The Instant film photography thread

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As discussed in another thread, a few people expressed and interest to having a dedicated place to discuss and share all things instant so, here it is!

All instant photography and resources are welcome including but not limited to, Polaroid, Fuji Instax, peel apart, large format (yes, they still make and sell 8x10), basically anything that gives you an instant, analogue photo.

I still have and regularly shoot with a pair of Polaroid SX-70s (one Sonar, one non) and a 635cl (folding box camera) which doesn't get used much these days. I also have one of the large, Poalroid folding cameras that takes the now discontinued Fuji peel apart film of whilce I have 9 expired boxes in the fridge and should really shoot at some point before it turns to dust and is useless.

:D
 
I look forward to adding something useful to this thread when (if) my Jollylook Square arrives :)
 
FishyFish said:
A video about the recently released Lomo Graphlok Instax Wide adapter for 5x4 cameras.

View: https://youtu.be/IsFsR0KS4Mo
Click to expand...

I’m supposed to be getting a prototype LomoGraflok from Lomo later this month. As soon as it comes, I’ll be putting it on a SnapShot and testing it out as the high quality lens Instax camera that Fuji don’t make [emoji3]
 
gazmorton2000 said:
As discussed in another thread, a few people expressed and interest to having a dedicated place to discuss and share all things instant so, here it is!

All instant photography and resources are welcome including but not limited to, Polaroid, Fuji Instax, peel apart, large format (yes, they still make and sell 8x10), basically anything that gives you an instant, analogue photo.

I still have and regularly shoot with a pair of Polaroid SX-70s (one Sonar, one non) and a 635cl (folding box camera) which doesn't get used much these days. I also have one of the large, Poalroid folding cameras that takes the now discontinued Fuji peel apart film of whilce I have 9 expired boxes in the fridge and should really shoot at some point before it turns to dust and is useless.

:D
Click to expand...

Thanks, I was one of those advocating an instant thread. I'm off to retrieve the camera from the cupboard:)
 
stevelmx5 said:
I’m supposed to be getting a prototype LomoGraflok from Lomo later this month. As soon as it comes, I’ll be putting it on a SnapShot and testing it out as the high quality lens Instax camera that Fuji don’t make [emoji3]
Click to expand...

I've just had confirmation that it's been shipped to me from Vienna. Hopefully I'll get it this week and can go and shoot some ultrawide Instax :0)
 
Well, it’s arrived :0)

IMG_6782.JPG

This unit is very much a prototype, 3D printed body with integrated Lomo Instant Wide mechanicals. There’s just one external control, which is a button to run the eject process, along with a dark slide.

I’ve mounted it to my SuperWide SnapShot to test out the handling, and it feels pretty solid, but definitely easy to hand hold.

IMG_6786.JPG

IMG_6784.JPG

I won’t be using the LomoGraflok with this superwide SnapShot though, as the 19mm step back for the Instax film plane means that neither my 47 nor 75mm lenses will reach infinity. My 90mm would probably work on the flat body ok, but that’s attached to my other SnapShot which is currently in Barcelona with Nico Llassera!

I’ve got a spacer plate on the printer now, which will screw onto the back of the standard ground glass frame, and move the ground glass back by the same 19mm. This is a neater method than mounting the Lomo spacer beneath the glass as, at 19mm thick, it’s a bit of a tight squeeze!
 
I have a few questions related to instant photography. My intention is to give it a go starting with a cheap camera, I prefer square format so what are my options with regard to cameras ? Do the consumer Polaroid cameras have settings options or are they mostly automatic ? I'm sure once I have a camera I'll have plenty more questions.

Here is a link to an Instant Photography channel.I have just started to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQV-OONJCfqPf4aIMWhZqLQ
 
BADGER.BRAD said:
I have a few questions related to instant photography. My intention is to give it a go starting with a cheap camera, I prefer square format so what are my options with regard to cameras ? Do the consumer Polaroid cameras have settings options or are they mostly automatic ? I'm sure once I have a camera I'll have plenty more questions.

