For the Polaroid users

[MBrakee]

Hello 🙂

My name is Marion, a student brand&packaging at the Luca School of Arts in Ghent and I have some questions for all those Polaroid users out there. I'm doing a schoolproject concerning the purchase and use of Polaroids so everyone who could answer these questions for me, would be a great help!

My project's about the packaging of Polaroids and their film. But before I can start on the graphics, I need more research on my target's profile. I'd like to hear more about your personal experiences.

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
2. What type of Polaroid did you buy?
3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
6. Where did you buy your Polaroid?
7. Where do you buy your film?
8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CameraQuest]

bump.

any feedback or ideas here ?

Stephen

 

[Mackinaw]

Answered in order:

1) The Impossible project got me interested (again) in Polaroid cameras.
2) A Polaroid Spectra
3) No, I got the camera free.
4) I use the pictures for portraits.
5) The main charm is seeing an actual hold-in-your hands image in a few minutes.
6) Got it free
7) I'm using Impossible Project film.
8) Early versions of Impossible Project film were "works in progress." Current versions of IP film, both B&W and color, are pretty good.
9) The Polaroid Spectra is pretty simple. Just load film and shoot. I did download an instruction manual "just in case."
10) Packaging is a non-issue for me.

Jim B.

 

[BMacW]

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
   why not?
2. What type of Polaroid did you buy?
   Converted Polaroid 110A, Land 250, 450, SX 70, SLR680, FUJI 500 AF
3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
   The ones I have unlike the other cheap plastic varient, are all works of art. The design of the SX70 for example is just so cleaver even by today's standard. Way more intriguing than anything digital.
4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
   I use it to take portraits and give them away to friends or stranger I photograph on the street. Also use it like post cards to bring back to friends from trips
5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
   It's instant, magic, and one of a kind. My grandparents just don't see prints any more. Digital is totally killing the sharing of memory. I give them a picture every time we meet. Can you iphone do that????
6. Where did you buy your Polaroid?
   RFF, ebay, Craigslist
7. Where do you buy your film?
   Amazon (Pack film 100c, 3000B, Imposible project, Fuji Instax Wide)
8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
   The Land 450's spring pressure plate has to be removed to use the fuji pack films.
9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
   just use youtube and the internet
10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.
    All the cameras I purchased are used. Who really cares about film packaging?!!! It actually makes me SICK to see the impossible project spends all the extra money they charge me and spend them all on fancy marketing and trying to make it a cult camera like those stupid Lomography guys.... Seriously, how hard is it to 'reinvent' technology from 40 years ago?!! (and give me two more frames...)
    This is why I stopped shooting integral film and switched to the better and cheaper fuji instax film for casual shooting (the polaroid cameras are still superior. The pack film is still the main medium I use for creative stuffs.
    

My wish list would be some one make a fuji instax back for medium format cameras. Similar to the lomo Diana instant back.

 

[lam]

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
   Always wanted one. Rememeber as a kid playing with one, didn't know it would be eventually dead!
2. What type of Polaroid did you buy?
   Polaroid 250 at a flea market for $10. Converted to Fuji FP-100C and put a Rodenstock 127mm f4.5 lens on it, making it fully manual.
3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
   No.
4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
   Anything that I want instant, portraits, landscapes, random things.
5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
   The fact it's a single photo, a positive.
6. Where did you buy your Polaroid?
   Flea market.
7. Where do you buy your film?
   Adorama, or B&H.
8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
   Yes, Messed up a few packs getting my light leaks sorted.
9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
   Google is the answer to everything, also tons of information and documentation on modifying and shooting with.
10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.
    Not really, FP-100C/FP-3000B are very clearly defined pack films in todays market.

 

[giulio stucchi]

Hi Marion and welcome.
Question for you:
are you interest in the original polaroid products (camera, film and the Giambarba graphics) or are your questions / project focused on the actual film production from IP and Fuji?

 

[Pirate]

1. The style and the fact that it's a Rangefinder attracted me. A friend had one and after I saw it I thought it would be cool if we could go Polaroiding together, so I bought one.
2. 450 Land camera.
3. I have only owned it for less than 2 weeks. No regrets.
4. I mostly shoot street photography. Just what is around me and what I see from day to day.
5. Being able to have a picture in your hand immediately from an all mechanical process is the charm for me.
6. I bought mine from Igor.
7. Film from Adorama/Amazon/B&H/Freestyle.
8. No problems to buy the camera or film.
9. My 450 came with a manual but I did research on the internet to find out details and read the manual before I purchased it.
10. I purchased used so this question really does not apply.

