This question has probably been asked a millions times already but I see polaroids often at threft stores and that got me thinking if the film is worth it or not. So do you think that its a worthy investment or should I stick with 35mm?
Are polaroids really worth the asking price?
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The only way I found to justify the current price to run a polaroid was finding one of the dental models. It has 4 different focus modes including macro. So I enjoy using my fancy Polaroid.
I don't think a regular Polaroid is a good investment. I'd stick to 35mm and just use a small point and shoot for those quick fun snapshots.
I don't think a regular Polaroid is a good investment. I'd stick to 35mm and just use a small point and shoot for those quick fun snapshots.
I find using the better cameras more interesting and a better ROI with each film compared to the plastic lensed 600 or non-folding SX70s like the pronto which was always underwhelming for me but my non-photog friends don't care what camera gets used.
The folding SX70 gives quite nice IQ and the Impossible film or well stored original Polaroid is better than what the glass lens can do.
Shooting the film in another camera is a hassle but can be done on location with just a changing bag and care. Best results I've gotten have been shooting it or Instax film in "real" cameras and then returning the film into a pack and then processing through the camera to get a good spread.
The folding SX70 gives quite nice IQ and the Impossible film or well stored original Polaroid is better than what the glass lens can do.
Shooting the film in another camera is a hassle but can be done on location with just a changing bag and care. Best results I've gotten have been shooting it or Instax film in "real" cameras and then returning the film into a pack and then processing through the camera to get a good spread.
Depending on the camera. I love the Auto Land Cameras that use Fuji FP-100C. I've been unimpressed with the current Impossible Project films. I'm waiting for it to get better. I hear the 2nd Gen B&W is getting there.
I also love using the Fuji FP-100C in medium format cameras like the Mamiya RZ67. And so do the kids. They are amazed at the print appearing out of no where.
I also love using the Fuji FP-100C in medium format cameras like the Mamiya RZ67. And so do the kids. They are amazed at the print appearing out of no where.
I'm not sure what's being asked. You say "worth it" and "worthy investment" -- what do you use to measure worth? If you mean money, and by investment mean will you make money on this investment .... er, probably not? Unless maybe you buy really cheap ones and fix them up nice and sell them for a lot more - but that takes some skill and time I imagine.
But I measure worth in enjoyment, so to me the answer is a simple YES. I own a Land Camera Automatic 100, a Reporter, an SX-70 Model 2, a rainbow SX-70, a Spectra AF, and two 600's (an Impulse and a Barbie edition). I enjoy the crap out of them and use them often and don't regret buying a single one.
But I measure worth in enjoyment, so to me the answer is a simple YES. I own a Land Camera Automatic 100, a Reporter, an SX-70 Model 2, a rainbow SX-70, a Spectra AF, and two 600's (an Impulse and a Barbie edition). I enjoy the crap out of them and use them often and don't regret buying a single one.
Also, yes the film is expensive. But I save when I can. I buy Impossible's factory seconds when available, and look for sales. And I bought FP3000 for about $15/pack by buying ten at a time. I just refrigerate what I'm not using right away and usually have some available for each camera.
well actually, henrys sells the discontinued impossible px 100 film at 5 dollars off. I dunno how long supply will last.
http://www.henrys.com/70812-IMPOSSIBLE-PX-100-SILVER-SHADE-COOL.aspx
and guys im not taking about the peel apart polaroids. The film in my area is basically the same price as the impossible stuff.
I shot 35mm for about 3 months, and then moved to MF, then back to 35mm, then back to MF, then both at once. It got to the point where for some reason or other I just pretty much lost interest in photography. As much as I had previously enjoyed darkroom work I got to the point where scanning was too tedious and I don't have the time or space to deal with an enlarger. So I bought a Polaroid 100 at a flea market for $5, converted it to take 3 triple A batteries, and started shooting Fuji FP-100C, I loved it so much that the next week I went out and spent $50 on a Polaroid 450 complete with a #490 focused flash. I love the 450 even more than the 100 and I feel it was well worth the $50. I've got about 20 packs of FP-100C that I purchased from B&H for $8.99 a pack, and honestly with as rarely as I find a good shot I don't think 90 cents a shot is bad at all. When I shot 35mm it could take me a month and half to get through 24 exposures or two months to get through 36. Even with my RB67 it took two weeks to get ten good shots. Yes I know I'm very picky and a perfectionist, unfortunately I'm like that with most things in life. In between the two Automatic Land Cameras I also bought an SX-70 Alpha 1 Model 2, and 4 packs of the newest Impossible Project color film. The Impossible stuff isn't bad but it's not what the original Polaroid is either but I think they'll eventually get it, and when they do get it the price will be well worth it to me especially considering what they've gone through to bring it to the consumer. In the meantime I'll concentrate on the 100 and 450 and shoot the Fuji FP-100C. So if your a machine gun photographer I'd say no the Polaroid is not for you and you should stick to 35mm or maybe MF depending on your budget, of course if it's in your budget you could shoot a lot with the Polaroid as well. If your a frugal photographer like me who makes there shots count then I'd say go for it, start with a 100-450 model and pack film and maybe move to the more expensive Impossible Project film later. But I definitely believe anyone who hasn't tried both at some point really should.
The Impossible Project film does not keep exceedingly well, and it browns after being shot. Two things to note.
