Dec 12

Dec 12 Impossible Project and an SX-70

If you're looking to get into instant photography, or looking to upgrade from your credit card sized instax, you might have wandered around the SX-70. The SX-70 might be the most amazing camera ever made; introduced in 1972, the camera is pocketable, has manual focus, and you do get some control over the exposure with a lighten/darken knob. If you're interested in using The Impossible Project film, and want at least some control over what you're doing, this is the camera for you. It is wonderful. Check the orientation video from Polaroid when it was introduced. I'm not sure there is much else I could say about it that they do not cover.

If you've decided to step into the world of larger instant film, you're either going to have to search all over for the ever-dwindling supply of actual Polaroid films, which will have dying or dead batteries, bad chemicals, or might work; you most likely will be investing in The Impossible Project.

The Impossible Project was spearheaded by Florian Kops in 2008. Polaroid announced that it would discontinuing all their instant films, and Florian saw this as a travesty and bought all the remaining stock and machines that had not been destroyed, vowing to continue to make the instant film Edwin Land created. Great idea.

In 2016, we are in the second generation of their film, which are SX-70, which is 160 is, and 600, which is ISO 640. These films are better than the original generation, but are not that amazing, yet. The color still takes quite a while to develop, the black and white is about five minutes, though. I have shot about 10 packs so far, and I have some thoughts about it.

At about 24 dollars a pack, which contains eight images instead of 10, you're paying about three dollars an image, which is quite expensive. If the film worked 100% of the time, this would be pricey, but not the worst; I have had about 55% hit rate, which puts each image at about five dollars, not to mention the missed shots, which can be wildly frustrating. If you are ready to invest a decent amount of money, this stuff is great. If the film was about 18 dollars a pack, it might more acceptable.

If you're ready for all that, the film is fun, it is "instant" and it is unique. They have a lot of different color frames, though the most common is white. The film, like instax, is becoming more available at more stores, like Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, and Barnes and Noble. You can also buy online from a lot of places, Freestyle Photo, Camera Film Photo, and Adorama.

I would definitely give this film a try, it is fun, and the problems can be handled, especially if you are ready for the results, but do not jump up from instax and expect the same exact results on a larger scale.