What's up with the impossible project?

[railwayman3]

In 2017, "Impossible Project" perfectly captures what a startup company's attempt to make affordable, top-quality instant film is. IMPOSSIBLE. The proof has been in the overpriced, inedible pudding. While there's a chance the product might become a bit less expensive and slightly less effective as an emetic, it will continue to be overpriced and inedible.

Practically every cell phone on the planet includes an instant imaging device. The images they capture can be made to look like real, i.e. high-quality, early Polaroid© images, ones taken before digital's market dominance stressed even the real Polaroid© so much its own product quality declined.

Reality sucks, but it's real.

You're right. Fuji make their neat little instant cameras for those who want a change from smartphones or pocket digitals, but I can't, personally, see any current serious use for Polaroid particularly if the current films are unreliable. Some years ago I had use, for a time, of a Mamiya 645 Pro with a Polaroid back, which had some benefits for checking lighting and framing, but not much else.

 

[captain ZZM]

In 2017, "Impossible Project" perfectly captures what a startup company's attempt to make affordable, top-quality instant film is. IMPOSSIBLE. The proof has been in the overpriced, inedible pudding. While there's a chance the product might become a bit less expensive and slightly less effective as an emetic, it will continue to be overpriced and inedible.

Practically every cell phone on the planet includes an instant imaging device. The images they capture can be made to look like real, i.e. high-quality, early Polaroid© images, ones taken before digital's market dominance stressed even the real Polaroid© so much its own product quality declined.

Reality sucks, but it's real.

Remember the mid-1990s, every urban street had a small photo lab and the “quick serving” usually just wait 20-60 minutes. My family never bought a Polaroid camera (or any Fuji instant) in the film era,

 

[mooseontheloose]

Well, looks like it's gone. The impossible website is now polaroidoriginals.com. New camera (OneStep 2) and new film (?) - I haven't found much information about the film yet, but I hope it's a better formulation and not just a rebranding.

 

[GarageBoy]

Can't believe they'd just ditch the impossible project brand just like that... They seemed to be proud of it before

 

[Punker]

Can't believe they'd just ditch the impossible project brand just like that... They seemed to be proud of it before

Well now maybe Impossible isn't so fitting a title anymore.

 

[Cholentpot]

Sad tuba tune...

 

[MattKing]

Can't believe they'd just ditch the impossible project brand just like that... They seemed to be proud of it before

Why, that would be like APUG abandoning its name after 15 years - no one would do that!
angel

 

[darkosaric]

Interesting would be to know do I still have my pioneer discount (it should be lifetime)... I will ask.

Edit: On new page I got info that "No account found with that email". Recreation of account is needed.

 

[Ces1um]

So it's a rebranding, a new camera and a drop in price for their film. Now if the quality of the film would just improve.... I wonder about their new camera- it looks quite nice but I wonder what they mean by "high quality lens"? Is it glass? How many elements? Looks like they've taken to heart the complaint with the I-1's battery draining. They specifically say "60 day battery life" on the website for their new camera. Name of the new camera is "polaroid onestep 2" and looks like the original.

*edit*- "high quality optical grade polycarbonate and acrylic lenses, coated".

 

[darkosaric]

Interesting would be to know do I still have my pioneer discount

Good news: "..we still recognize our pioneers without whom we wouldn't be where we are today.."

 

[Ces1um]

Can't believe they'd just ditch the impossible project brand just like that... They seemed to be proud of it before

Given all the negative press around their film and a lot of youtube photographers badmouthing them I'd say a rebrand was a good idea. Now they better have fixed their film so they don't continue to get bad press over it or they'll have to rebrand again!

 

[Lee Rust]

The Impossible Project has disproved itself, so the name had to change. I'm sure the film's image quality will continually be improved, but they are working within market and environmental restrictions that the original Polaroid never had to worry about.

The worldwide pool of existing cameras was an essential factor in restarting the technology, so the Impossible films had to have internal batteries. Going forward, the new cameras have their own batteries and the complex, wasteful & expensive Impossible film packs will probably be priced out of practical reach before too long. Then we'll have to buy the new cameras. Sounds like a business plan.

 

[EdSawyer]

that would be a shame if so. the only reason to even bother putting up with their mediocre film was so one could use the brilliant sx-70 cameras. if their product is limited in the future to their own camera, that will end up being even more of an epic fail than their current business model already is. no one wants their lame hipster-douche attempt at making a camera. if they lock out the worldwide base of existing polaroid cameras, 99% of their customers will say 'buh-bye'.

 

[Lee Rust]

I too have an SX-70... a wonderful camera... but it is more than 40 years old. The auto exposure is somewhat unreliable and the electronics and rubber bellows will not last forever. I also have 'The Button' and a couple of One Steps that are functionally equivalent to the new Polaroid Originals hipster model. I expect that the expensive integral battery film packs will be produced only as long as those with SX-70s and Spectras are willing to pay for them. Most casual users would probably be willing to discard their old One Steps for the new ones if the film was significantly cheaper.

 

[Ces1um]

So apparently the film used in their new camera, "I type" has a new formulation that they started making in august. 10-15 min development time now, which is significantly faster than the type I used which was fabricated In March 2017. I'm curious to know if anybody has used this newest film type.- Manufactured 08/17 and later.

