that also produced affordable prints. IMHO.
Regards,
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Ed_S
http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires
Good points. As I said, I think the price point along with camera IQ were the Achilles heel. Polaroid did make some arguably professional cameras along the way, but concentrated on snapshot cameras. While the technology was and is remarkable, the small aperture fixed lenses were a major limitation for their own cameras. Most of us couldn't justify anteing up for a professional medium or large format camera with a Polaroid back and who would carry such a monster around for general shooting. Polaroid bought into what the late Peter Wensberg (formerly of Polaroid) claimed Kodak had done when the two companies were in mortal combat over instant photography, namely claiming these were party or snapshot cameras. And through its corporate travails never were able or never chose to produce a combination of a high quality photographic instrument that also produced affordable prints. IMHO.
Regards,
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Ed_S
http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires
Ed_S
Veteran Member
palikj
When I got my first digital scanner - before my first digital camera - I saw an obvious (for me) opportunity to shoot a medium/large format image with a high end Polaroid and digitize selected photos later for decent copies and/or (depending upon the scan quality) modest enlargements as well as possible transmission.
When I contacted Polaroid (who then was doing little or no consumer advertising) and asked why they weren't pushing this, I got a politely dismissive reply to the effect that "we've already done that". Really? Where? Part of Polaroid's demise as has been noted elsewhere on this thread I think is the slash and burn management they had which cut not only costs but products and marketing. At some point even marginally profitable products can amortize fixed expenses.
Regards,
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Ed_S
http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires
John W Peterson
Senior Member
We used specialized polaroid cameras (?M-4) to photograph the results of gel electrophoresis. Crisp Clean B&W filled the need entirely. Polaroid made specialty film for such applications. They really knew their market quite well ... back then...
John W Peterson
Senior Member
Fujifilm has made a small number of instant peel apart films, including larger formats. I've never used their instant films but may now need to look seriously at them. I see that B&H has their materials in stock.
Will Fuji keep making this product or will they quit ?
Can Fuji peel aparts also be used for image transfer techniques ?
Does anyone have experience with their materials ?
Will Fuji keep making this product or will they quit ?
Can Fuji peel aparts also be used for image transfer techniques ?
Does anyone have experience with their materials ?
raphaeldinge
Forum Enthusiast
If I understand well the film going into the polaroid will also be discontinued ?
If I understood well then do someone knows if there will be a replacement ?
I have a pola back, and I don't see how to not use it with my film back while tuning my strobes...
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http://www.dingesklenarikova.com
If I understood well then do someone knows if there will be a replacement ?
I have a pola back, and I don't see how to not use it with my film back while tuning my strobes...
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http://www.dingesklenarikova.com
Savas Kyprianides
Senior Member
Hence, Canon's maligned direct print button.
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5D and G9
Happy together.
My day job: http://www.techsign.com
RJackson
Leading Member
I thought Fuji had already discontinued their instant films. Maybe I'm mistaken. Polaroid has never had nearly the level of quality control that Fuji has. It would be really cool if Fuji picked up the licensing and started making Type 55. It would be the first time in history that you could buy Pan-X and expect consistent results. ;-)
John W Peterson
Senior Member
This is the product that I am referring to:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/instant_photo/pdf/fp-c_specification.pdf
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/instant_photo/pdf/fp-100b_datasheet.pdf
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/instant_photo/pdf/fp-c_specification.pdf
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/instant_photo/pdf/fp-100b_datasheet.pdf
jeff51
Forum Enthusiast
I shut down my wet darkroom years ago, but I like playing with large format.
Polaroid let me get my large format fix in when I needed it.
Though I only shoot, or I guess I should say shot, a few boxes of 8x10 a year, I really like the soft creamy colors of 809. Mixing color and B&W paper/developer made for interesting and not repeatable results.
The big Polaroid prints are really going to jump in price for collectors if no one picks up the processing to keep the 20x24 and larger cameras going.
When Dr. Land walked out on the stage for the introduction of the instant camera, the demo was done with a 5 foot version (if I remember the article I read years ago correctly). It was magic back then.
Let’s not forget that Dr. Land will live on as long as photographers use polarizer filters on their lenses - though most will never know he’s the man produced the first usable ones in the 1930’s.
Polaroid let me get my large format fix in when I needed it.
Though I only shoot, or I guess I should say shot, a few boxes of 8x10 a year, I really like the soft creamy colors of 809. Mixing color and B&W paper/developer made for interesting and not repeatable results.
The big Polaroid prints are really going to jump in price for collectors if no one picks up the processing to keep the 20x24 and larger cameras going.
When Dr. Land walked out on the stage for the introduction of the instant camera, the demo was done with a 5 foot version (if I remember the article I read years ago correctly). It was magic back then.
Let’s not forget that Dr. Land will live on as long as photographers use polarizer filters on their lenses - though most will never know he’s the man produced the first usable ones in the 1930’s.
The Customer
Leading Member
Then the new Canons have built-in printers now? I didn't know that, but thanks for the tip -- I'll have to check them out (guess I really SHOULD start reading those reviews!).
Cust.
