Polaroid Discontinued--Boston Globe 02/08/08

[tjaded]

Hi all--
I just received some news that is not good. In the Boston Globe tomorrow (Friday the 8th) there will be an article that will contain the announcement that Polaroid is ceasing all film products. That is all I know right now, so make sure to check the Boston Globe tomorrow for the full story (which I can only hope will not be as bad as it sounds.) This is meant as a heads up to watch for the full story...I know nothing else. I hope this is not viewed as a thread that should not be started, I just wanted to get the info out there.
Adios,
Matt

 

[Alex Hawley]

Whatever the news from Polaroid may be, I hope the article is available on line. If someone could post a link to it, if it materializes, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[MikeK]

Whatever the news from Polaroid may be, I hope the article is available on line. If someone could post a link to it, if it materializes, I would greatly appreciate it.

The Boston Globe has a pretty good online edition

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/?p1=GN_TodaysGlobe

Keeping fingers and a bunch of other limbs crossed

Mike

 

[IloveTLRs]

Someone please say "April Fools"

 

[JBrunner]

Polaroid is ceasing all film products, and the anouncement is to be made in the "Boston Globe"? WTF?

 

[Jeanne]

Polaroid is ceasing all film products, and the anouncement is to be made in the "Boston Globe"? WTF?

Polaroid's based in Waltham Mass -- that's why, I guess. I bet it'll be in a few other papers as well, Actually, I hope it's in NO papers and is not true!

 

[JBrunner]

Polaroid's based in Waltham Mass -- that's why, I guess. I bet it'll be in a few other papers as well, Actually, I hope it's in NO papers and is not true!

Well, maybe that makes some kind of sense, but I'll be pissed... I just got another 545 holder! Polaroid has always been very good about notices concerning thier products. I hope they don't pull a Kodak.

 

[Oren Grad]

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/08/polaroid_shutting_2_mass_facilities_laying_off_150/

The nut grafs:

"The Norwood plant is shutting down, and we will soon be winding down activities at the Waltham facility as well," said Kyle MacDonald, senior vice president of Polaroid's instant photography business segment. The closures, set for completion during this quarter, will eliminate about 150 jobs. In the late 1970s, Polaroid employed about 15,000 in Massachusetts.

The Norwood and Waltham plants make large-format films used by professional photographers and artists. Polaroid also makes professional-grade films in Mexico, and its consumer film packs come from a factory in the Netherlands. All these plants are slated for closure this year. Polaroid chief operating officer Tom Beaudoin said the company is interested in licensing its technology to an outside firm that could manufacture film for faithful Polaroid customers. If that doesn't happen, Polaroid users would have to find an alternative photo technology, as the company plans to make only enough film to last into next year.

Polaroid has already quietly halted production of instant cameras. "We stopped making commercial-type cameras about 18 to 24 months ago, and we stopped making consumer cameras about a year ago," said Beaudoin.

 

[JBrunner]

If that doesn't happen, Polaroid users would have to find an alternative photo technology...

Sounds like a sh*^ deal to me.

 

[david b]

So is Polaroid closing?

No comments...

read here

http://www.boston.com/business/tech...id_shutting_2_mass_facilities_laying_off_150/

 

[msuchan]

Sadly that seems to be their plan.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

"It's about time," said Ron Glaz, director of digital imaging program at IDC Corp. "The fact that they're getting out of film makes complete sense."

Nice.

This is awful news, but there's always the possibility someone will pick up the technology on a more profitable production model. Remember when SX-70 went out of production, and SX-70 blend came along. The infrastructure is still there, it just needs to be employed properly.

This reaches far beyond our circles too - just the regular 600 integral photos are a part of culture today. A lot of my friends have been utterly horrified by this news.
A sad day.

 

[Removed Account]

I guess I won't be buying a 545 holder after all... *huddles under the sheets and cries*

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

I would expect Fujifilm Instant to be the main choice, though I can hope their prices get a little better. The only downside is that Fujifilm Instant (like FP100C) does not manipulate well at all.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

 

[IloveTLRs]

An other victim of the cancer that is digital photography

 

[Uhner]

It certainly appears that way. Too bad, but I think the writing has been on the wall for some time.

 

[Akki14]

I really hope fujifilm take up the consumer polaroid 600 film production. I have an instax camera and it's not the same as my lovely sx-70 which I really really like to use (partly due to it's close focusing ability).

 

[Stephen Frizza]

my clients complain that the colour in fuji is too good hehehe....oh and some complain that fuji has bigger problems with reciprocity failure. any enlightenment?

Polaroid gone? Im crying.

 

[Trevor Crone]

55 P/N........R.I.P.

 

[GeoffHill]

I've been looking for a 600 camera in local shops for a few weeks now and can't find them. I guess I'll stop looking now

 

[Soeren]

According to Tom Beaudoin the company is interested in licensing its technology to an outside firm (Fuji?) that could manufacture film for the (soon former) Polaroid users. Will that happen and what technology is in question P/N 55?

Kind regards

 

[amuderick]

Why not buy a 545 holder? The cost is much less than the film you'll shoot. They said in the article they will be manufacturing film to take them through 2009. That is two years + whatever you stock up and can use in the next 3-4 years. Why not buy it, enjoy it, and use it while it is still around?

 

[canuhead]

I've got an 8x10 processor that I've been waiting to use and now have to decide if it's worth spending the $25/ sheet just to use the damned thing. I'd gotten word last month that this was in the offing but it still bites. Sad part is, Polaroid doesn't store well so no point in laying in a stash.

Wonder if Fuji will bite ?

 

[SuzanneR]

This is indeed a huge bummer. Huge bummer... does Fuji make instant 4x5 or 8x10 film, now?

 

[argus]

Very sad. I'm still busy doing some series on Polaroid.

Great news, my emulsion lifts just doubled in price.

G