 

[robert blu]

Hi Marion, interesting project yours. I am pleased to give you a few answer:

1- as you can see from my blog, here, It's more than 40 years that Polaroid are in my life. It was the magical to see a photo developing in a few minutes in yopur hands, this was a pre-digitsl era!
2- SX 70, 600, 340 Land and a pin hole .
3- Never.
4- I try to make my own art! I relax myself escaping sometimes from the high tech digital world.
5- To have a physical unique copy in your hands, in a few minutes.
6- Most of my camera were already in my family, my father was a passionate photographer. The sx-70 I received as a present from a friend.
7- Now it is "Impossible" the main source. I buy sometimes Fuji films.
8- Not really, some difficulties in the beginning with the "Impossible" films, but now they are ok.
9- Internet and Impossible site are rich of suggestions and infos.
10- Packaging is ok, some special edition from Impossible is ... an additional pleasure but the (already high) cost have to be taken in account.

Good luck with your project, feel free to look for tag Polaroid in my blog!
robert, quiet photographer 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

Too many questions for me, But I have used Polaroid for 40+years, my first camera luckily was a Color Pack II which I still have and use, now I mostly use a Auto 100 and a Pro Pack, I have almost 1000 sheets of type 667 film waiting to be used, and any color I need I use Fuji FP110c (which is really excellent). As I'm older now I mostly use my Polaroid for grandkids photos, but before it was for everything.

For me there is something about Polaroid that just can't be done any other way. So, it is now gone from a mainstream process to an alternative photography genre.


fill flash:

I also made a pinhole Polaroid:

Welcome to RFF!

 

[Godfrey]

Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?

Um. I never bought a Polaroid. I've owned about twelve of them over the years, usually something given to me or included in some trade, or something like that.

What type of Polaroid did you buy?

All of my Polaroids have been variants of the SX-70.

Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?

No.

What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?

One example of recent stuff:


Three sets (photo above included in one of these):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdgphoto/sets/72157629372611841/show/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdgphoto/sets/72157629483212697/show/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdgphoto/sets/72157632624900445/show/

That's all I've had time to post.

What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?

Instant imaging, "designer from Mars" camera, totally fascinating way of seeing.

Where did you buy your Polaroid?

The one I have now was given to me by my uncle, who bought it in 1976.

Where do you buy your film?

The Impossible Project website.

Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?

Impossible Project film is a work in progress. The folks there have been great, the film is quirky and amusing to work with.

When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?

Never saw the box for an SX-70. Found a manual in PDF form online some years ago.

When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.

The old Polaroid film packaging graphics were nice. The later ones were blah. Impossible Project film packaging is closer to the old stuff, and quite nice.

Probably not all that helpful, but there ya go. ;-)

G

 

[one90guy]

1.Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
Bought one in about 1967, the instead picture
2.What type of Polaroid did you buy?
It was of the 100 models, don't remember

3.Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
No, got back into them about 4 years ago

4.What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
I carried mine to Vietnam, was hard to get film for it at times. Friends and landscapes

5.What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
Instant picture

6.Where did you buy your Polaroid? In 1967 prpbably Kmart, now Off ebay

7.Where do you buy your film?
Online from B&H

8.Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
No

9.When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
Clear Yes

10.When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.
Only interested in film type and speed, only concern for package is protection of film.

Hope this helps.

 

[Alowisney]

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you? I saw a friend using a Polaroid back on a Mamiya Universal and thought it was really cool, so I found an original Polaroid that used the same film.
2. What type of Polaroid did you buy? An Automatic 230.
3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid? Not at all! It's a very fun camera that you can't beat for $5.
4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take? A little of everything. I've used it for portraits, landscapes, and candid shots. It's pretty versatile.
5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid? Instant gratification. Not only do you see what you shot looks like a moment after you took it, you have the print right in your hand!
6. Where did you buy your Polaroid? A flea market.
7. Where do you buy your film? Online. At first, from Amazon, but now I'll be buying it from The Film Photography Project store to support them and their podcast series.
8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems? The lack of new batteries. After I converted it to use AAA batteries, no problems. I can't find film for it locally, but that's OK.
9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual? Mine still had the manual. It was clear and easy to understand.
10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc. It didn't come with the original packaging, just the cover and manual.

 

[ped]

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
   The cameras. The 195 and the SX70 are beautiful. The fact they take such great pictures was actually secondary to me, initially.
   
2. What type of Polaroid did you buy?
   I've had several but now I have an SX70 and a 195 plus lots of SX70 type box cameras.
   
3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
   Sometimes the Impossible Project film, but never the cameras.
   
4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
   The 195 has an amazing lens so I use it a lot for 'set up' shots where I can take my time metering etc. The SX70 I use less because the film is more unpredictable but now and then it's all I take out if I'm in the mood.
   
5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
   The aesthetic. The feel of the pictures. People say '£1 a picture is expensive' and, of course, it is - however the pictures are far more than just a photo. They have a real keepsake quality to them. That is, if they develop properly.
   
6. Where did you buy your Polaroid?
   eBay
   
7. Where do you buy your film?
   eBay
   
8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
   I found it hard to get hold of an SX70 without peeling leather but found one eventually. Quality of the 195s varied too. Lots are in the states, too - not ideal for me in the UK.
   
