Impossible Project's Polaroid film goes on sale this week
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 22nd 2010 2:34PM
posted March 22nd 2010 2:34PM
The famed Polaroid name many now be in the hands of various licensees and, er, Lady Gaga, but the folks at the Impossible Project are at least keeping the Polaroid dream alive, and they've now announced that their new Polaroid film will go on sale in the UK this week. Only black-and-white film will be available initially, including the PX100 film for the SX-70 camera, and PX600 for the One series of instant cameras (including Polaroid's own new OneStep camera), both of which will run £16 (or $24) for an eight-pack -- yeah, the impossible doesn't come cheap. Look for color film to be available sometime this summer.
Finally !
@Neosubu
I can hear the sarcastic yet still heartfelt sound of hipsters rejoicing everywhere. Tube socks for everyone!
I made dozens of Polaroid photos back in the lat '60s and early '70s, even enlarging some as gifts. It was a wonderful camera that I still own. This was the type where you pulled the print from the negative. Wish I could still get that film.
@CallDon Good news, you can! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/18595-USA/Fujifilm_15435626_FP_100C_Professional_Instant_Color.html
@BagOfArms
Thanks for the great info. I need to pull out that model 125 and start using it again. I made most of the photos in my family from the time I was a kid. Seems like I was the only person who could make a photo without a thumb in it. But with my Dad's Polaroid 125, I used dozens and dozens of film packs and got some precious photos of which I would give anything to have a good negative. Most have held up fairly well, but some have faded, even the color photos. Several years back, I began scanning as many of them as I could find, doing color correction and reprinting them.
Thanks for the link!!! I will use it.
How is $24 for 8 packs not cheap? That's 3 dollars a pack of film, that's not bad at all....
Unless you mean 8 pictures?
@zuluedison : I think it's 8 pictures. Look at the image; the box is labeled "8 Monochrome Instant Pictures".
@John Stracke
I thought they were bad at a buck a photo.
@zuluedison it says 8 pack not 8 packs
@papershygirl
"it says 8 pack not 8 packs" that really doesn't matter. Are you telling me that a single photo is referred to as a pack? If you've ever shot polaroid you'll remember that the photos (of ten in size usually) come in a pack that you load into your camera.
I assume this is just poor wording by engadget.
@zuluedison It's you who needs to read the description again carefully. An eight-pack of photos means one pack with eight photos in it. Yes, they're charging $3 per photo.
@KrazyCalvin
First... how are you going to fit 64 poloroid photos in a tiny ass box like that... secondly, I thought about defining the word pack for you and relating it to beer but i decided to make you look it up and feel stupid.
haha, good point, although I still think it's very strangely worded As the items in the pack are not able to be separated.
@gabedamien
"It's you who needs to read the description again carefully. An eight-pack of photos means one pack with eight photos in it. Yes, they're charging $3 per photo."
this is the quote: "will run £16 (or $24) for an eight-pack -- yeah, the impossible doesn't come cheap. "
it doesn't define as you say an eight-pack of photos "means" one pack with eight photos"
i'm not trying to troll, Just thouhght this was worded very strangely. i'll leave it alone now.
This is cool. I wish Polaroid would make some 35mm rolls as well (for traditional developing), but I'm never-the-less glad to see more film products out there.
@Vamadeus You obviously don't know much about Photography do you?
@Philip Han
ha, what? I am a photographer.
I admit I mostly use digital systems, but I do know that besides some failed discontinued products like Polachrome, Polaroid didn't make 135 film. Polaroid also no longer manufactures film. I know they will probably will never make such film again, but I was rather just giving some "wishful thinking" for another 135 C-41 or E-6 slides manufacturer other than Fuji or Kodak.
Please correct me if I am somehow mistaken, as per your comment.
@Vamadeus
Mr Philips Han doesn't know what he is talking about obviously.
Anyway I do wish that the Impossible Project comes out something similar like the Polachrome but with the current emphasis on bringing back their famous instant film line, that could take awhile.
And Polachrome has one of the nicer looking 35mm film catridge in the market as well. Who wouldn't want it?
@Makanator
I think there could be a niche market for it. All in time though. We'll see.
@Vamadeus
The output of the Polachrome is pretty interesting for me. From what i have seen, it is reminiscent of films from the 60s-70s.
