Packfilm

Vidar · Jan 30, 2017

Dinis Figueira said:
They won't even answer emails about it...

Hmm. Wonder why? Does not sound to promising.

Dinis Figueira · Jan 30, 2017

Vidar said:
Hmm. Wonder why? Does not sound to promising.

True... for me, if they don't say anything until half this year, it's over. No more packfilm dreams.

Lee Rust · Jan 30, 2017

Photo antiquarians and artists are still willing to put up with the goopy mess and paper waste of packfilm, but the rest of the world has moved on. The market for this technology is too tiny to support any large-scale manufacturing infrastructure. If a maker like New55 is willing to fabricate and assemble the complex components and enough of us are willing to pay five to ten dollars per exposure, then packfilm may yet survive in some form. Otherwise, we should rejoice that Instax is enjoying worldwide acceptance and concentrate our efforts on supporting a broader range of camera options for this excellent film format. Let us again offer our appreciation to those now-retired engineers and executives who invented and marketed Kodak Instant Film, without which there would be no Fujifilm Instax today.

bvy · Jan 30, 2017

Dinis Figueira said:
They won't even answer emails about it...

I wonder if it wasn't strategically timed hype meant to steer traffic to their other efforts.

Dinis Figueira · Jan 30, 2017

Lee Rust said:
Photo antiquarians and artists are still willing to put up with the goopy mess and paper waste of packfilm, but the rest of the world has moved on. The market for this technology is too tiny to support any large-scale manufacturing infrastructure. If a maker like New55 is willing to fabricate and assemble the complex components and enough of us are willing to pay five to ten dollars per exposure, then packfilm may yet survive in some form. Otherwise, we should rejoice that Instax is enjoying worldwide acceptance and concentrate our efforts on supporting a broader range of camera options for this excellent film format. Let us again offer our appreciation to those now-retired engineers and executives who invented and marketed Kodak Instant Film, without which there would be no Fujifilm Instax today.

You shouldn't forget that the instax market has it's flaws.
Yes, it's time to move on but at the same time as we move on, shouldn't Fuji move on on their strategy and change the market? I take photography as an hobby, but there are tons of people who doesn't. At least with the demise of packfilm we should be seeing some form of "high end" products for the instax series.

Vidar · Jan 30, 2017

Lee Rust said:
Photo antiquarians and artists are still willing to put up with the goopy mess and paper waste of packfilm, but the rest of the world has moved on. The market for this technology is too tiny to support any large-scale manufacturing infrastructure. If a maker like New55 is willing to fabricate and assemble the complex components and enough of us are willing to pay five to ten dollars per exposure, then packfilm may yet survive in some form. Otherwise, we should rejoice that Instax is enjoying worldwide acceptance and concentrate our efforts on supporting a broader range of camera options for this excellent film format. Let us again offer our appreciation to those now-retired engineers and executives who invented and marketed Kodak Instant Film, without which there would be no Fujifilm Instax today.

The rest of the world has moved on from film photography and messy film developing in chemichals, or has it? By your logic all should shot digital, and maybe some qute Instax with their horrible plastic cameras (or that stupid re-branded Leica Sofort with its nice plastic lens. Shooting packfilm is a special experience, and I will never forgive Fuji for killing of this whole format. But offcourse this is only my opinion.

Fuji could have promoted themFp100-C for its artistic uses, the interest for film/Polaroid is rising. Instead you can read on Fuji's website that "FP100c's fine grain and rich tonal gradations also make it ideal for professional ID photo applications."

bvy said:
I wonder if it wasn't strategically timed hype meant to steer traffic to their other efforts.

If this is true they are liars.. But I am starting to wonder the same.. They should just go out and say they wanted to make packfilm, but they couldn't do it.

Theo Sulphate · Jan 30, 2017

Lee Rust said:
Photo antiquarians and artists are still willing to put up with the goopy mess and paper waste of packfilm, but the rest of the world has moved on. The market for this technology is too tiny to support any large-scale manufacturing infrastructure.
...

Your last sentence is correct. Pack film is for a niche market.

Although integral film (e.g. SX-70, Instax) is far less wasteful and less of a mess, I enjoy every aspect of using pack film: from pulling out the darkslide sheet to separating the negative from the print. It's very engaging and pleasurable. I suppose if I'd used pack film from when it was first introduced (rather than discovering it last year) my feelings might be different.

David T T · Jan 30, 2017

Pack film is the only way I can proof with my RB67. Taking an instant pic via an Instax camera is not the same, alas, as it's not "what the lens is seeing." I would love it if there an Instax back for this camera!

Theo Sulphate · Jan 30, 2017

David T T said:
... I would love it if there an Instax back for this camera!

Possible business opportunity there.

contaxg2 · Jan 30, 2017

Dinis Figueira said:
They won't even answer emails about it...

I talked to them about this last summer. At that time they said they were hoping they could make something based off the old Polaroid roll film but that fell through, and pack film wasn't their main focus so not to expect anything in the near future. Here's hoping someday they come through with a good product, but their rather bold proclamation, "We will make packfilm" seems like a distant dream.

Lee Rust · Jan 31, 2017

I have a fridge stashed with FP100 and FP3000, plus several Polaroid cameras and pack film backs. It's great stuff, but they don't make it any more, so when it's gone it's gone.

My wife has a Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s and the quality of the prints is very good within the scope of the camera's capability. I've shot Impossible film for several years, and although the B&W has consistently progressed, the color has been consistently disappointing. I've supported New55 too, and their product is steadily improving as well. These three suppliers are presently the only actual makers of instant film, so let's buy their materials as often as we can afford to, according to our personal preferences. If sales volumes increase sufficiently, then the sophisticated cameras, film backs and other accessories will follow.

It's been very instructive to observe just how much experimentation, development effort and cash has gone into the New55 and Impossible ventures over these past several years. We can only imagine how challenging it would be to re-invent pack film from scratch.

Agulliver · May 8, 2017

How long will the Fuji pack film last in a fridge?

I was given a Polaroid 104 last year and have shot about 25 exposures with it...really surprised at how good the quality can be when it's all working properly.

EdSawyer · May 8, 2017

RE: How long will the Fuji pack film last in a fridge?

At least 4 years or more, in the case of FP100c. I have been shooting some 2012-2013 stuff lately and it's fine.

M Carter · May 8, 2017

If you have a medium format camera that takes a polaroid back, the backs are getting ridiculously cheap (especially the non fiber-optic backs). You won't get the full sheet filled up, but on, say, an RB or RZ, you get a 7cm square image. Doesn't magically make more 'roid appear on the market, but if you have a stash, it can be very nice, and you get lens choice and exposure control beyond most polaroid cameras.

I have a couple Polaroid 100 Land Cameras modded for AA's, and they're fairly capable. I have little sheets of ND gel taped to them that I can put over the light sensor to adjust exposure beyond the camera controls.

Packfilm

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