The FPP Gang - Mike, Mat, Leslie, Lauren and the Strudel celebrate FILM in 2013 at Tony's Touch of Italy, Pompton Lakes, NJ.
Polaroid 300 camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini (Rainbow Borders)
Polaroid 300 and the Instax Mini 7s are identical cameras that produce credit card sized instant images. They're available at Target, Walmart and CVS and our very own Film Photography Store On-Line!
************************* In 2009, I launched The Film Photography Podcast, an hour-long, bi-monthly Internet radio program exploring my passion for film photography and covering a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced / aspiring photographer using film as a medium. http://filmphotographypodcast.com/
In a world electronics market that predominately offers only digital cameras to consumers via “Big Box stores” like Best Buy or Walmart, it was amazingly refreshing to hear that retail giant Target (here in the US) would be offering the new Polaroid 300 camera and 300 film.
Polaroid 300 camera and film in-stock at the Target Store, State Rt 23, Riverdale, NJ USA
I’ve covered the Polaroid 300 camera on previous blogs, spoke about it on the Film Photography Podcast and even shot a YouTube video. I’ve been singing the praises of this new instant camera because at the heart of the matter - I believe that shooting your photos on film is a better, more rewarding experience. Instant film photography gives you something that digital currently can not...an awesome instant print to share with plenty of smiles.
Polaroid 300 print of Nicole. I noticed her because she was wearing a “roasted turkey” plush hat at the Pizza Hut inside the Target store. Upon asking her if wearing the turkey was “required uniform” at Pizza Hut, she laughed and said “no, just wearin’ it for fun!”
- Michael Raso
In 2009, I launched The Film Photography Podcast, an hour-long, bi-monthly Internet radio program exploring my passion for film photography and covering a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced / aspiring photographer using film as a medium. http://filmphotographypodcast.com/
A fellow FLICKR member sent me FlickrMail today regarding the new Polaroid 300 camera. Below is his correspondance and my response.
Hi Michael
How do you like your 300? I've been a Polaroid fan for a while and normally use an SX-70. After seeing your shots with the new 300, I decided to get one of my own. How's your experience been when shooting in bright sun? I've wasted over a pack just testing out the fine vs clear settings, most are coming out very over exposed (and the sun is at my back). Any tips?
Thanks! Bob
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Hi Bob,
Polaroid 300 in direct sun is a bit tricky. Many times I forget to switch the filter to sun!
Here's a few shots that are a little overexposed but still pleasing:
My favorite shots with the 300 camera are studio shots where I mix the on-camera flash with a strong backlight.
Studio shots of comedian Méla Eloise Nichols with the Polaroid 300 camera
All in all, I really love the camera.
I also picked up a used Polaroid Mio on e-bay. They use the same film.
Although I tend to use the Polaroid 300 film (Purchased on-line at J&R Electronics), you can also use the Fujifilm Intax Mini film.
There is no getting around that the Polaroid 300 is a consumer camera with the minimum of features. More than half the fun is using the camera in situations that it wasn't designed for. I've never had an issue with shots turning out unusable. Best of luck with your new 300.
You’re not going to believe this but not too long ago there was no such thing as the Internet. Yes, that’s right…no on-line. No cell phones , either.
C’mon, think hard. Remember?
Okay, okay…then THIS is something you won’t believe. On Route 46 in New Jersey there is an actual store that sells camera stuff. Get this…. they sell film too. (Sigh) You do remember film, right? Okay, put your iPhone down and listen up. Or better yet, open up the Wiki on yer iPhone and look up film.
Okay, this is going to blow your mind (insert sound effect here). To get my hands on film, it is actually faster for me to drive-to-the-store than to order on-line. The store is Unique Photo in Fairfield, NJ. A short drive from the Film Photography Podcast Studio, this cavernous store (with coffee bar) is most likely the last brick and mortar store to offer Polaroid integral and pack film products.
(clockwise from upper left) A surrealistic experience finding film displayed in an isle of an actual store…it’s true – Polaroid 300 film is nothing more than re-branded Fujifilm Instax…600, Spectra and Pack film galore (but watch out for the “price sting” on the 600 film)
I stocked up on pack film including 2009-dated Polaroid 664, 667 and fresh-dated Fujifilm FP-100c. Thanks, Paul!