It'd be a shame for them not to reproduce it, since i'd love to shoot a roll or two of it.
@Makanator
I know what you mean. I also love the look/feel/colors of older film. I'd buy it.
So where does Ilford factor in to the equation?
@sirphunkee
I was wondering the same. It looks like Impossible did a collaboration with Ilford to come out with this Polaroid. I don't know much about Impossible, but trusting how Ilford produces quality film and paper, I would venture to say that this incarnation of Polaroid film wouldn't put its consumers to shame.
@sirphunkee
Uhhh ilford makes film and paper and pretty much everything else to do with photo developing. So I think it's pretty safe to say it has something to do with the photo.
@sirphunkee
From the source of the article: "The films, developed with help from Harman Technology ..." (Harman Technology = Ilford)
In other words; Ilford makes the film. Which is great! They're universally regarded as one of the best film producers around, but you might already know that :)
@ethanlechcharles
LOL yes, I know well and good who exactly Ilford is as a company...I was just curious what their contribution was in this particular project. I just didn't know that Harmon and Ilford were the same group.
impossible to afford
@Uncontrol Impossible to care about now that we have digital cameras.
I'm sure I bought some in date polaroids 2 weeks ago?
Unless I'm just imagining this.
They've been available for a month in the uk for a month at the most, im 100% positive.
@KrisRoberts Yes, but they're not being manufactured anymore... Since this company bought the production facilities.
@Philip Han
I'm aware of the situation.
But the point is, I have some polaroids which haven't expired, which I bought off that website in the past week, in the UK.
@KrisRoberts
The Impossible Project has been selling the remaining original Polaroid film stock for the last couple of years (previously under the Polapremium name). Some of this stock is still in date (600 film, IIRC), so that could explain it. This is a completely new product, with a different emulsion developed by/with Ilford.
@f314
What?
The last of the Polaroid films, made by the actual Polaroid Brand expired in 30 September last year.
Fact.
These were the ones sold by and made by Polaroid, not The Impossible Project.
The Impossible Project has only just opened a store in the past month.
@KrisRoberts
Hmm.. I thought some of the 600 films lasted a bit into 2010, but you're probably right :)
But; Polapremium has indeed sold what it could get of the remaining Polaroid stock the last few years, and the Impossible... page says "Polapremium becomes Impossible!", which suggests that they're the same guys.. I never said Impossible... have produced film before now :)
If you're referring to the TZA Giambarba edition and the likes, I'm quite certain it is just expired film that has been tested and deemed fit to be "... enjoyed until 12/2010 and beyond" as the packaging says.
@KrisRoberts
K here's what happened. You bought a pack of the last ever Polaroid film to be made. This was manufactured by Polaroid, but sold through the Impossible project site (formerly known as Polapremium). As did I. Basically this has an expiry date of 10/2009 I believe, but has been tested and certified by the impossible project as able to last until 10/2010.
I bought a few 10 packs of color film for £16 a piece last week when they were clearing their stock. I had no idea at the time that they had figured out how to make more, neither had I imagined it would be so much when they did.
8 photos for £16 is an absolute rip-off!
HOLY CRAP I LOVE LADY GAGA.
I still have my SX70 Camera! It's in perfect shape--just like new. I've also got a model 230 (from 1968--also in great condition).
@dave1812
The 230 is what we need film for.
@CallDon Fuji makes film for all Polaroid pack-film cameras that take type 100: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Instant-Peel-Apart-Pack-Film/ci/351/N/4294540469
I really like the box.
I can't wait for them to come out with IBM Selectric typewriter ribbons next ;-)
Man, I didn't read the article title and just glanced at the pic. I thought Engadget had stooped to the level of reporting on condoms...
So, will they be making the Time Zero film or just the color 600?
Someone wake me when they start making type 55 available again, otherwise, I could care less. Because imo....that is the best film ever to carry the polaroid name.
8 photos for £16 is way too much.
wow. too expensive. but i think they will find a way to trim price down. between my lomo and my polaroid expenditure, buying a d700 is cheaper. Great digital camera review
this is really for a lifestyle/hobbyist market. so while the price may go down after awhile... don't expect too much.
im sure alot of you know how the girlies go gaga over polaroid.