Also, you can sign up with IP and get a discount and advance notice on sales.
Also, you can sign up with IP and get a discount and advance notice on sales.
The new generation Impossible film (GEN 2.0) should have cured that problem and has much better contrast and colours too.
For examples, see:
Dead Link Removed
and
Dead Link Removed
I believe about the same price but for 10 photos. There are 8 photos in one pack from Impossible now, because more wouldn't fit. But they are working on redesigning the plastic container so they can fit in more sheets.
I couldn't find a magazine from ~2008 that had ads on Google Books, but found one from 1999 with a B&H ad that had Polaroid 600 film for $9.49
Attachments
I am also in Canada. Don't go by the price at Henry's. I buy film from B&H by mail. You will then find that the FP-100c peel-apart film is much cheaper, even with exchange and customs. This may change the game for you and make the Land pack film cameras worth a look.
I have a Land 100 and it's a lot of fun. However, it does not give anything like the image quality of medium format film. The reason is that the dye spreads out during the transfer from the neg to positive side of the sandwich. The neg is much sharper, but you have to take the backing off with bleach to get at it, which I would consider an alternative process. So buy a Polaroid for the fun of instant, but don't expect it's a step up from 35 in quality.
Does import charges apply when shipping stuff this small?
MattKing
Moderator
If it comes to you by courier - always, plus extra surcharges.
If it comes to you by mail, sometimes - you cannot predict.
If you buy $99 or more from B&H at a time, shipping is free. If you select them to handle customs in the checkout page oftheir site, there is only about a $5 customs charge, in addition to Canadian sales taxes, and it arrives amazingly fast, like in 3 days. They are good for conventional film too, not just instant. Portra in 120 size is about $5.50 US there, vs. $10 Cdn. at Henrys (assuming its even in stock at Henrys, which is iffy these days). So I buy a lot once or twice a year.
even back in the late 70s polaroid film was expensive -- you had to figure about $1 a shot, as I recall, although maybe it was 75 cents or so, and that was for film for the One-Step that came out in 1977 and was a huge seller.
The sales pitch was that it cost more per shot but you could tell right away if the shot was good, and you didn't pay processing charges.
$1 in 1977 is more like $5 today.
MattKing
Moderator
One should note that this is true for Kodak film, because it is a US manufactured product, and as a result of the Canada-US trade agreement, it (like most products manufactured in the two countries) can be imported free of duty.
The same will not necessarily be true for products originating elsewhere (it is the country of origin that matters, not the country of purchase).
To give you some context, here are the results if I buy from a B & H a $128.00 USD piece of Sony Electronics and have it shipped to me in BC:
[h=2]Duties & Tax[/h]Close
We calculate Duty VAT, Taxes, etc. in accordance with the laws and import regulations of the destination country. These fees are usually based on destination, item type, and country of origin, manufacture or assembly.
When you choose to have B&H handle this payment for you the order total is guaranteed by B&H 100%. There will be no additional charges or fees due upon delivery.
[h=3]Details of Duty Charges[/h]
[*=right]Duties:$7.68
[*=right]GST:$6.40
[*=right]Brokerage:$1.56
[*=right]Disbursement:$0.42
[*=right]Security & Handling:$10.20
[*=right]Total:$26.26
Matt, Most of the film I am buying from B&H is Fuji, so if there is duty, it must be very small and falls within the $5 or so on a $150 order that I assumed was customs brokerage.
The Impossible team made a statement earlier in their development that it was cheaper to shoot, adjusted for inflation, than the original Polaroid had been.
MattKing
Moderator
Interesting. This is what happens when I put ~$128.00 USD worth of Kodak film in my B & H cart:
[h=2]Duties & Tax[/h]Close
We calculate Duty VAT, Taxes, etc. in accordance with the laws and import regulations of the destination country. These fees are usually based on destination, item type, and country of origin, manufacture or assembly.
When you choose to have B&H handle this payment for you the order total is guaranteed by B&H 100%. There will be no additional charges or fees due upon delivery.
[h=3]Details of Duty Charges[/h]
[*=right]GST:$6.41
[*=right]Brokerage:$1.56
[*=right]Disbursement:$0.19
[*=right]Security & Handling:$10.20
[*=right]Total:$18.36
I'm thinking the difference is because I am on the West Coast (the shipping is supposedly free)
I call BS.
Nov. 1999 Popular Photography magazine Found here: https://books.google.com/books?id=Q...e&q=popular photography 1999 polaroid&f=false
B&H ad has Polaroid 600 film (10 shots) for $9.49 (see attached).
Adjusted for inflation here: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=9.49&year1=1999&year2=2015
2015 prices: $13.59
Attachments
You have to go back farther. My Grandparents have the original receipt for their SX-70 Alpha 1 Model 2, $180 in 1977 or $708.83 today. They also have some film receipts $7 a pack in 1977-'78 or $27-$31 today. I can buy the impossible stuff for $21.99 a pack. Slightly cheaper but not by much, also your only getting 8 shots in the impossible stuff so that come into play. Personally I prefer the Fuji pack film over any of the integral stuff, I've shot original Polaroid film and the new Impossible stuff and I much prefer the look of FP-100C from my Polaroid 450.
You might be right about the date, but I just picked a year to look into as there was no qualifications given by IP.
I prefer the Fuji stuff too. I like that I can use those packs in the Land Cameras and MF backs.
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