I found a bit of Unique history on the web: “In 1947 Bernard Sweetwood and his wife Harriet founded Unique Photo. Forged by their hard work and fueled by Bernard's lifelong passion for photography, the small Brookyln storefront quickly blossomed into today's Unique: one of the largest and most successful suppliers of its kind. In 1965, the company moved across the Hudson. In 2008 the company - now headed by sons Jonathan and Matthew - moved to its current state of the art facility in Fairfield, New Jersey.”
I even located this “cable spot” on You Tube!
When visiting the Garden State, enjoy a real store experience at Unique…and don’t forget to shoot me an e-mail…I’ll meet you there for some Java! - Michael Raso / FilmPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com
With the re-emerging Instant Films in stores this year via Polaroid / Fujifilm and The Impossible Project, amateur and professional photographers alike have raised their eyebrows after initially thinking that instant photography was going the way of the dinosaur when the end of instant film was announced by Polaroid in 2009.
ABC-TV New York report on the end of Polaroid instant film
In 2010, instant photography is alive and well with continued commitment by Fujifilm in Japan and grassroots movements like http://www.savepolaroid.com/ and The Impossible Project getting more attention this year than in the last two decades combined.
The Fujifilm commitment aside, most instant film excitement has been coming from an old Polaroid factory in Enschede (pronounced En-Ska-Day), Netherlands, where The Impossible Project purchased equipment from Polaroid and promised to make new films for the millions of existing Polaroid SX-70 and 600 cameras in the world.
CBS-TV USA report on the end of Polaroid and beginning of The Impossible Project
For those of you who don’t eat, sleep and breath Polaroid photography (like me!), instant film by definition “is a type of photographic film first introduced by Polaroid that is designed to be used in an instant camera (and, with accessory hardware, with many professional film cameras). The film contains the chemicals needed for developing and fixing the photo, and the instant camera exposes and initiates the developing process after a photograph has been taken.
1963 Polaroid instant camera TV ad
In earlier Polaroid instant cameras the film is pulled through rollers which breaks open a pod containing a reagent that is spread between the exposed negative and receiving positive sheet. This film sandwich develops for a predetermined time, depending on film type and ambient temperature, after which the positive sheet is peeled away from the negative to reveal the developed photo.
In 1972, Polaroid introduced integral film, which incorporated timing and receiving layers to automatically develop and fix the photo without any intervention from the photographer.”*
Most folks are familiar with integral instant film with cameras like the Polaroid One-Step. Polaroid cameras were heavily, heavily advertised in the 1960s through the 1980s.
Polaroid One Step TV Ad 1981
The Impossible Project has made good on their promise and in March 2010, introduced monochrome SX-70 and 600 films. On July 29th, Impossible introduced their “First Flush” edition of color film for SX-70 cameras and plan on releasing color film for 600 cameras later this year.
Earlier in 2010 Polaroid Corporation announced a new, re-envisioned One-Step camera called the One Step pic-1000 to be available in December 2010.
The Polaroid Pic-1000 announced January 2010 at the CES show in Las Vegas, Nevada USA
Then, two months later under the direction of Lady Ga Ga (Polaroid’s new Creative Director), Polaroid surprisingly released the Polaroid 300 camera.
Lady GaGa discusses her creative partnership with Polaroid
The camera uses business card sized color film and was released to the US market in April 2010. Many on-line bloggers have noted that the release of the 300 camera solidifies the Polaroid-Fuji relationship since the 300 camera and film is manufactured by Fujifilm Japan re-branded Polaroid here in the United States.
Elsewhere in the world, the camera is known as the Fuji Instax Mini. It should be noted that Fujifilm attempted to release their Instax Mini cameras and film here in the US in 1999 but instead made an arrangement with Polaroid and partnered on the short-lived Polaroid Mio camera.
It is suggested that Polaroid will continue the relationship with Fujifilm and introduce the Pic-1000 camera with new 600 film manufactured by Fuji late in 2010.
