Polaroid vs. Calumet 8x10 Pola processor

[g_nauman]

Thanks all for responses to my previous query. Just one more:

I'm looking at the Calumet field processor and the Polaroid

electric unit. On the face of it, I would imagine that the Polaroid is

more reliable -- and one user has said it works with a car

adapter, which is nice -- but the Calumet is less expensive and,

really more portable. Ideas, experiences?

[scott walton]

With Polaroid's demise, I probably go with the Calumet, manual and less

things to go wrong.

[ellis_vener_photography]

Polaroid isn't dead just in bankruptcy. (Butt then so is

Enron!)<P>If you are goingto be in the field the Calumet

processor offers more versatility.

[rob_tucher]

As I said in my post, the Calumet is great for the field. It is

smaller, lighter, easy to use and clean (a must!), and requires no

power at all. No electricity, cords, batteries, ...nothing. But, it

is a hand-crank design and must be cranked ever so evenly and at a

fairly slow speed or you get banding. I use Polaroid as a proof so it

doesn't matter much, and I have got the hang of it so I don't get

banding all that much, but it happens, so if you are using the

Polaroid as a final then take care. I might suggest not processing at

all in the field if the print is your final. Shoot while carrying

nothing but the film and back and process at home with the electric

Polaroid processor and receiver/chemistry. But if you must process

out there then the Calumet is a great investment. You're not tethered

to a cord or even you car.

 

<p>

 

By the way I've never seen the T805 pos/neg mentioned before, and as

of last time I checked the person posting had not answered Sal S.

Where is it gotten?

[sal_santamaura]

Rob, Bill Jefferson did answer in that thread. T-805 is in

development and not commercially available.

[bill_jefferson]

Rob,

 

<p>

 

I answered Sal's inquirey privatelt,. and as stated it is in

development, waiting for 2 sheet tests to be run to continue with the

testing. Bill

[roger_urban3]

Have you seen 8x10 polaroids up close and personnal before? Suggest

you try to do that before buying into this equipment. All the

polaroids I have seen are pretty crappy compared to anything made

with regular negatives, no matter what the asa. I have 8x10 polaroid

and have done color and b&w. If you're doing color you will probably

find it necessary to use color correction filters.

 

<p>

 

I usee the hand crank outfit from Calumet and it works pretty well.

Occassionally not all the developing goo is spread out properly, or

one of the sheets doesn't get grabbed by the rollers so you end up

using an extra positive.

[g_nauman]

Actually, I know my way around smaller format (including 4x5)

Polaroid materials pretty darn well. In 4x5, I've done quite a bit

with pos/negs and Polaroid transfers. It ain't shooting chrome,

but it has it's own look that's worth exploring.

 

<p>

 

This came up because I recently picked up an 8x10, for another

purpose. Anyway, I found a used but very nice Polaroid

processor for $275 yesterday, so I bought it. It can live on a work

table and I'll just bring film in from the field (which for me isn't

very far at all) for processing.

 

<p>

 

Thanks to all -- and, please, do keep submitting tips.