 

[Alan9940]

FWIW, my Impossible login criteria works just fine on the new website and my purchase reward points are intact. From my standpoint, looks like a very smooth transition. I love shooting with my SX-70's and look forward to improvements in the film. Personally, I'm glad to see the Polaroid name return!

 

[Mackinaw]

FWIW, my Impossible login criteria works just fine on the new website and my purchase reward points are intact. From my standpoint, looks like a very smooth transition. I love shooting with my SX-70's and look forward to improvements in the film. Personally, I'm glad to see the Polaroid name return!

The color film is new. I beta-tested three packs back in spring for IP. A bit on the warm side, but I like it. The B&W film, for now, is a carryover (but with the new Polaroid name). I'm another SX-70 fan.

Jim B.

 

[Mackinaw]

Inasmuch as you've tested the new film, you are exactly the person I want to ask: are the frog tongues still necessary for the new film SX-70 version? Does the new camera have a similar accessory? Those tongues continually malfunction and break for me, and rather purchasing more (still for sale on the Impossible, er, Polaroid Originals, site), I'd prefer to go without. Wonder what you think.

i can’t give you an answer. I tested the film back in March/April and have long thrown out the information sheets that came with it. But looking at the new Polaroid website, they still recommend that you shield the film from light, especially for the first few seconds.

I tested the new color beta film in my SX-70, with the ND filter in place. My camera also has a frog tongue. After waiting a few seconds after the picture pops out of the camera, I then put the film in my camera bag (dark) where it finished developing. Again, outside of being a tad too warm (which I told to IP), the film is better than the previous 600-series color film.

And interestingly, a scan of a color print converted to B&W in PS looks better than 600-series B&W film image. Much better total range. From now on, I’ll shoot everything on this new 600-series color film, and scan and convert, if I want a B&W image.

Jim B.

 

[Alan9940]

i can’t give you an answer. I tested the film back in March/April and have long thrown out the information sheets that came with it. But looking at the new Polaroid website, they still recommend that you shield the film from light, especially for the first few seconds.

I tested the new color beta film in my SX-70, with the ND filter in place. My camera also has a frog tongue. After waiting a few seconds after the picture pops out of the camera, I then put the film in my camera bag (dark) where it finished developing. Again, outside of being a tad too warm (which I told to IP), the film is better than the previous 600-series color film.

And interestingly, a scan of a color print converted to B&W in PS looks better than 600-series B&W film image. Much better total range. From now on, I’ll shoot everything on this new 600-series color film, and scan and convert, if I want a B&W image.

Jim B.

Hi Jim,

So, it sounds like from your post here that the 600-series color film is new, not the SX-70 color film. Am I understanding that correctly?

Thanks!

 

[vdonovan]

that would be a shame if so. the only reason to even bother putting up with their mediocre film was so one could use the brilliant sx-70 cameras. if their product is limited in the future to their own camera, that will end up being even more of an epic fail than their current business model already is. no one wants their lame hipster-douche attempt at making a camera. if they lock out the worldwide base of existing polaroid cameras, 99% of their customers will say 'buh-bye'.

It would be nice if they could invent a battery for the SX-70s so that the battery wouldn't have to be in the film.

 

[Prest_400]

Hi Jim,

So, it sounds like from your post here that the 600-series color film is new, not the SX-70 color film. Am I understanding that correctly?

Thanks!

Curious. Until now, when they rolled in the newer gens, it was all throughout the line... And it is what I thought.
Went on Polaroid's site, SX70 film and found this:

The SX-70 was the world’s first truly instant camera, and it comes from a time when things moved a bit more slowly. Slower times, slower film speed. Don’t worry, it still develops as fast as our other film – it’s just a little more laidback about it.

If it develops as fast as the other film (iType, 600) supposedly it should be under the 15min new film.

 

[Mackinaw]

Hi Jim,

So, it sounds like from your post here that the 600-series color film is new, not the SX-70 color film. Am I understanding that correctly?

Thanks!

Alan, again, I can’t give you a good answer. I’ve been beta-testing IP film for years and they’ve always been very specific as to what film they send me (600-series, SX-70-series). The Color 3.0 stuff I beta-tested this spring was 600-series film.

They sell much more 600-series film than anything else which leads me to think that the “new“ Polaroid SX-70 film (and Spectra films) are carryover products. With a limited R&D budget, they spend their development dollars on the best selling stuff first, and turn to the SX-70 stuff later. But to be honest, I really don’t know if color SX-70 film is all new or not.

Jim B.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

It would be nice if they could invent a battery for the SX-70s so that the battery wouldn't have to be in the film.

My books on Edwin Land and Polaroid discuss how the engineers tried unsuccessfully to persuade him not to incorporate batteries in the film pack.

Dr. Land wanted to ensure the likelihood that if there was film in the camera, a good battery would be there too. He succeeded, as the Polapulse (tm) battery had a long life. Unfortunately, this meant Polaroid was also in the battery business.

 

[Mackinaw]

It would be nice if they could invent a battery for the SX-70s so that the battery wouldn't have to be in the film.

That's why the make the I-1 and the new OneStep 2 cameras. The battery is in the camera, not the film pack.

Jim B.

 

[vdonovan]

That's why the make the I-1 and the new OneStep 2 cameras. The battery is in the camera, not the film pack.

Jim B.

I know, but neither camera has the quality of the SX-70. It would be nice to use their new non-battery film in the older SX-70s..