Alternatives to Polaroid 665 film

Fulvio · May 19, 2006

Hi

sadly, I've recently heard that Polaroid 665 will be discontinued... That's really bad news because I like that kind of film. Recently I haven't been using it, but in the last two years I found type 55 and 665 simply beautiful. Is there any other kind of istant film that gives a positive and a negative at least nearly as good as type 665? On the polaroid website they suggest a couple of films, but I have no idea what they look like... Does Fuji oroduce anything similar?

thanks

HerrBremerhaven · May 20, 2006

Unfortunately, the Fuji instant films are only for producing a print (positive) without a negative. I think the only true Polaroid substitute is the larger P/N film in single sheet 4x5 form. There was once a rumoured 8x10 version, though that never appeared anywhere. It would be nice if Fuji jumped into this market segment.

Ciao!

Gordon

Fulvio · May 20, 2006

HerrBremerhaven said:
Unfortunately, the Fuji instant films are only for producing a print (positive) without a negative. I think the only true Polaroid substitute is the larger P/N film in single sheet 4x5 form. There was once a rumoured 8x10 version, though that never appeared anywhere. It would be nice if Fuji jumped into this market segment.

Ciao!

Gordon

I'm not sure, but I've heard that Fuji actually tried to do something very close to the P/N segment, but Polaroid stopped them due to patent issues. Maybe if they now stop the production of the "small" P/N istant Fuji will be allowed to introduce its version...

By the way I'm happy to see that Fuji is the only big producer of film that still makes innovations in film production, like the new Velvia etc...

Fintan · May 20, 2006

How long will 665 last if kept chilled and in the box/wrapper?

Fulvio · May 20, 2006

Fintan said:
How long will 665 last if kept chilled and in the box/wrapper?

I've a box left of PN 55... It should be the very same film, in a different size. I bought that box, with others, more than one year and maybe half ago. I keep this kind of film in the fridge. Still good!

I have friends who used 3 year outdated Polaroid film with no problems (can't remember the model, but I guess it was exactly type 665/669). Only one friend once lamented that his 5 years old Polaroid had its chemicals completely dry, so it didn't develop after exposure. But I guess that must have been due to a bad storage (ie not in the fridge). In my opinion, probably the chemicals for istant developing outdate quicker than the film itself (which probably as most bw films has a very long life).

Fulvio · May 20, 2006

HerrBremerhaven said:
Unfortunately, the Fuji instant films are only for producing a print (positive) without a negative. I think the only true Polaroid substitute is the larger P/N film in single sheet 4x5 form. There was once a rumoured 8x10 version, though that never appeared anywhere. It would be nice if Fuji jumped into this market segment.

Ciao!

Gordon

ok Fuji is no good... but how about the other Polaroid films? Are there any other 3x4 sized P/N film packs from Polaroid that give an acceptable negative?

thanks

Wayne · May 21, 2006

Its been a while since I checked, but i dont think Polaroid has any other 3x4 negative films period, only positive prints. I'm also bummed about the loss of 665-the announcement came several weeks after I had spent 2 hundred on an old 180 camera just to use 665! They said 55 would still be in production but, oh yeah, the price was going up to something like $3-4 per shot. Welcome to the future.

Wayne

Donald Qualls · May 21, 2006

The only real alternative for making enlargeable negatives with a pack-film camera is adapting an empty film pack to take a single 3x4 film sheet. As long as the camera has a film speed setting close to the speed of the actual film used, you should be able to dial in exposure with the lighten-darken dial. Major downside, though, is that this method doesn't support a dark slide, so it's a one-shot camera unless you carry a changing bag and feel like fiddling with this in the field (I've done it a couple times, when I wanted to test a Polaroid without committing a $10+ pack of film). You *could* preload multiple packs and store them in light-tight containers (old 4x5 film boxes, for instance), changing them in a changing bag -- but honestly, there are few Polaroids worth this kind of effort, and the few that are would (IMO) merit permanent conversion to 3x4 or 4x5 ANSI film holders (the latter of which would, if the conversion is made with this in mind, allow use of 405 or 545 backs to regain Polaroid functionality).

Fintan · May 21, 2006

Fulvio said:
I have friends who used 3 year outdated Polaroid film with no problems (can't remember the model, but I guess it was exactly type 665/669).

Fulvio, I have 2 packs of unopened 665 in cold storage. One is dated 03/04 and the other dated 10/03. If you take out a subscription to APUG I will send them to you.

SeamusARyan · May 21, 2006

I've just done my first shoot in almost a year and used 2 boxes of type 55 dated sept 03 expiry, they had no special storage and have produced some lovely negs, I have heard some people say that the chemicals change over time and you get either holes or scatches on the neg, not seen it yet myself

remember store it flat

regards

Seamus
www.seamusryan.com

df cardwell · May 21, 2006

Generally, expiration date on P/N film is accurate to the day, and it is EXTREMELY risky trying to use expired P/N. YES, we've all gotten by sometimes, but Polaroid really means it.

Donald Qualls · May 22, 2006

I've got a box of Type 55 that expired in 1987, and I plan to use it. FWIW, the Type 52 that was with it sort of worked when I first opened it; with development of two minutes (compared to the fifteen seconds called out in the instructions), it produced rather gray prints (probably a combination of tired developer and badly age-fogged negatives).

I don't plan to use the T55 with the Polaroid chemistry, however; I'll unload without processing, peel the packets apart in the darkroom and extract the film, and process it like any other sheet film.

Right after I figure out where to use ISO 25 film that's probably lost half a stop to a full stop of film speed in just about 20 years of storage...

Alternatives to Polaroid 665 film

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