9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
   Looked it all up myself using sites like this.
   
10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.
    Came with no packaging in the most part.

 

[3rdtrick]

Hi Marion,
Like most of us here, I am using old Polaroid cameras but I will try to answer your questions.

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
I never owned one before but used them many years ago. When I found out recently that the film was still made, I picked up a few cameras.

2. What type of Polaroid did you buy?
I buy the Packfilm cameras (100 series) and prefer the metal bodies with glass lenses.

3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
Of course not, they are so cheap now you could not buy dinner for the cost.

4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
With the Polaroid, I have been taking pictures of friends and family so that I can give the prints to them.

5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
Of course the fun of giving away an instant print to the subject. That is something that cannot be done with modern cameras.

6. Where did you buy your Polaroid?
Flea Markets, Yard Sales, Online Auctions etc.

7. Where do you buy your film?
B&H Photo in NYC

8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
Yes, buying flea market cameras sometimes they just do not work. I have resolved most of the battery and film issues.

9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
Most did not come with a manual but instructions can be found on the net. If I do come across a manual, it gets put away in a drawer.

10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.
Again, packaging is usually gone but when I do get original packaging, I also put it away. Anyway, my favorite Polaroid emblem is the two overlapping circles (Polarizing filters) on the early cameras and accessories.
Pete

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?

Memento (with guy pearce)...it was a good movie actually so the camera used was interesting to me also.

What type of Polaroid did you buy?

Sx70 and autofocus Sx70

Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?

Truthfully yes, cause the Sx70s I have are so hard to use and maintain correctly (plagued by many problems)

What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?

Street shooting, architecture. Moving and action shots are IMPOSSIBLE (pun intended)

What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?

Always have and always will be the instant moment.

Where did you buy your Polaroid?

Ebay and in pawn shops.

Where do you buy your film?

MINT in HK.

Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?

Film is sometimes old and inconsistent (sometimes marked as old and sometimes not 😡. IT doesn't help that it's a expensive learning experience.

When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?

I received a manual and looked up as much information as I could before buying a Polaroid Sx70, looking on youtube at the old commercials and reading on user's experiences. I didn't see a lot of complaints of the reliability back then but do now.

When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.

The IMPOSSIBLE project films are nice. Really nice. It does everything to help make the shooting experience better. (because the cameras themselves are kind of hard to work with sometimes)

 

[vdonovan]

Hi Marion, your questions seem a little strange. You are asking questions as if Polaroid was still in business and still designing, marketing, and packaging products! Of course Polaroid has been through several bankruptcies over the last twenty years and is essentially dead. No new Polaroid cameras are made or sold. So it doesn't make much sense to ask about the packaging and communication of Polaroid cameras since few people now buy them in their original packaging, and they rarely come with their original manuals. Polaroid film, of course, is no longer available, so packaging and communication are immaterial.

The word "Polaroid" now generally includes a larger world of instant cameras and film, both those made originally by Polaroid when it was in business and by other companies currently making film for old Polaroid cameras. Our purchase decisions and satisfaction in shooting instant film now have little to do with packaging and marketing, but more to do with the particular used cameras we have sought out (or stumbled upon) and the challenge of taking pictures with them in the post-Polaroid world

For example yesterday I was shooting with a Polaroid camera made in 1957. I own the original packaging and manual, but they are useless because the camera was converted to use newer Polaroid-compatible film manufactured by Fuji. I also shoot a 1970s-era Polaroid SX-70 using new compatible film from the Impossible Project. Again there is no packaging or manuals for the camera, though there is quite a bit of on-line support for the film.

Anyway, just from the sound of your questions and how they don't quite make sense in the current world of instant photography, it might be useful for you to study up on the Polaroid corporation itself, and The Impossible Project and learn what products are currently on the market and how they are used.

Good luck!

Hello 🙂

My name is Marion, a student brand&packaging at the Luca School of Arts in Ghent and I have some questions for all those Polaroid users out there. I'm doing a schoolproject concerning the purchase and use of Polaroids so everyone who could answer these questions for me, would be a great help!

My project's about the packaging of Polaroids and their film. But before I can start on the graphics, I need more research on my target's profile. I'd like to hear more about your personal experiences.

1. Why did you ever decide to buy a Polaroid? What attracted you?
2. What type of Polaroid did you buy?
3. Did you ever regret buying your Polaroid?
4. What do you use it for? What kind of pictures do you take?
5. What is, according to you, the main charm of a Polaroid?
6. Where did you buy your Polaroid?
7. Where do you buy your film?
8. Did you come across problems when first buying your Polaroid and/or your film? Do you still come across some problems?
9. When buying your product, did you find the communication (packaging, manual, etc.) clear enough or did you have to look-up more explenations? Did your product came accompanied with a manual?
10. When buying your product, did the packaging meet your expectation or could it be improved? What part could be improved, f.i. communication, graphics, etc.

Thanks in advance!