Here is a link to an Instant Photography channel.I have just started to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQV-OONJCfqPf4aIMWhZqLQ
Click to expand...

it might be more cost effective to go for an Instax Square camera than a Polaroid model. The Instax film is considerably cheaper and, from what I’ve seen, more reliable with better results.

Instax Square is smaller than Polaroid though, and there’s not the breadth of range of second hand cameras available If you don’t want to buy new. Instax cameras can be a bit “Fisher Price” looking in terms of design too, if that’s a factor.
 
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There are still a couple of instant film options, each with different cameras;

1) Impossible project/Polaroid SX70 and 600 film.

These are the recreation of the original Polaroid films, although their colours aren’t as good as the original film. Available in colour and B&W, around £14 a pack, with 8 shots.

The 600 film is originally designed for the fully automatic (apart from basic lighten/darken) Polaroid brand cameras, like the Polaroid 636 etc. The SX70 film is for the folding SX70, or the fixed “The Button” SX70 cameras. Both are still relatively automatic, apart from the lighten/darken, but they have better quality lenses.

2) Fujifilm Instax film - Mini, Wide and Square

This is Fuji’s instant film. Much better colours than the Polaroid film, only works with Fuji Instax cameras (this film is exposed through the back face, whereas Polaroid is exposed through the front face).

Instax cameras have a range of options, from very basic fully automatic cameras with relatively average lenses, to higher quality options like the Instax Mini Neo 90 and the new square cameras, which have more manual options like double exposure. Lomography also sell a range of Instax compatible cameras too.

None of the options, apart from the original folding SX70’s have particular amazing lenses though, which is something people have been pushing Fuji to make for a long time.

The new LomoGraflok back is a 4x5 International/Graflok compatible unit, which allows for Instax Wide format film to be used with large format cameras.
 
BADGER.BRAD said:
I have a few questions related to instant photography. My intention is to give it a go starting with a cheap camera, I prefer square format so what are my options with regard to cameras ? Do the consumer Polaroid cameras have settings options or are they mostly automatic ? I'm sure once I have a camera I'll have plenty more questions.

Here is a link to an Instant Photography channel.I have just started to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQV-OONJCfqPf4aIMWhZqLQ
Click to expand...
Probably your cheapest camera option (unless a relative or friend has one tucked away in the attic that they can give you for free?) would be something like the Polaroid 'The Button' camera. This was the later version of the white and black coloured Polaroid 1000 point and shoot, which has a rainbow coloured stripe up the middle. The light and dark grey rather boring looking 'The Button' is, as far as I'm aware, the same camera but in a less 'retro' and desirable colour-scheme. I paid £16 for mine (in mint- condition, but untested) from a charity shop just pre lockdown this year.

The 1000 and Button cameras take the Polaroid Originals SX70 film packs, which give 8 shots for around £16 (if you shop around), so the film is not cheap! Also, this SX70 film loves light, and plenty of it, so you're probably looking at the wrong time of year if you want to shoot some in the UK. The cheap 1000 and Button cameras used their own clip on electronic flash unit, without a compatible (with anything else) plug in lead, so you'd need to buy one of those to shoot indoors/dull conditions. There were some specialist adaptors made so that other 'PC lead' flash units could be used, but they tend to be very expensive for what you get, and for the amount of use most people would give them. The old fashioned plug in, reversible, '5 a side' strip type 'wire wool in a capsule' flash bars are no longer made, and even in their day were pretty carp for anything other than snapshots of two or three members of the family standing/sitting at close range. So I wouldn't bother with those, unless you're going for a 'retro' novelty look, or get given some old stock free or very cheap.

As for 'settings', with the 1000 and Button cameras there's a single 'light to dark' exposure adjustment setting on the front of the camera. I'd suggest setting this at the middle position as a starting point and see how you go. I think the modern SX70 film is 'faster' than the original, so ignore what any old farts advise you to do with the setting dial based on their memories from the 80s!