Since I began shooting with the new Polaroid 300 camera, I’m reminded daily (via e-mail, FaceBook and Flickr posts) how “sad” it is that new Polaroid products are just re-branded Fuji products.
Polaroid Corp had a long run. Some might say that it wasn't the same after Edwin Land passed or attribute the fall of the original company to changing times.
For me, it's encouraging that the new Polaroid is partnering with Fujifilm to release instant film. If an instant print makes you or someone else smile, then nothing else really matters.
My passion for film photography has been a positive factor is getting me out from the dark studio and into the great outdoors. (even if it is just a few steps from my studio door!)
The many angles of Butler Center and the adjacent Main Street in Butler USA are captured with newly acquired vintage camera arriving almost daily from all points USA and Europe.
this image: Butler Center / 6-27-2010 / Holga 120N camera with 35mm Kodachrome 64 top image: Butler Center / 6-2-2010 / Polaroid Colorpack IV – Fujifilm FP-100c Instant Film
“Butler Center (formerly American Hard Rubber Company building complex) is part of the Morris County Heritage Commission).
In 1881 the growing town of West Bloomingdale was renamed Butler after Richard Butler, who had taken ownership of the American Hard Rubber Company.
The American Hard Rubber Company buildings (now Butler Center) were built in 1898. On February 26, 1957, the rubber factory was destroyed by a massive fire. One Butler resident remembers the fire being so bright she could read a newspaper in her yard at 3am at a distance of 1 mile. The glow reportedly was visible for 100 miles; volunteer fire companies from 55 municipalities required mutual aid response during the initial hours and then in shifts over the next week. New York City Fire Department, 30 miles away, offered help when observing the bright glow.” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butler,_New_Jersey
Today, Butler Center (the remaining buildings from the factory) has been converted into an industrial complex housing many manufacturing companies including my studio– Pop Cinema, Building 6 (Home of The Film Photography Podcast).
Town Hall, Butler, NJ USA / Kodak Jiffy Six-20 camera / Fujichrome Velvia 100F film
Butler Center / 6-5-2010 / Polaroid Super Shooter – Fujifilm FP-100c Instant Film
Butler Center images below shot on the new Polaroid pic-300 camera and 300 Instant film (except *)
* This image shot with the short-lived Y2K Polaroid Mio camera. Image below: Canon FTb camera / EFKE KB 21 Black and White Negative Film
When not behind my desk at Pop Cinema or testing vintage cameras, you’ll find me producing The Film Photography Podcast.
FFP listener Tony Kwong has “fed” my Polaroid addiction via an e-mail discussing the short-lived Polaroid MIO camera (and the Polaroid – Fuji partnership)
I wasted no time connecting to e-bay to find a used Polaroid MIO for myself.
“Just to let you know, this is not the first time that a Fujifilm instant film product has been distributed by Polaroid, they have a long history of working together dating back to the mid 1980's they shared many technologies. Fuji's instant film offerings were not well distributed in the North American market. So a well-distributed Polaroid branded version was very welcome.
First there was an instant peel apart pack film called "Polaroid ProVivid" or "Type 689" that product is the same as Fujifilms FP-100c.
In the early 2000's, Polaroid released a short-lived instant camera called the "mio" which was a redesigned version of the Fujifilm Instax mini. It took a film called mio film which I later discovered was exactly the same as the fujifilm instax mini. This was a great thing as I was able to find imported instax mini film after Polaroid stopped distributing mio film in 2005. This was before last year when Instax mini was finally available in the usa.
I continue to buy instax mini film primarily from American distributors like Unique Photo, Freestyle photo, B&H, Adorama and Mel Pierce camera instead of importing directly to show the distributors and Fuji there is a demand for their products in the usa.
Now as for compatibility of film you discusses in your July 15 podcast. I tested the 300 film, and it does indeed work in a Polaroid mio. I don’t have an instax mini camera to test as I have given it away, as compared I would think they are exactly the same.
This blog would be incomplete without exhibiting some of the fine images shot by L.Å.R. (Lance Rothstein) on his Polaroid MIO camera (on Fuji Instax Film).
