Polaroid Backs for Professional Jobs

Mike Chalmers · Mar 29, 2019

Hi folks,

Does anyone have any solutions to the lack of pull-apart film on the market?

I used to use FP-100C, as I had a NPC back - and now I have another Polaroid back for my Pentax 645N.

I will potentially be able to get some FP-100C on jobs with a decent budget but a) this won't last forever and b) I'd like a solution for jobs when this isn't possible.

I know some use d*gital testing, but this doesn't give an accurate example of the aesthetic and means much more to think about, so wanted to put this out to an analogue-only group.

I've seen a few comments about hacking an instax solution, but this seems unreliable to me and possibly a bit trashy in a professional context.

Thanks!

jim10219 · Mar 29, 2019

I sold off all of my pull apart backs except one due to the lack of available film. I have a few boxes of FP-100c left. I don't think they'll ever make any more. Unless they do, or you are willing to pay for what remains on the market, I don't think these film backs will serve you much good. Some people have hacked Instax or Polaroids to work as backs on their cameras. Some cameras, like the RB67 allow you to use 2x3 sheet film holders which can hold Instax mini film (but you still need a way to process them). But in general, if you need to check a scene before committing to film, digital is now the way to go. And in reality, instant film never performed like regular film anyway, so you're still having to consider the change in aesthetics.

With the recent bloom in instant film, I thought they might bring the pull apart film back. But it doesn't seem like they're interested. And none of the current instant films look all that nice to me. It too bad. But it is what it is.

Mike Chalmers · Mar 29, 2019

jim10219 said:
But in general, if you need to check a scene before committing to film, digital is now the way to go.

Thanks Jim, that's what I thought but it's really disappointing. There's such a renewed interest in film and medium format that I'm surprised that peel-apart isn't making a comeback (and also that chemicals and films still seem to be discontinuing) especially when Portra sells out as soon as it gets restocked in European markets..

xya · Mar 31, 2019

there is a project for new peel apart film. this is the person who made "impossible" film, the integral new version of polaroid film. he sold the "impossible" company to those who own the polaroid brand now. his integral film works although he started from scratch due to the replacement of chemical ingredient of old polaroid film, now forbidden.

the project is here https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-analog-packfilm-re-invented?ref=project_link for the moment they are using up old stock paper and chemicals. but they want to continue with a new recipe later. contributing to the - quite expensive - film will finance the project. so it's up to us users to let it live...

ic-racer · Mar 31, 2019

Instax Mini Film fits 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Film Holders

Theo Sulphate · Mar 31, 2019

jim10219 said:
... I have a few boxes of FP-100c left. I don't think they'll ever make any more.
...
With the recent bloom in instant film, I thought they might bring the pull apart film back. But it doesn't seem like they're interested. ...

Fuji can't bring back FP-100C, FP-3000B, or any other pack film because they scrapped the equipment which was used to make it. The facilities where they used that equipment to make pack film have been rededicated for other uses.

Fuji discontinued several varieties of pack film perhaps 10 years ago, then they announced FP-3000B was discontinued, then, a few years ago, FP-100C was discontinued. It was at the time of that announcement that we learned the equipment was scrapped and no campaign to save the film could be successful.

Marco Gilardetti · Apr 1, 2019

Mike Chalmers said:
There's such a renewed interest in film and medium format that I'm surprised that peel-apart isn't making a comeback.

Dear Mike, Fuji 100 was discontinued very recently (2016), right in the middle of the instant film boom, so a "comeback" by them is absolutely impossible: it would mean to first admit that they made the most obvious and cretin of all marketing mistakes, commit harakiri, and then perhaps resume production.

The demise of 100 instant film by Fuji has been absolutely absurd not beacause of the demise of this product per se, but for the timing with which they did it: exactly in the middle of instant film renaissance, when it was gaining momentum all over, and had basically become a monopoly with no competitors at all.

The only other fact as absurd as this that I testified was the shut down of Forte film and papers: they managed somehow to survive the d|g|t@l madness of the '90s and crossed the millennium with a very interesting range of products, especially their Forte Polywarmtone Plus triple weight paper which was absolutely one-of-a-kind, unparalleled by all other brands. But as soon as the internet e-commerce began to gain momentum worldwide and orders and orders and orders rained from all over the globe, they shut down the factory! What the...

The two facts are obviously unrelated, but still very similar for their respective level of absurdity, and for the way in which they exasperated their loyal customers.

Mike Chalmers · Apr 5, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
The only other fact as absurd as this that I testified was the shut down of Forte film and papers: they managed somehow to survive the d|g|t@l madness of the '90s and crossed the millennium with a very interesting range of products, especially their Forte Polywarmtone Plus triple weight paper which was absolutely one-of-a-kind, unparalleled by all other brands. But as soon as the internet e-commerce began to gain momentum worldwide and orders and orders and orders rained from all over the globe, they shut down the factory! What the...

I hadn't heard of this product, but it sounds fab. I did a quick search and found some info about its decline (workers unions could have been an issue in staying afloat) but also they are asking users to register interest in attempt to bring it back, maybe you'd like to check it out.

Marco Gilardetti · Apr 5, 2019

Thank you very much Mike, but I have to say that I backed that project possibly a half dozen years ago. I think I remember that there was even a thread to follow their progress on what was then APUG, now Photrio. News surface very very slowly, when there are any: some test print every one or two years. Of course this is a difficult comeback and I understand it. Just don't be too much excited about this paper as it will most probably take years to see it back (supposed this is ever going to happen, that is).

Mike Chalmers · Apr 5, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
Thank you very much Mike, but I have to say that I backed that project possibly a half dozen years ago.

I wondered if this might be the case, thanks for the info Marco.

jrhilton · Apr 5, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
The demise of 100 instant film by Fuji has been absolutely absurd not beacause of the demise of this product per se, but for the timing with which they did it: exactly in the middle of instant film renaissance, when it was gaining momentum all over, and had basically become a monopoly with no competitors at all.

Or maybe because in reality there wasn't an instant film renaissance among a wider general consumer group - it only existed on internet forums? You barley see people with film cameras these days, yet along instant film and the same applied a few years ago.

Mike Chalmers · Apr 5, 2019

jrhilton said:
Or maybe because in reality there wasn't an instant film renaissance among a wider general consumer group - it only existed on internet forums? You barley see people with film cameras these days, yet along instant film and the same applied a few years ago.

I can only speak from experience in the London scene, but it seems a large percentage of working photographers here use film, several still using polaroid backs with fp-100c they've sourced and film labs are always very busy - and in some cases expanding to larger / more premises. Also, Portra 400 sells out as soon as it comes in, there is no lack of demand for it here and I believe a pull-apart film that was readily available would be in demand too, but more niche certainly. But I agree that film photography for consumer use is very limited.

Alan Edward Klein · Apr 5, 2019

I messed with my NPC Fuji shots years ago when I first started with my RB67. Not being in product photography or a pro at all, it didn't really serve me a purpose.

A few years ago, I bought the FUji instant film again to mess around. I still have a half used roll in my RB67 NPC back. I think another full pack that's been sitting around for three years or so. Is it any good?

Can the NPC serve another purpose? Anyone interesting in buying it?

Polaroid Backs for Professional Jobs

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