Same question, different member! Polaroids

[farrance]

Hey all,

Just dug out my 11 year old Polaroid P camera.

Seen the impossible project films, just wondering about alternatives! £2 a shot is quite stiff, so I'm just seeing about other possible sources!

Also, is a V500 still the best way to scan in the shots?

Alex

 

[freecom2]

Alternatives film for that camera, or alternative instant film systems?

A V500 will be fine - it's just like scanning any print, so it's not even something that really needs the negative scanning capabilities of a scanner like the V500.

 

[farrance]

Alternatives film for that camera, or alternative instant film systems?

A V500 will be fine - it's just like scanning any print, so it's not even something that really needs the negative scanning capabilities of a scanner like the V500.

Alternative instant film systems, I know 600 is the only one that works (to the most of my knowledge anyway)

 

[freecom2]

You've got 3 other choices, all cheaper than the Impossible Project.

Fuji 100 Pack Film - FP-100C, FP-3000B
This is Fuji's version of Polaroid's type 100 pack film, and works with a wide variety of the old Polaroid Land Cameras. A massive list of them is here, you want a model with "100" next to it. The second hand prices of the Land Cameras varies wildly, some of them were very plastic and consumer orientated, some of them were very serious cameras (the Polaroid 180 springs to mind, one went on eBay recently for £200+). Fun cameras, quite large (but that's generally the case with most Polaroid Land Cameras - and fair enough given the size of the image they make), most use a rangefinder to focus, some use old 4.5V alkaline batteries that are no longer available. Fuji does a colour ISO100 film (silk or glossy - most land cameras had an ISO speed of 75 rather than 100), and a black & white ISO3000 film (most land cameras have an ISO speed of 3000).

£1.26 per shot at current prices

Fuji Instax Wide
Fuji's own take on instant film. The supporting cameras are the Instax 100, 200, 210 and the rarer 500AF. Produce a big image, cameras support modern batteries, cameras are rather large and ugly, the film is a bit cheaper than the Fuji pack film (not by much though). One speed of film available, ISO800. Cameras offer relatively poor control of flash exposure (it's usually on, regardless of what you tell the camera to do). Cameras, second-hand, are relatively cheap - and you can still pick up a 210 new for something like ~£60.

67p per shot at current prices

Fuji Instax Mini
The other Fuji Instax film, smaller cameras and smaller images. Models include the mini 7, 8, 25, 50S amongst others. Portrait orientation. The film is ever so slightly cheaper than the Instax Wide film, although considering how much smaller it is, not necessarily worth it. One speed of film like the wide films, ISO800. Cameras are more expensive on the used market than the Instax Wide cameras.

63p per shot at current prices

 

[freecom2]

I should say - there's still a lot of people shooting each of those formats. A lot of people appreciate the old Land Cameras, especially the more pro-orientated ones, and many people like the ISO100 and ISO3000 pack films. The FP pack films are the same ones that go into the Polaroid medium format backs.

The Instax products tend to be supported by much newer cameras - both the Wide and Mini formats are supported by cameras still being manufactured, and can be bought new.

Shooting instant film is expensive but a joy

 

[farrance]

You've got 3 other choices, all cheaper than the Impossible Project.

Fuji 100 Pack Film - FP-100C, FP-3000B
This is Fuji's version of Polaroid's type 100 pack film, and works with a wide variety of the old Polaroid Land Cameras. A massive list of them is here, you want a model with "100" next to it. The second hand prices of the Land Cameras varies wildly, some of them were very plastic and consumer orientated, some of them were very serious cameras (the Polaroid 180 springs to mind, one went on eBay recently for £200+). Fun cameras, quite large (but that's generally the case with most Polaroid Land Cameras - and fair enough given the size of the image they make), most use a rangefinder to focus, some use old 4.5V alkaline batteries that are no longer available. Fuji does a colour ISO100 film (silk or glossy - most land cameras had an ISO speed of 75 rather than 100), and a black & white ISO3000 film (most land cameras have an ISO speed of 3000).

£1.26 per shot at current prices

Fuji Instax Wide
Fuji's own take on instant film. The supporting cameras are the Instax 100, 200, 210 and the rarer 500AF. Produce a big image, cameras support modern batteries, cameras are rather large and ugly, the film is a bit cheaper than the Fuji pack film (not by much though). One speed of film available, ISO800. Cameras offer relatively poor control of flash exposure (it's usually on, regardless of what you tell the camera to do). Cameras, second-hand, are relatively cheap - and you can still pick up a 210 new for something like ~£60.

67p per shot at current prices

Fuji Instax Mini
The other Fuji Instax film, smaller cameras and smaller images. Models include the mini 7, 8, 25, 50S amongst others. Portrait orientation. The film is ever so slightly cheaper than the Instax Wide film, although considering how much smaller it is, not necessarily worth it. One speed of film like the wide films, ISO800. Cameras are more expensive on the used market than the Instax Wide cameras.

63p per shot at current prices

Without sounding silly, do the Fuji instax ones actually work in the Polaroid P/600 cameras? That would be awesome if i could get that to work? Am I wrong?

 

[farrance]

I think I have to repeat myself, I'm looking for different films to use in my existing camera. A Polaroid which has only ever had Polaroid 600 film that cost £22 4 years ago!