I received a wonderful complementary note from Film Photography Podcast listener Robb Nunn regarding our podcast. Rob hosts the SCL Photo Podcast and is on the web at http://www.robnunnphoto.com/
We started corresponding via e-mail which led to me asking Rob, “Would you like to write FPP Show Notes”? Quite a few listeners have written to me relaying the fact that they listen many times while commuting and how awesome it would be if we had some notes posted on-line about each episode. Great idea and I’m happy to report that Rob has volunteered to take on the task. Thank you, Rob!
- Michael Raso
Show Notes / Links - Film Photography Podcast 11 - July 15 2010 Don’t Worry, Be Happy Episode. Topics cover Cokin Close-Up filters, Flickr, Tags, Polaroid Image Transfer, New York PDN Photo Show, Sotheby's Polaroid Auction, Camera giveaway and more! Hosted by Michael Raso and Duane Polcou.
Breaking up the monotony of Monday with some Film Photography fun…
I received an e-mail letter from Ireland’s own Ryan Leathem. Ryan was the winner of the Minolta X-700, which I gave away on the Spring Film Photography Podcast.
“It's Ryan from Ireland here!
I received the Minolta X-700 a good few weeks ago and I'm soooooo sorry it has taken me so long to write you an e-mail to say thanks! I have started a new job recently and moved into a new house so life has been busy!
I have already started shooting with the Minolta and I looooooove the shutter sound it makes, it's a joy to take a photo and hear that shutter go.
I have been shooting photos for about six months now and have pretty much learnt everything I know from listening to your podcast. I have started developing my own black and white 35mm and 120mm film and can't believe how cheap and easy it is! I then made the step to colour and bought a Tetenal C-41 kit and was a little scared of all of chemicals that come with the kit, but once you make the solutions up in to the bottles it's not so bad. In fact C-41 is real easy because no matter what ASA your film is the development times will be the same, (and dev times are fast).
Thanks for all of the film you sent me, it's really been fueling my photography and I really appreciate it!
Thanks again and keep the podcasts coming! I haven't missed one yet!”
I’m so happy Ryan received the camera and film and thrilled that he’s putting it to good use. Keep on shootin!
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Seeking a wider variety of cameras to giveaway on the pod cast, I reached out to Freestyle Photographic Supply to see if I could coax them into donating a Holga. Well, looks like the previously announced Holga giveaway will be a reality.
Thanks for your continued promotion of film photography. We all have to be in this together.” - Lauren, Freestyle Photographic
Keep your ears on the FPP for the upcoming Holga Giveaway.
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It’s been rumored that Fuji Instax Mini film will fit in the new Polaroid 300 Instant Camera. I happened to be on the Japan Exposures site and noticed that they offered “Hello Kitty” Fuji Instax Mini film. I couldn’t resist and instantly ordered some.
The delivery was lighting fast with awesome service (plus check out all the cool film not available here in the USA).
No sooner did the box arrive, I had that Hello Kitty film loaded to shoot Polaroid Portraits of the kind studio folk. No problems shooting Instax Mini in the Polaroid 300.
The gang reviews the new Polaroid 300 Instant Film Camera, Ukulele rocker Henrique Couto’s 35mm project, Lomo-Like results with a vintage Kodak cameras, 35mm film and Polaroid 600 camera giveaway and more!!! Hosted by Michael Raso and Duane Polcou and special guest John Fedele.
Duane Polcou chatted a bit about Marty Forscher. “His best-known invention, patented in 1982, was the Pro-Back, a Polaroid attachment for a 35-millimeter camera that gave photographers an immediate proof print, letting them test a shot without having to wait for the film to be developed. Mr. Forscher also created an early compact motor drive for still cameras.”
Ukulele rocker Henrique Couto was our extra special guest. He just released his first CD. Folks who purchase his deluxe album get an exposed “mystery roll” of 35mm film. Henrique discussed his music and this odd film project.
Brian Duffy, whose photographs helped define the mood of the Swinging Sixties, has died aged 76. Together with David Bailey and Terence Donovan, Duffy formed part of the trinity of photographers who became as famous as the models, musicians and film stars they worked with.