John W Peterson
Senior Member
Yesterday on NPR (radio) I was pleased to hear a discussion with Bernd Nobel, of the International Center for photography, related to the demise of polaroid film. The discussion covered the social phenomenon of polaroid, the polaroid process, the unique polaroid colors, and creative effects including image transfer.
Nobel speculated that the hue and cry from the creative community related to the loss of polaroid, originates at least partly to the fact that a polaroid image (unlike most of what we do) is a unique, "one of a kind" image giving at at least potentially, greater inherent value.
It appears that the discussion in other photographic circles has been significantly greater then that on DPreview, as might perhaps be expected based on the digital focus of this forum.
I also note that the selling price of quality polaroid equipment on ebay, appears to have increased somewhat substantially in the last week. It may be that a number of photographers will put in some effort over the next year, to rediscovering the polaroid process.
Nobel speculated that the hue and cry from the creative community related to the loss of polaroid, originates at least partly to the fact that a polaroid image (unlike most of what we do) is a unique, "one of a kind" image giving at at least potentially, greater inherent value.
It appears that the discussion in other photographic circles has been significantly greater then that on DPreview, as might perhaps be expected based on the digital focus of this forum.
I also note that the selling price of quality polaroid equipment on ebay, appears to have increased somewhat substantially in the last week. It may be that a number of photographers will put in some effort over the next year, to rediscovering the polaroid process.
I suspect that is due to collectors, not photographers.
The "Quality" Polaroid Cameras, no matter how nice they are, are worthless to photographers without film being available. Without film, cameras are just curiosity pieces that are collected for the sheer love of collecting.
My own collection includes several nice Polaroids.
One of the real advantages of digital photography is you never need any more supplies, as long as you can recharge a battery and reuse a memory card.
But film photography depends on film, paper and chemicals, and when any one of those three ceases to be made, then the cameras become useless for their their intended purpose.
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Marty
Panasonic FZ7, FZ20, FZ30, LX2
Olympus C4000, C7000
John W Peterson
Senior Member
You may be right about the collecting issue.
For my part - I have purchased / won on ebay a 600SE, as well as a daylab with the thought that I would over the next year, while there is still time, enjoy making some polaroid prints and transfers.
I have yet to find out about the fate of the Fuji instant films - will they be continued or phased out, and wether they can be used for image transfers.
When film is no longer available, the camera will join my collection.
Thirty years from now, perhaps people will say; "How did they get that effect ? It's really unique." They will be right. Unique will be an understatement.
j. peterson
For my part - I have purchased / won on ebay a 600SE, as well as a daylab with the thought that I would over the next year, while there is still time, enjoy making some polaroid prints and transfers.
I have yet to find out about the fate of the Fuji instant films - will they be continued or phased out, and wether they can be used for image transfers.
When film is no longer available, the camera will join my collection.
Thirty years from now, perhaps people will say; "How did they get that effect ? It's really unique." They will be right. Unique will be an understatement.
j. peterson
Joseph S Wisniewski
Forum Pro
They save the waveform to a floppy disc. Or, if their school has really cool newer scopes, the scope is on the school network, and they just transfer the files to their laptops.
And sometimes, the "scope" is a "scope card" plugged into a bench PC, which makes moving the files around even easier.
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Normally, a signature this small can't open its own jumpgate.
Ciao! Joseph
http://www.swissarmyfork.com
And yet no matter how great the sampling quality, the device will be limited to the tonal range of earbuds and the dynamic range of a battery powered amplifier. Additionally, the listening environment while using an ipod is often around background noise. In order to sound the best on such a device, the mix needs to be compressed into a smaller dynamic range.
No, he did not.
http://www.historybuff.com/library/refbarnum.html
A lot of good music was never brought into the digital age. You can also get a box of classical records for around $5.
Cars are for the most part loud machines. You become adjusted to it, but it is still there. Since there is a threshold for pain at the loud end of volumes, the only way to get a wide dynamic range of volume is to be in a quiet environment. Since this isn't the reality of a majority of autos, the music is instead compressed unmercifully to play at an even volume. The result is unnatural. Drums sound ridiculous with no real pop and a decay that lingers. In an ideal world, stereos would have the equivalent of icc profiles so that the mix wouldn't have to be engineered for the lowest common denominator.
CD's have more DR - more than most consumer stereos are capable of recreating. LP's do for the most as well. Also I've read that a well mastered LP can actually have a larger than average peak as long as it isn't adjacent to another one on another track. Regardless, nobody listens to a well mastered LP and says "gee, I wish this had more DR". Same goes for CD, or any of the higher spec formats out there. Just like a good photo comes down to technique and talent rather than megapixels, good audio comes down to a good song played well and expertly mixed with the intent to reproduce it faithfully. That is not the current trend:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070823-audiophiles-vs-the-ipod-the-battle-over-loudness.html
It shows.
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Judging a photographer on the basis of equipment is like speculating one's physique from a gym pass.
I heard a few years ago that Polaroid was sold for only about $230 million (basically buying the brand name). I've seen the Poloraid name on laptops, CHEAP digital cameras, and other products that seems to be an existing product that someone slapped the Poloraid name onto.
Yes, the Polaroid name, symbols, and assets were sold off years ago. But they were still manufacturing the film. The guy who owns the company now was interviewed this morning on that CBS news show with Charles Osgood.
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