The end of the 20-inch-by-24-inch Polaroid

[jsrockit]

An old teacher of mine, Dawoud Bey, has used this camera extensively. His work is worth checking out if you like portraits and this camera.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . Though the article may be drivel, Roger, at least I hope it helps Mr. Rueter to use up the rest of the film stock.

Very true. It's just so sad that they felt the need to compare it with digital. I don't think that anyone who knew anything much about photography would have done that.

Cheers,

R.

 

[harpofreely]

Dear Jan,

I used to agree but then I tried 3x enlargements off Linhof "6x7" (56x72mm), which are within a millimetre or two of whole-plate and are indistinguishable from a whole-plate contact print. The biggest camera I have is 12x15 inch so I am not unfamiliar with ULF.

Cheers,

R.

Pretty random place for this, but I have to say, Roger - your 3x rule is darkroom gold.

 

[Godfrey]

The quoted rental charge of $1750 for the day and $125 per polaroid seems quite reasonable if you view the exercise as a kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (clearly Polaroid won't be making any more of the cameras or the chemistry). Daily charge and, say, 10 polaroids, all for less than half the cost of a poxy digital Leica. All a question of photographic priorities, I'd say.

I agree, it's a matter of photographic priorities. My poxy digital Leicas will last me for many years and many thousands of photographs, as will my even more poxy film Leicas or ultimately poxy Hasselblad SWC. I won't spend a few thousand dollars to have one shooting session with the 20x24 because I know it usually takes me at least a couple of sessions with ANY camera to learn it sufficiently well that I can get what I want out of it.

I think the right thing for me to do is to find an occasion where some other, experience user is renting the 20x24 and engage with them to shoot a photo or two for me. I wouldn't mind spending $600 for a couple of original prints. I better get on it to do it sometime soon. ;-)

G

 

[BillBingham2]

It's sad, perhaps the Impossible folks will pick it up.

I've seen great work with many different formats but have to say, there is often something magical as you move up in format size.

Sad, but I bet it's not the Fat Lady singing.

B2 (;->

 

[KM-25]

It's just so sad that they felt the need to compare it with digital. I don't think that anyone who knew anything much about photography would have done that.

100% agreed.