The end of the Polaroid...

[Toe]

Polaroid has announced that it's set to discontinue all production of its traditional instant-develop film products.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/polaroid-abandons-instant-photography/?hp

It's been a long time coming, really. I mean, all film-based photography has waned to some degree since the digital era took off. But still, Polaroid always had its own special niche in photography. Really, even modern digitals don't quite match it for immediacy, unless you feel that a little 1.5" LCD is as good as a print...

[Protocol]

That is a sad story.

I remember all those years ago, and the very first time I saw a photo slide out from one of those things and watching it developing. I thought it was amazing.

I bought myself one a little while later, but it didn't last long. For some reason it died after a short while. I think the film cartridge was a little expensive if I remember rightly.

RIP Polaroid Instant Camera. :(

[Todd The Kiwi]

wow i've never even used one, i've seen one though.

i might have to get myself some 'roids! (http://www.polaroideyewear.com/eyewear.jsp)

[acushla]

Polaroid has announced that it's set to discontinue all production of its traditional instant-develop film products.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/polaroid-abandons-instant-photography/?hp

It's been a long time coming, really. I mean, all film-based photography has waned to some degree since the digital era took off. But still, Polaroid always had its own special niche in photography. Really, even modern digitals don't quite match it for immediacy, unless you feel that a little 1.5" LCD is as good as a print...Here's something I do know a little something.

Keep in mind that the Polaroid image was only as big as the negative size of the camera you were using. Which meant for 35mm photography it was, in my working opinion, useless. 6cm x 6cm together with a Lupe was my modus operandi for over 35 years. Using 4 x 5 or 8 x 10 was pure joy.

The general consensus is that the quality of imagery took a incredible leap forward with the introduction of Polaroid. The fact that Professionals could look at the image they created after they had taken it allowed for changes to be made until the desired image was obtained. At that point film would be used to capture the 'final' image.

Polaroid was as important as taking a camera whenever you had a job to do...I always had a large stock of it on hand in my freezer.

Then came digital...and the (old) little 1.5" LCD screens. Which is why every Pro would have a laptop with him on a job. The images could be downloaded into the computer and then brought up on the screen...which in every case was larger than 1.5". With Wi-Fi, you can transmit your pictures directly to the laptop. As an extra advantage you could place the image into a photo editing program and make some quick adjustments to show the client what the final image will look like. Something you weren't able to do with Polaroid.

A month ago I bought a CANON D40 which has a LCD measuring 3 inches. The first job I did with this camera I immediately realized that if you weren't required to burn the images to disk at the end of the job then there is no longer any need to bring a laptop with you. The screen is more than large enough to show the images to your client and the fact that you have a zoom feature seals the deal.

Frankly...I'm surprised that Polaroid hung on as long as they did but then I remember that this is a big world and not everybody is on the cutting edge of technology that we in the west are.

And yes Protocol...this film was not just expensive to you...it was expensive to everybody. I would charge my client $5.00 for each Polaroid shot...which made it interesting on occasion if you had a date with a hot babe later that evening!:ponder:

[WHAT?]

Tommy Scholz actually had a few pattens with Polaroid I think.

Boston
Boston The arena rock group behind one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history.
Scholz formed the band. He is from Toledo, Ohio and is an Ottawa Hills High School graduate of the class of 1965. He won a full scholarship to MIT, where he obtained Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering, graduating with a GPA of 4.8 on a 5.0 scale. He later worked at Polaroid, where he became a senior product design engineer, helping develop their instant film system.
How about that to an end of an era?

He also is known for Rockman (http://www.guitarbootcamp.com/effects/rockman-gear/)

[Toe]

PC World has a collection of old Polaroid commercials posted, if anyone feels like a trip down memory lane...

http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/006464.html

[Protocol]

And you thought it was dead. :normal:

It's back!!! (http://www.qt.com.au/story/2009/01/10/polaroid-unveils-instant-digital-camera/)

[Todd The Kiwi]

hey awesome, but with photo paper prices that high the whole 'kodak photo booth' thing will surely prevail.
over here the prints from the booth are dirt cheap.