cxc Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 I already have a full 4x5 setup. I'm thinking about picking up a cheapo 8x10 off eBay and fooling around with Polaroids, maybe do some portraits, using my current lenses, tripod, etc. Normally I would just go ahead and jump in and see how it goes, but the cost of the processor and holder and film is great enough that I am asking a few questions here. Can anybody help me out? 1. Given the ongiong demise of Polaroid, and the greater convenience/cheapness of 4x5, does anybody do it in 8x10 anymore? 2. If so, what is your success rate at getting clean 'pulls' through the processor, that is, is it a trivial or tricky task? 3. Are you satisfied with the results, or just making do? 4. How long do you guess/hope the film will remain available? 5. Is it true you can't freeze it, and that it really goes bad at the expiration date? In other words, is it impractical to stockpile the film for when Polaroid finally goes under? TIA, CXC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_c._miller Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 Well, I can answer for the shelf life aspect. I have Type 57 at home which is at least two, maybe three or four years out of date, and it was never refrigerated. No problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_mcgoldrick2 Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 Go for it. I have about 20 8x10 roids up right now as part of a group show in St. Louis, I love the stuff. I've shot stuff thats pretty old perfectly fine. Fresh stuff almost always pulls through my machine perfectly fine. I think the stuff will remain around for quite a long time, a surpirsingly large amount of commercial work is still done 8x10. Also the craft market is not to be forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg_petusky Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 Haha. Funny you should mention it; the new Tori Amos album seems to be filled with beautiful examples. Plenty of gooey defects, and the aspect ratio really is a wonderful shape to play with. If these _are_ 8x10 transfers, the result kills the argument that you won't be able to tell the difference between large format and smaller film sizes in reduction... The photos really are lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracy_storer1 Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 For those of you have not heard... Polaroid was bought . This effectively took them out of financial hot water. I believe the sale was finalized last October. Peel apart films are among their most profitable products. I have been told to expect the continued availability of 20x24 film.(which relies on the production of all the other large format films, 4x5+8x10) In answer to your other questions: (not in order) 1. I think a good used 8x10 processor can be had complete for around $350- 500. 2. After being shown by someone who knows how, it is easy to make perfect prints almost every time. 3. There are a number of shooters who do serious work with 8x10 Polaroid as final art, especially image transfer. 4. The film may be refrigerated indefinitely, but freezing will cause the chemical pods to burst. If you've already got lenses that'll work, that's the biggie, 8x10 conventional contact prints can also be quite stunning. good luck, enjoy, Tracy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_briggs2 Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 An answer to 5: Polaroid advises not to freeze the film, so I haven't tried. My experience with the 4x5 film was that even with refrigeration, the film becomes unusable after the expiration date because the chemicals in the pod dry out. On a newsgroup I was told that this only happens if you have opened the foil package containing the film, which I had done. So probably unopened foil packages of film could be stored in the refrigerator to preserve the film past the expiration date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry_pluta3 Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 I cannot speak to 8x10, but I just found some 4x5 that I left in the garage in temps that are in the single digits. As mentioned above the foil was opened and about every other chemical pod has burst/dryed out. On the other hand I just bought some NOS 3000 asa 600 series that is over a year out of date and it is perfect. Enjoy, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 1.) Walter Iooss just had a very beautiful portfolio of portraits made on 8x10 Polaroid images run in Sports Illustrated. I know Gregory Heisler uses it as well.<P>5.) No you cannot freeze it, but you can refrigerate it. and Polaroi is not going out of business anytime soon, although the company (with new majority owners) is working its way out of a bankruptcy caused by bad financial management and a heavy debt load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxc Posted January 17, 2003 Author Share Posted January 17, 2003 Thanks everybody for all the info and encouragement. I'll definitely give it a try, probably. CXC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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