In summary, I think instant film is a bit of fun, taken in the right conditions you can recapture a certain look, but don't expect much in the way of detail or clarity, that's not what this stuff was really about anyway. I bought 2 packs of film to try my camera out, and used 1 of those getting the exposure right (as I didn't know the above and I was going off the camera I had in the early 80s!). The other pack is still in the fridge, as lockdown and the subsequent 'new normal' buggered up my chance of getting out and about with my cheap camera when the sun was shining!

So, if you're still interested and want a cheap camera to give 'instant' film a try, then perhaps, keep a lookout over the winter period for bargain a priced Polaroid 1000 or Button camera in mintish condition (or two if you can get them cheaply enough, as you don't know if the first one will still work after 30+ years of likely disuse!). Then think about taking some test shots in late spring 2021 when the light (and temperature - the film needs to be reasonably warm to develop properly) improves, so you're ready to use one in anger when the sun shines (hopefully) next summer!
 
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Thanks everyone for your info, I'm in no rush at the moment as I'm about to move house, so Spring sounds fine. Next question What is the battery in the film doing ? I'm just wondering if there was also a battery in the camera ( sometimes a problem if it is a rare one)
 
I got to try out my grandfather's SX70. loaded it with a cartridge of replacement film.
it was quite disappointing, there was obviously a light leak, as unless I took a shot almost immediately after the previous one the shots were almost completely fogged. Shame, but with the cost of the cartridges I decided it wasn’t worth investigating. Lovely piece of kit though, of its time.
 
BADGER.BRAD said:
What is the battery in the film doing ?
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All in one film cameras, from the SX70 onwards, take their power from the film pack. Peel apart film cameras have their own battery fitted in the body of the camera.
 
Thanks Andrew, Another question, what is the exposure comp wheel actually doing ? Bigger/smaller aperture slower/faster shutter speed ? And how much of a difference is this making from it's centre point?
 
stevelmx5 said:
There are still a couple of instant film options, each with different cameras;

1) Impossible project/Polaroid SX70 and 600 film.

These are the recreation of the original Polaroid films, although their colours aren’t as good as the original film. Available in colour and B&W, around £14 a pack, with 8 shots.

The 600 film is originally designed for the fully automatic (apart from basic lighten/darken) Polaroid brand cameras, like the Polaroid 636 etc. The SX70 film is for the folding SX70, or the fixed “The Button” SX70 cameras. Both are still relatively automatic, apart from the lighten/darken, but they have better quality lenses.

2) Fujifilm Instax film - Mini, Wide and Square

This is Fuji’s instant film. Much better colours than the Polaroid film, only works with Fuji Instax cameras (this film is exposed through the back face, whereas Polaroid is exposed through the front face).

Instax cameras have a range of options, from very basic fully automatic cameras with relatively average lenses, to higher quality options like the Instax Mini Neo 90 and the new square cameras, which have more manual options like double exposure. Lomography also sell a range of Instax compatible cameras too.

None of the options, apart from the original folding SX70’s have particular amazing lenses though, which is something people have been pushing Fuji to make for a long time.

The new LomoGraflok back is a 4x5 International/Graflok compatible unit, which allows for Instax Wide format film to be used with large format cameras.
Click to expand...

Or if you are feeling flush you can buy a Leica version of the Fuji Neo 90

en.leica-camera.com

Leica SOFORT Cameras | Leica Camera AG

en.leica-camera.com en.leica-camera.com
 
stevelmx5 said:
I’m supposed to be getting a prototype LomoGraflok from Lomo later this month. As soon as it comes, I’ll be putting it on a SnapShot and testing it out as the high quality lens Instax camera that Fuji don’t make [emoji3]
Click to expand...
Did you get the Lomo Graflok Steve? Thoughts/impression?
 
RaglanSurf said:
Did you get the Lomo Graflok Steve? Thoughts/impression?
Click to expand...

