SAVE PACKFILM TRAVELOG NO. 13: The Packfilm Family


JOIN DOC ON AN INSTANT ADVENTURE

When preparing for my meeting with the FujiFilm management, I spent some time to research the history of instant film, discovering another beautiful and very special aspect of packfilm that I want to share with you.

As you all know, “peel apart film” was the first instant film developed by Edwin Land. It was first introduced in 1947 and finally brought to the market in 1948. The first systems used this concept in a format called roll film, but soon the first packfilm formats were introduced by Polaroid and defined the glory of this company until 1972. Back then, Land introduced the SX-70 integral film system, today produced by IMPOSSIBLE.

Due to the worldwide success of instant photography, several other large companies stared to develop their instant systems too. And Kodak, formerly a close partner with Polaroid, was the first to enter the market with their own instant film system.

We all know what happened: the big fight between Polaroid and Kodak (ending with a gigantic payment from Kodak to Polaroid of more than 900 millions after 10 years in court) threatened all the other companies. Some of them decided to stop their projects (like Agfa), but FujiFilm decided to sit down on a table with Polaroid. (SO YES!!! Sometimes they do obviously start negotiating with foreign companies!!)

Back then, these gentlemen settled an agreement for sharing expertise in all kind of fields and peacefully produced analog instant film side by side on different parts in the world. FujiFilm introduced their (almost too) perfect Instax integral system, and as the patents for Polaroid`s old packfilm system already had expired, they also started their amazing versions of the legendary Polaroid packfilms.

So these 2 film packs on my picture above are basically brother and sister, and it is definitely time to introduce the new generation of this wonderful peaceful packfilm family, don`t you agree? And exactly as demonstrated by FUJI and Polaroid back then, I very much do believe that we will be able to find a perfect solution to do so.

Doc

P.S.: Please have a look at this super rare “Give it a shot” edition of the Polaroid pack film, where Polaroid obviously tried to impress their customers by combining a pack of film with a small bottle of whiskey. Something our new film will for sure not need in order to rock!

 

 

www.savepackfilm.net 

 


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