jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, because there's a superstition that people without left ears are devils. 🤣

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Loads of incorrect information.
Type 55 P/N was a 4X5 film developed to match the similar 4X5 Ektachromes, it was in fact Kodak Pantatomic X** film and was only similar, not a close match. Pack films are for use in the pack size folding film cameras and Fugi still makes pack film. The Positive and negative film (never referred to as P/N films) for pack cameras was 665 film and is no longer available. I have used it extensively in the past.

The pack cameras made for Polaroid with glass optics were made by Carl Zeiss (these were of the Tessar lens design), both the taking lens, supplemental (close up) lenses and the optical rangefinders. The critical thing in Polaroid cameras are the stainless steel rollers used*. The Older (maroon colored) 4X5 backs should never be used for shooting with the 4X5 films as the rollers were not of enough quality, only the all black 4X5 film holders should be used (500 series) for processing, the old maron colored holders were fine for holding film during exposures only.

* The remanufactured Polaroid cameras are to replace the worn parts that support and separate the stainless steel rollers of the processors separate or in a camera. These are extremely durable and are critical to the advanced Polaroid processing of the images. This is important to grasp as regular return to Polaroid for realignment of processing rollers and wear points were necessary as the equipment be in proper working order, even the 8X10 Polaroide processors, (mechanical or manual types). I had an 8X10 electric Polaroid processor and Polaroid preformed service on my processor at no charge as the local Polaroid representatives would borrow my unit for demonstrations and to loan to area photographers to use along with the film holders for commercial projects. I had been designated a CUC (Creative Use consultant) for Polaroid, (yes , I received extra film on occasion for my own work, and I often gave the Polaroid rep film to use in demos with photographers, it was quite a mutual support group).

I miss Polaroid as a corporation as they were truly actively supporting working and art photographers during my relationship with them.

Polaroid "pack" film is the old film size referred to as Lantern Slide size materials (one of the oldest film sizes of sheet film). Glass size auto radiograph film is this size and Kodak made this size film processing hangers both the open top cage type as well as duel clip hangers, as it was a popular film size for what were called the Baby Speed and Crown Graphic cameras.

** Ansel Adams often exposed Type 55P/N film using the Polaroid film holders and the would take the film home to later process the film as a sheet film, he said at the time Kodak had discontinued making Pan-X as a sheet film for sale but was making it for Polaroid in the Type 55 P/N film. Ansel said he knew this was a plan and so stock piled and froze large quantities of Super Pancro Press, Type B sheet film, his preferred film for most of his creative and commercial B&W work. Kodak did modify the Type 55 P/N Panatomic X film to match the Ektachrome Type B 4X5 transparency film, thus the reason Ansel favored this film for landscape work rather, than the more 'modern' spectral response film the 'daylight' (actually flash balanced) Super XX film intended for Color Separation Work.

Ron2photo Loc: Holliston, MA

Polaroid had a camera room in the Boston Museum of Fine Art. They photographed paintings on 30 inch roll film/paper and processed them right in the camera room. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. You actually saw the image form on the paper/film.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Timmers--

First thank you for correcting me on the product number for 3x4"peel-apart pack film. I could not remember or find 665, so used the generic 4x5 film number.

Second...there is no current source for peel-apart film for Polaroid cameras. Fuji shut down all production of these products and chose not to make the formulation available to anyone who might want to take up production of them. Instax instant film is a low-quality novelty product compatible only with a line of low-cost cameras made specifically for that film. It is square format self-contained film similar to the SX-70 format. Fuji never was able to match the quality of later Polaroid product. While it is not certain, it is likely that health & safety and environmental regulations would prevent ever achieving suitable performance, leading to the discontinuation.

Third...the film currently branded as Polaroid is the former Impossible Project material. Impossible Project was purchased by the stockholders of the new Polaroid organization. This film was reverse-engineered by IP and never came close to the quality of genuine Polaroid film. This is 600 speed film, but it is apparently usable in SX-70 cameras which have been "modernized."

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

For testing and verifying lighting when working mainly with large format transparency films, over the years, I went through enough Polaroid 4x5 and 8x10 material to sink a battleship! I always found the 8x10 version to produce surprisingly good color and sharpness. I still have some of the test prints- seems the AZO dye technology (if I remember correctly) stood up well over time with no fadeing. I finally sold the 8x10 processor a few years ago.

The PN55 produced decent negatives with again, surprisingly fine grain.

Frankly, for testing and verification, nowadays, I prefer a tethered laptop with a decent screen- I do not miss the mess that sometimes occurred with those gellous chemical pods. Every time I encountered a defective film or had an issue with the rollers and ended up with a stained or unevenly developed print, I thought of Dianne Arbus and her creative Polaroid experiments. My young assistant used to joke and tell me to sell that as art.

Years ago I had a Polarod folder model that was like a miniature press camera. It had a decent lens a fully adjustable shutter and actual f/stops.

I also remember when Polaroid came out with "instant movies". Bad timing as consumer video was emerging. They kicked Dr.Land upstairs. I still think the man was a genius!

I never got into the history of the manufacturing process- I just used the material, most for testing. If the Polaroid was decent, I knew my chromes would be well into the ballpark.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

And if anyone is interested, I have an as new Tektronix Polaroid Camera for photographing oscilloscope screens. It has the appropriate hood to slip on to the scope, a built in flash to light the CRT reticle lines, and I have maybe a dozen original unopened Polaroid B&W film packs to match it (I’d have to check the type). Offers?

BebuLamar

I keep wondering how the camera sync to the scope or it doesn't sync at all?

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Interesting post. I'm wondering if any one here has had any experience with the Kodak copy of the Poloroid?

BebuLamar

You meant the ones that Kodak got sued by Polaroid? I had one of them. The camera isn't as sophisticate as the Polaroid SX-70 series but I like the color rendition of its film better.
Current instant cameras from Kodak are really digital with a built in printer.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If it’s a repetitive signal, you just just press the shutter release. If a single shot event, you can put the scope in single sweep and use the trigger out to electrically trigger the shutter. Or you can just open the shutter and leave it open while the scope does a single sweep of the event.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

yeah that one. If I remember right, there was a buy back from Kodak. I doubt if the collector value for them is very much.