Fuji Instant Film/RB67

nwilkins · Mar 3, 2015

I have a polaroid back for my RB67 and thinking about a project using the FP-3000b this summer. Just wondering if anyone has any advice for how to work with this film in the field. How do you temporarily store the exposed film? Do you leave it attached to the negative part until you get home? Do you have a special bag or something for it? The box indicates that leaving it attached to the negative for longer than 8 minutes might result in streaking, and I am also worried about bending the film, particularly if it is still in contact with the chemicals. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Nick

winger · Mar 3, 2015

First, you do know the FP-3000B is discontinued, right? It can still be found, but it's getting older and less predictable.

When I shoot it out in the field (and around here, that's quite literal much of the time), I peel it as I would at home. I usually spread out a piece of newspaper or something on the car seat and put the parts on it to dry while I go on my way.

nwilkins · Mar 3, 2015

Thanks - I do know it's discontinued but I have a bunch of it in the fridge. I guess I'm wondering what to do if you're out hiking and not near a car?

winger · Mar 3, 2015

I have a small stockpile, too. Love that stuff and not happy it will gone.
Well, so far I haven't shot any while out of sight of the car. I think I'd limit myself to a couple of shots and just not separate them until getting back to the car. Maybe try leaving one for a half hour as an experiment to see if there's bad streaking or anything first. The bag I use for my 4x5 has an outside pocket that could hold some pieces of cardboard - maybe put the exposed ones between those to keep from bending.

nwilkins · Mar 3, 2015

yeah that's a good idea, thanks. i have my fingers crossed that someone will decide to start making it again!

Kirks518 · Mar 3, 2015

It's my understanding with the FP100c at least, that you can leave it unpeeled for a relatively long time, as the development process exhausts itself when it's done. Not sure if it is the same for the FP3000B, but that's how I would handle it, or at least do a test. I know that once you peel them, they become dust magnets for quite some time.

M Carter · Mar 3, 2015

FWIW - I grabbed up some more 3000 this month. But I noticed I had a couple frames left in my RB back, expired 2011 - that back lived in a warm closet (our downstairs heater exhaust pipe is routed through that closet, so warm winters and warm texas summers) and the film worked fine.

The stuff is more robust than you think, but keeping it cool (never freeze it!!!) is supposed to be a good strategy. Our wine cooler has a space under the bottom rack that will hold about a dozen boxes, mine lives there now. Polaroid and Bordeaux in the same fridge? I should call it the heaven cabinet!

Many people over the years have addressed transporting the prints - they do dry very fast, but if you really do this often, I'd try something like a shoebox and a glue gun and some cardboard... make something with dividers (kind of like those old CD racks) that only touch the borders and keep the print upright and separated.

nwilkins · Mar 4, 2015

yes I have also shot some 3000b which had been left in a warm spot since 2012 and it was fine, though a tendency to streak a little. the 100c colour pack did not fare so well. also someone recently gave me a 3000b pack which had been frozen since 2012 and it works perfectly. I had always wondered about freezing it. The data sheet from Fuji recommends sub 0 (celsius) temps for long term storage. So perhaps the 3000b can be frozen without ill effects too? Maybe the colour stuff is way more finicky.

M Carter · Mar 8, 2015

nwilkins said:
yes I have also shot some 3000b which had been left in a warm spot since 2012 and it was fine, though a tendency to streak a little. the 100c colour pack did not fare so well. also someone recently gave me a 3000b pack which had been frozen since 2012 and it works perfectly. I had always wondered about freezing it. The data sheet from Fuji recommends sub 0 (celsius) temps for long term storage. So perhaps the 3000b can be frozen without ill effects too? Maybe the colour stuff is way more finicky.

Wondering about the "do not freeze" belief, may just be "common knowledge", though I thought on polaroid-era films it said that...

Fuji Instant Film/RB67

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