Impossible 8x10 polaroid film!

mooge

Well-known
Local time
12:16 AM
Joined
Nov 16, 2008
Messages
1,023
Location
Austenite Bay, Canada
Apparently this isn't new news but Impossible make 8x10 instant film:


https://www.the-impossible-project.com/projects/8x10/


There's also some videos on the youtube device of this film in action.

For those of you that don't know it's not like the peel-aparts; you load and shoot the negative in a holder, and then use a processor to squash the negative and positive together.

It's not cheap at ~$20 / photo (~$200 for a 10 pack) but I'm just amazed that this even exists. I'm so amazed in fact that I might even buy an 8x10 camera, film holders, processor and a bunch of this film when I get a 'real job'.




(ironically, I've never printed larger than 5x7)
 
I used to shoot 8x10" Polaroid in my Sinar Norma. Absolutely the biggest photo-buzz I have ever experienced. Just too much fun.

Wonderful for portraiture.
 
If this was available in 4x5 I'd definitely give it a try, does not appear to be though. Amazing product though. $20 is obviously not cheap for a shot, but if we consider that is not just the cost of film, but of processing and printing at 8x10", then it's not quite so crazy. I just heard that near me there is a golf club which charges it's members (who paid $10k AUD to join) $125 per round of golf each, so that allows us some perspective on pricing of this stuff.
 
Yeah, 4x5 sounds better to me (also cheaper?) but from what I heard, they managed to buy the 8x10 film machine from the US and the 4x5 machines were destroyed or something. Really remarkable that they can even make the 8x10 though!

quick check: HP5 in 8x10 is $4 per sheet, tri-x 320 is about $8 per sheet. not quite so crazy indeed.


Just out of curiosity: anyone know the ballpark price for a cheap-ish 8x10 kit is? a quick look on fleabay and the processing machine is ~$400+ (!) and the film holders? well, there aren't any (and that can't be good).

Maybe just regular peel-aparts and a 4x5 is a better idea. or 600se.
 
I think this is very exciting, and I give the people over at IMPOSSIBLE a lot of credit for pulling this off.

BUT, having read the various downloadable documents, it's still not clear to me: is there a negative coming out of this process that one can use to make a traditional gelatin-silver contact print from in the darkroom. I would like to have an archivally-processed paper print.

IS this possible?
 
Thanks for this thread, being a fan fo Pola/impossible films I knew about the 8x10 instant film and I sometimes think worthwhile to give a try. the problem for me is that I never used LF cameras and I have no gear and no exact idea what do I need. I guess a camera with a lens, a film holder (not sure how it works) a processor...hmm, interesting but not easy...
robert
 
Uses same holders and processors as 809 etc..The image is reversed however so if you want correct orientation, you'll have to do a lift onto other support media (papers used in pt/pd would be likely candidates)
 
I tried some of their film in a SX-70 and was not impressed at all.

The Fujifilm FP-100C for the Polaroid land cameras is another thing. This film can produce a negative.
 
I was curious as to what one would do with such a large instant film sheet. The videos and info for this were very satisfying and interesting to me.

I do agree that I would love to see a 4x5 version. You can use pack film from Fuji or similar to do 4x5 approximately sized (with the paper) photos, but getting the pack attached to or working with your camera is a pain. I've been trying to figure out how to safely mount a Fuji FP-100 or FP-3000 film pack onto the back of some of my 6x6 and 6x9 cameras as well as my Ilford Obscura.

I think the larger sheets do not depend on the chemical "squeegee" to distribute the developer(?) and therefore are not subject to the same rules. That's the main issue I've run into, I've accidentally popped the chemical packs or smooshed them into the film when trying to work with/build mounts. A 4x5 designed for a simpler flat film holder would be nice. esp if it was reasonably priced.
 
nope, the 8x10 still has pods that bust and spread. I have a box of the IP 8x10 but haven't had a chance to use it yet. Should get around to it soon. Have the powered processor and the manual one (intended for field work).

if you want instant 4x5, pray the New55 Project can make it happen. they're close but still a ways to go. won't be cheap either but a pos/neg product would make me absolutely giddy.
 
I think this is very exciting, and I give the people over at IMPOSSIBLE a lot of credit for pulling this off.

I've never used an Impossible product, as for small instant, I've ordered a Instax mini Neo Classic, and my large format uses only go up to 4x5. If I had a Polaroid or an 8x10, I'd be all over it.

I do have enormous respect for them, they seem to be putting in a lot of money and time for what will only be ever be a small niche market. What a wonderful change from companies only chasing markets if it'll be explosive growth and billions in profit.
 
I still have alot of 4x5 Polaroid (long outdated) but it still works reasonably well. I can shoot a 9x9cm Instant Image onto a 4x5 Sheet of Instant Film, using my Plaubel Makiflexes and a Polaroid #545 Holder. This is also extremely fun to do.
 
Back
Top Bottom