Sad, sad news released today:
The company that pioneered instant photography is getting out of the film business to focus on digital imaging.
Polaroid says it will close its two remaining film manufacturing plants in Massachusetts. The facilities in Norwood and Waltham employed about 150 people and made large-format film for commercial use.
Polaroid has already halted the production of instant cameras. Chief Operating Officer Tom Beaudoin told The Boston Globe the company will focus on digital photography equipment and flat-panel TVs.
As it says above, the Norwood and Waltham plants make large-format films. Polaroid also makes professional-grade films in Mexico, and its consumer film packs come from a factory in the Netherlands. However, all of these plants are slated for closure sometime this year.
Shoot as much as you can right now – that’s what I suggest (especially if you’re working in a larger format). Here’s that last black and white Polaroid that I mentioned, from the pack of Polapan 100 Type 664 film that Mrs. Deane sent me.
Austin in Morning Light, Essex, VT, 2007
© Shane Lavalette
4 Comments
February 8, 2008 – 5:03 pm
Wow, I just went onto Polaroid.com to buy a bulk amount of Spectras and they are all already gone.
February 8, 2008 – 11:12 pm
This is the type of thing that makes me freak out. It was Ilford a couple of years ago with their b&w 35mm negs (if IÄôm correct), then single rolls of Portra, now this. I might just have to get into some alternative film process to rest my soul.
I still donÄôt understand how film is dying. I know, I know, digital is just popular because itÄôs easy to use, but in terms of resolution and speed, digital cannot beat film yet. The 160 mega pixel digital camera and Better Light utilities are just a huge scanners, thus there can’t be any movement in the frame or the images will be distorted.
In twenty years I wonder which company will be the last to sell film. Any predictions?
February 9, 2008 – 3:33 pm
This is what Polaroid was known for. This is part of what made photography fun. I can’t get that same feeling with any other film. How sad.
February 20, 2008 – 8:00 pm
I suppose there is always fuji right? It is quite sad though. I have an sx-70 that I have been modding with filters so I can use 600 speed film in it. Probably the sharpest camera on earth. But really the only thing I’m interested in is what happens to the 20×24 studio. What will Chuck Close and Mary Ellen do?! Ps I met your teacher, shes pretty great.