Impossible Project 4x5 coming soon?

filmamigo · Mar 17, 2016

I was surprised to see that Impossible is now selling 8x10 instant integral film. That gets my hopes up for 4x5 to be eventually available.

So I googled a little further, and found this hidden page on the Impossible site:

Dead Link Removed

Why create a placeholder for 4x5 if you have no plans to make the product? Does anyone know anything more?

I'm re-buying a Fuji 545i holder right now, to play with the New55 peel-apart film. It would be great to have another 4x5 offering!

[I just saw the note that we shouldn't post speculation in this forum. Mods, please move to Instant Cameras and Film]

darkosaric · Mar 17, 2016

As far as I understood - 4x5 will not be made, they don't have needed machinery. There is no speculation - it will not be done. They have machines for 8x10 - so they did it.

EdSawyer · Mar 17, 2016

Also, when they first started, I think they sold off some old leftover Polaroid product. At that time they may have had some old polaroid 4x5 to sell, which is why that page would still be there.

filmamigo · Mar 18, 2016

EdSawyer said:
Also, when they first started, I think they sold off some old leftover Polaroid product. At that time they may have had some old polaroid 4x5 to sell, which is why that page would still be there.

That makes perfect sense. Thanks Ed.

Roger Cole · Mar 18, 2016

darkosaric said:
As far as I understood - 4x5 will not be made, they don't have needed machinery. There is no speculation - it will not be done. They have machines for 8x10 - so they did it.

One other possibility - if you follow the petition and site trying to save Fuji FP-100c, right now Florian Kaps, who saved the Polaroid machinery for Impossible, is in Japan to meet with Fuji about buying their machinery or other ideas to save pack film. So maybe they created a place holder on the site because they think they can pull it off again? VERY exciting idea!

http://savepackfilm.net/updates/the-journey-begins

darkosaric · Mar 18, 2016

Roger Cole said:
One other possibility - if you follow the petition and site trying to save Fuji FP-100c, right now Florian Kaps, who saved the Polaroid machinery for Impossible, is in Japan to meet with Fuji about buying their machinery or other ideas to save pack film. So maybe they create a place holder on the site because they think they can pull it off again? VERY exciting idea!

That is quite possible and would be a great business move !

Mackinaw · Mar 18, 2016

Florian Kaps latest blog entry is not very encouraging. The translation of what Fuji officials told Kaps reads something like "this most likely might maybe not even eventually be slightly possible." It kind of sounds like they said no. But the Fuji officials he met with will pass his request up the chain of command.

And for everybody hoping that IP will buy the FP-100C machinery, that ain't going to happen either. From a new PDN newsletter, "We’ve spoke to Impossible Project CEO Oskar Smolokowski who informs us that while the company wishes Kaps well and hopes the format can be saved, they won’t be purchasing Fujifilm’s equipment and won’t be taking on the project themselves. “We don’t have the resources to buy new machinery and take on a new format, we’re constantly invest in our own factory,” he says."

filmamigo · Mar 22, 2016

Florian's blog is on a bit of a roller coaster! As of March 21 it sounds like he may have found a high powered angel. Not sure what that means in the end, but money and influence are needed to get a big project done...

Roger Cole · Mar 22, 2016

I read it and agree it's obscure, probably necessarily so at this stage. But it sounds like some entrepreneur is willing to back him by waving enough money under their noses to get Fuji's attention. I don't know what form that might take. Since FP-100c would, to a certain extent, compete with Instax it might be more of a "buy the machinery and pay a royalty on each pack sold" or perhaps just some joint venture where he hires Fuji to keep making the film (much like people hire Harman and Inoviscoat to make films to spec for them.)

Wouldn't it be great if this not only saved FP-100c but we also got it in 4x5 again AND in black and white, either 3000b or 100b? Hey, I can dream, can't I?

filmamigo · Mar 22, 2016

That, my friend, would be great!

Roger Cole · Mar 22, 2016

If I could get FP-100b or FP-3000b in 4x5 for, say, a buck to a buck and a half a shot I would be DELIGHTED. I haven't tried recovering the negative from my stock of FP-3000b or 100c because I don't have a quarter plate sized carrier (well duh, maybe I should look for one - they should have been made and given the unpopularity of such a size now should be cheap if found.) I suppose I could scan them of course but that's just not of much interest to me.

I don't know if I'd rather have 3000b or 100b given a choice. The 3000 speed is very nice much of the time (limiting some of the time of course) but the stuff is pretty darned contrasty. I never used the 100b so I don't know if it's as contrasty or not. Just pipe dreaming right now of course.

Impossible Project 4x5 coming soon?

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