Polaroid 35mm films- what are they really?

TheGreatGasMaskMan · Nov 3, 2020

A little while ago, I found two undated Walmart Polaroid 200 films- I initially assumed they were old Ferrania films because I'd read somewhere that they had made polaroid labeled 35mm films. but it was kind of strange since I knew Walmart did distribute Fujifilm with their name on it.

Now... Last week I found this Polaroid Onefilm 200- but this one has a manufacture label- Made In Germany

So yea, if anyone can clear up who made these films (even provide an expiration date as I have no boxes) I'd appreciate it.
Also- back in 2017 I found a 1998 expired polaroid onefilm 100 roll- I saved the box but I don't have it with me.

AgX · Nov 3, 2020

Back then there only was one manufacturer in Germany able to make colourfilms: Agfa

summicron1 · Nov 3, 2020

If it was made in Germany it is Agfa -- used to buy rebranded Agfa film all the time at Walgreen's all the time, great stuff.

Not clue how old it is -- probably 15 years or so.

TheGreatGasMaskMan · Nov 3, 2020

AgX said:
Back then there only was one manufacturer in Germany able to make colourfilms: Agfa

summicron1 said:
If it was made in Germany it is Agfa -- used to buy rebranded Agfa film all the time at Walgreen's all the time, great stuff.

Not clue how old it is -- probably 15 years or so.

that's what I thought- would it be the same for the walmart rolls?

Pieter12 · Nov 3, 2020

But Polaroid did make an instant 35mm B&W and color positive film for a short time...the emulsion was quite delicate and susceptible to scratching.

AgX · Nov 3, 2020

Polaroid made a variety of 35mm instant films, monochrome and colour.

cmacd123 · Nov 3, 2020

I remember getting Polaroid brand C-41 film from both Germany and Japan. the German was Agfa made, and I can't recall for sure if the Japan was Konica or Fuji.

foc · Nov 3, 2020

If I remember correctly, the Polaroid branded 35mm film made in Japan (early 1990s) was Konica film.

Donald Qualls · Nov 3, 2020

The Polaroid 35mm instant color film was akin to Autochrome -- filter stripes above the emulsion (so both exposed and viewed/projected through the same stripes), and an "instant" processor (took thirty minutes, as I recall) that produced a direct positive. Single layer -- black and white panchromatic film under the filter stripe layer -- and the filter stripes were so narrow they were hard to see in the film even with magnification; the stuff actually projected more or less okay.

I've forgotten (if I ever knew) how they got a direct positive from what amounted to a monobath process; it wasn't a pre-exposed film like a couple direct positive materials I've read about. Perhaps it was dye destruction like Cibachrome (which would be both simpler and faster in terms of film speed with just a single layer). Or maybe the processor actually developed, bleached, and redeveloped, a true B&W reversal process.

Agulliver · Nov 5, 2020

When I lived in the USA 1997-1999 I did buy that Polaroid branded film made in Germany on the assumption that it was going to be an Agfa film. The colour palette and general look of the prints at the time strongly suggested it was Agfa's consumer grade C41 films. Good stuff too.

cmacd123 · Nov 5, 2020

Agulliver said:
The colour palette and general look of the prints at the time strongly suggested it was Agfa's consumer grade C41 films. Good stuff too.

Colour films of that era, had markings in the spoket area. the AGFA had squares between the perfs, I recall also using some Kirkland (costco) film with those same markings. Agfa was about the only maker who arranged to put the private Label brand name on the edgo of teh film also. olthough they did some with just the ISO speed on the edge print instead (Like Arista II the next Generation)

Oren Grad · Nov 5, 2020

Pieter12 said:
But Polaroid did make an instant 35mm B&W and color positive film for a short time...the emulsion was quite delicate and susceptible to scratching.

View attachment 258591

Yup:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/polaroid-polachrome-polagraph.47092/

Back in the day, I used some of the blue stuff for preparing lecture slides. It's conceivable that I still have the processor gadget buried somewhere in the house.

foc · Nov 6, 2020

cmacd123 said:
Colour films of that era, had markings in the spoket area. the AGFA had squares between the perfs, I recall also using some Kirkland (costco) film with those same markings. Agfa was about the only maker who arranged to put the private Label brand name on the edgo of teh film also. olthough they did some with just the ISO speed on the edge print instead (Like Arista II the next Generation)

Here is an example of the Agfa edge markings and when they made private label film it was without the Agfa name just the ASA/IOS speed but with the coloured squares between the sprocket holes. The coloured squares changes with different generations of emulsions. There were purple squares and then green (IIRC).

Ferrania film had the following edge markings.

They had the green plus and dot markings and then purple ones on different generations of emulsions.

Polaroid 35mm films- what are they really?

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