The Trackman called in to see if his Dad’s Ansco Clipper arrived at the FPP studio. The Anco Clipper camera was made in the 1940s in the UD and uses type 616 film.
I was able to locate an additional 616 spool, so I rolled 120 film to the 616 spool in a film changing bag.
below: Image shot with the Trackman’s Ansco Clipper
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Get Lomo-Like images at a fraction of the cost of a Holga with a vintage Kodak – the Kodak Holiday Flash
These cameras are very, very inexpensive on e-bay and if you’re lucky, you’ll get one with a “lagging” shutter – which will produce this dreamy effect. (Image Below)
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We’re giving away a Polaroid 600 One Step Close-Up Camera this month! Winner announced on the July 15, 2010 Film Photography Podcast.
To enter send an e-mail to FilmPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com Give us your name, address and tell us a little bit about yourself. Please get entries in by July 5, 2010
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We’re GIVING AWAY film too!
Matt Haines / http://www.camerasandfilm.com/ donated 18 rolls of gently expired Kodak Portra 400 35mm film Send us an e-mail if you’d like to try one! (Good while supply lasts) Send an e-mail to FilmPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com
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Only 6 months left to shoot and develop Kodak Kodachrome film
12/31/2010 is the last day that Dwayne’s (the only Kodachrome processor in the world) will process this discontinued stock. If you are committed to shooting a roll of 35mm Kodachrome, please send me an e-mail. If I have any left in my private vault, I’ll shoot a roll out to you.
Even before purchasing the cute, little Polaroid 300 camera I’ve been dabbling in Polaroid instant photography. Only in the last month or so has it become all-out Polaroid Mania.
Using “The Google” I researched Polaroid present and past, making a list of various cameras that I would like to test. I was amazed to find THOUSANDS of used classic Polaroid cameras on-line.
My latest discovery, next to the SX-70 type cameras and the new Polaroid 300, was the 1960s Polaroid “Pack Cameras.” They’re wonderful cameras and all use the readily available Polaroid 664-type and Fujifilm FP-100/3000 films.
There are millions of Polaroid cameras out there all finding their way to e-bay each hour. Most are very reasonably priced (so many under $50.us) and, in fact, so inexpensive that I’ve purchased a few to be given away on the July 2010 Film Photography pod cast.
Inner Athlete Trainer James Jankiewicz / 2006 One600 camera – Impossible PX 600 film
Actress Erin Russ / 1969 Colorpack II camera - Polaroid 667 film
In case you don’t know, The Polaroid instant camera is a type of camera with self-developing film. The invention of modern instant cameras is credited to American scientist Edwin Land, who unveiled the first commercial instant camera, the Land Camera, in 1947, 10 years after founding his Polaroid Corporation. The cameras were hugely popular in the 1970s through the 1990s.
In 2008, Polaroid discontinued their instant cameras and film. After a public outcry, Polaroid has admitted that maybe they were a bit hasty in their decision and launched their 300 camera this past April. The oddly-shaped camera produces wallet-sized color images.
A re-visioning of the “classic” One Step camera is slated for release late this year and independent entrepreneurs The Impossible Project single-handedly released their own film for Polaroid cameras this past March as well!
The Impossible Project Press Conference March 2010 / NYC
Rob DeSaro gives a Polaroid smile!
The most AMAZING thing about shooting any Polaroid is the reaction on people’s faces wherever I go to shoot with these cameras. Faces “light up” as the image magically appears. It’s as if the whole digital world has forgotten about the magic of this special film.
This past Saturday I attended the Digger Film Group's New York premiere of their horror documentary “Under The Scares.” I screened their inspirational documentary and took Polaroids with my all-new 300 camera.
Many asked “What’s that camera!?”, marveling at the odd shape and awesome business-sized images that it instantly produced.
In this hi-tech digital world, people still want to hold a print…have a souvenir…and smile.
Smile, Polaroid is back.
In 2009, I launched The Film Photography Podcast, an hour-long, monthly Internet radio program exploring the passion of film photography, covering a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced and aspiring photographer using film as a medium. http://filmphotographypodcast.com/