Sorry mate, I never came back did I!

Yes, I had a loan unit for a little while, and am waiting for another one to (hopefully) come soon for more testing. It’s essentially a Lomo Instax Wide camera inside a new body, with a Graflok plate on the front. It fitted onto both my SnapShot and Carbon Adventurer the same as any other Graflok back and has a motorised eject routine.

IMG_6801.JPG

IMG_6798.JPG

Its’ biggest limitation, for most cameras, is the film plane being 19mm further back from standard (due to the rollers/motor etc). The unit will come with a matching insert spacer, which can be fitted beneath the standard spring back to move the ground glass the same distance for focusing etc. This is also going to impact what lenses can be mounted, as the widest option possible will then be 19mm longer with the film plane being moved back.

However, you wouldn’t be able to switch between instant and sheet film, to use Instax as a preview image, as the focusing would be out by 19mm, so I’ve been working on an accessory unit which has a standard Chroma spring back mated to a 19mm deep Graflok mount frame, so you can directly switch between both mediums without having to refocus. This will be compatible with any 4x5 camera, not just Chroma, so I’m going to be launching that soon.
 
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stevelmx5 said:
Sorry mate, I never came back did I!

Yes, I had a loan unit for a little while, and am waiting for another one to (hopefully) come soon for more testing. It’s essentially a Lomo Instax Wide camera inside a new body, with a Graflok plate on the front. It fitted onto both my SnapShot and Carbon Adventurer the same as any other Graflok back and has a motorised eject routine.

View attachment 307119

View attachment 307120

Its’ biggest limitation, for most cameras, is the film plane being 19mm further back from standard (due to the rollers/motor etc). The unit will come with a matching insert spacer, which can be fitted beneath the standard spring back to move the ground glass the same distance for focusing etc. This is also going to impact what lenses can be mounted, as the widest option possible will then be 19mm longer with the film plane being moved back.

However, you wouldn’t be able to switch between instant and sheet film, to use Instax as a preview image, as the focusing would be out by 19mm, so I’ve been working on an accessory unit which has a standard Chroma spring back mated to a 19mm deep Graflok mount frame, so you can directly switch between both mediums without having to refocus. This will be compatible with any 4x5 camera, not just Chroma, so I’m going to be launching that soon.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update Steve, it’s certainly looking like an interesting 4x5 option. Do you think their pricing is about right?
 
RaglanSurf said:
Thanks for the update Steve, it’s certainly looking like an interesting 4x5 option. Do you think their pricing is about right?
Click to expand...

I was pleasantly surprised that they kept the price as low as it is. A new instant option for large format has been the grail for a long time, and I think a lot of people would have paid more for it. Something to bare in mind though, it's not exactly built to Leica standards ;0)
 
stevelmx5 said:
I was pleasantly surprised that they kept the price as low as it is. A new instant option for large format has been the grail for a long time, and I think a lot of people would have paid more for it. Something to bare in mind though, it's not exactly built to Leica standards ;0)
Click to expand...
Yeah, the build quality does worry me a little but I I may just dive in, at least Instax Wide is reasonably priced.
 
Dtrs 10th birthday today so just a few samples of what Instax Mini (via a Mini 90 camera which has some limited controls) can, and can't do.
IMG_20210210_120506993.jpg

Top Instax shot was taken at 6.45am (!) With minimal internal lighting but the flash was used. Bottom Instax shot was all internal lights on, curtains open with sun shining in and reflecting off the snow plus flash. I think the only conclusion is you can never have enough light for this film which is rated ISO 800.
IMG_20210210_100834793.jpg

This gives you an idea of family snaps (don't want my kids identifiable hence obscured). For me this is where these cameras are best. Also - in a non-covid year- kids attending a party (and of course most of the parents who are younger than than me!) love seeing their pics develop in front of their eyes and being able to take it home with them. They don't have any memories of Polaroids so it's great seeing the kids experience thier 1st instant pic.
 
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