End of Polaroid film: this sucks for so many artists I know:

[swag]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/22ce2e1c-d69c-11dc-b9f4-0000779fd2ac.html

Polaroid film faces the final shutter
By Justin Baer in New York

Published: February 8 2008 23:48 | Last updated: February 8 2008 23:48

Polaroid, the US company that introduced instant photography 60 years ago, is to stop making film.

The group, which stopped making instant cameras a year ago, will now complete its transition to digital printers, televisions and DVD players by shutting four analogue film factories.

More consumer news - Feb-09Polaroid cameras and the white-bordered prints they produced were common at family reunions and crime scenes alike for decades, reaching peak popularity during the 1960s and 1970s. They would also become a medium of choice for artists such as Ansel Adams, David Hockney and Robert Rauschenberg.

The advent of digital technology has pushed Eastman Kodak and other veteran manufacturers to abandon film production in recent years. Soon after Polaroid was sold to private investment firm Petters Group in 2005, the management started its own gradual retreat from analogue photography.

Polaroid will close two factories in Massachusetts as well as facilities in Mexico and the Netherlands, eliminating about 450 jobs. The company plans to make enough film to last customers until next year, Thomas Beaudoin, chief operating officer, said.

. . .

[Redstone]

1. Well, booger. That's truly the end of an era, it is. I was a professional photographer when

the SX-70 first came out. Everyone else was talking about "will autofocus ever be a reality?" and Polaroid just went and DID it.

(And all those years of using NPC Polaroid back in the studio to check lighting and exposure. That was back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and cameras had FILM in them, kids.)

RIP, Polaroid. I'll remember you fondly.

Redstone

[Lethe]

2. Interesting

I wonder if in a few years photographers will be shelling out major cash to get an "analog" camera. Because, you know, these digital cameras just can't capture the warmth and vitality of those vintage "analog" cameras. If you have a lot of cash, you might be able to get one on ebay, but most of the people will just have to settle for an analog camera simulation model within the digital camera.

[Redstone]

3. Not me, cool. I still have a Century Graphic. And I'm not selling it.

Redstone

[KG]

4. with digital, nobody need polaroids to take nekkid pictures of their girlfriends anymore...

[Archae]

5. Well shit, what do I do with my SX-70 then?

Seriously, I have it, I like the way I can get REAL close like this picture:



(Used the SX-70 and then scanned the picture)

[qnr]

6. They're licensing the technology out to other companies. n/t

[swag]

9. I haven't been able to find SX-70 film for a few years.

If anybody can find some, lemme know!

[bettyellen]

13. this is kinda sad, you're right.

http://www.batteriesandbutter.com/page/bb/CTGY/pol&source=google?gclid=CJiZ3PbPt5ECFSF4lgodcmfpCA

[qnr]

15. Interestingly, I was in a Goodwill store a few months ago, and it had about 80 boxes

of SX-70 film, but no camera - their Goodwill on the other side of town had two SX-70's. This was up in Maine, but it might be a place to look - thrift stores in general (these were unopened boxes, BTW).

[RetroLounge]

7. At least I can still get Plus-X and Tri-X film

for my Argus C3 and C4...

right?

:shrug:

RL

[swag]

10. This is good consolation.

I just bought a 35-70mm Canon zoom for my old AE-1.

[RetroLounge]

11. My Dad still has and uses his AE-1 as his main camera

:hi:

RL

[IDemo]

12. My first camera out of high school was an AE-1 (1975)

Still looks and works like new.

[Jamastiene]

8. Many of my family reunions looked like crime scenes. n/t

[Deep13]

14. goodammit. nt

[Deja Q]

16. Digital - seemed obvious years ago, and they aren't Fuji...

Trouble is, are their little digicams as good as even Kodak's? BTW: Kodak models stink and are grossly overpriced...

Film will still exist, but as digital expands by leaps and bounds, even Fuji will start to suffer...