How to use Polaroid-type Instax film with vintage cameras

Рет қаралды 7,451

3 жыл бұрын

Instax film is a beautiful ASA 800 polaroid-type film. In this video, I share some of my experiments with the film and my vintage cameras. And I really like the outcome!
I also refer to our Finnish language podcast on film photography. The name of the podcast is Kansan Filmiradio (Film Radio for the People) and you can find it from all major Pod -platforms like:
open.spotify.com/show/5wbkjX1...
To get to know my fellow podcast host, Mikko Lehtonen, his work can be found e.g here -- (un)-fortunately mostly in Finnish:
/ diddleybowie
/ yrtithepreaa
horinablogi.blogspot.com/2021...

Пікірлер: 74

@user-bw7cd8ch5l 3 жыл бұрын

Photos are really nice and alive, feels like I can touch everything in it

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I really like the organic look of this film.

@qnetx 3 жыл бұрын

I have several Instax cameras from the cheap models to the more expensive and better square format instax models. I treat them as if they were Instax versions of the Holgas and like the Holgas, consider them a challenge to create creative images with. I'm also looking at the different backs others are creating that may fit my other higher quality cameras. I like your 4x5 trick, I might try it. I wish Fujifilm would have made a larger version of the square Instax, something closer to the size of the Polaroids. But then I also wish Fujifilm would return to making pack film like FP100.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

I like Holgas. They are interesting. I don’t find instax cameras that compelling. But it’s just me :-). And I only have this white whale. I recently bought a few packs of FP100 but they are getting really hard to find.

@markusklein6309 3 жыл бұрын

I have a Wista 4x5 and some film holders but neither Instax film nor such a toy camera. But now, after seeing your video, I need to buy both Instax film and such a toy camera😃 Thanks for your idea! Ingenious ideas are often very simple ideas, and vice versa.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Happy to help! :-)

@HumanClouds 3 жыл бұрын

Inspiring, and very nice results!

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I really enjoyed shooting these.

@cozycasasmr4510 Жыл бұрын

This is so fun I love it when creativity and science mix

@ShootOnFilm Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure about the science part -- maybe more arts and crafts ;-) . But thank you so much for watching!

@kondione 3 жыл бұрын

Great idea and result!

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Thanks!!

@stephensmith8325 3 жыл бұрын

Very charming intro. Very relatable. and beautiful results

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

:-). Thanks!

@arcanics1971 2 жыл бұрын

I expected this to be about Instax film backs for various camera. Got to say as much as I wanted to see that, this was far more interesting.

@ShootOnFilm 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry to disappoint, but thanks!! Yeah, I bought a Lomography 4x5 Instax back a while ago. And was utterly disappointed. Gotta make a video about it sometime.

@skleung3 3 жыл бұрын

Anything into your hands could make great pictures ! Thanks for your sharing : )

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

That is so kind of you to say!! Thanks!

@michaelh.gerloff3659 3 жыл бұрын

I am speechless, so here is just a ❤️ and 🙏🏻

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

:-) Thanks thanks!! Appreciated.

@JourneysEnd1750 3 жыл бұрын

👍 Nice work.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks thanks

@sergemuller5402 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Ari, I really like the one with the newspaper under the cup: the oil painting and classical composition feelings are a perfect match for this beautiful picture... even for someone like me who wouldn't be able to define classical composition ;) Take care, Serge

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you thank you!!!

@sailingandpaintingtheworld538 3 жыл бұрын

Very nice Ari keep up the good work, you have a shining path (oops sorry)

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

;-)

@rizkiyoist 2 жыл бұрын

Great, gonna try this later with my Rolleicord, I just need 9 more of those.

@edwardcrosby5034 3 жыл бұрын

Great work, I am hoping for the day when I can load my redundant Polaroid film backs with film.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Yeah. Bring Polaroid back :-)

@earlmccowen5197 2 жыл бұрын

Your creativity is mind-boggling! Keep this up and the mental health professionals may be paying you a visit with a jacket with very long sleeves. Very enjoyable video!

@ShootOnFilm 2 жыл бұрын

:-) I'd welcome any help!

@arildedvardbasmo490 3 жыл бұрын

Very cool pictures! Actually good use of this film... I am looking forward to the Lomography 4x5 Instax Wide back, when that eventually comes to market.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah. I was never a fan of Polaroid or instax because of the cameras. Lomo looks interesting.

@arildedvardbasmo490 3 жыл бұрын

@@ShootOnFilm Me neither. Even the SX70 is questionable... And after owning the Mint rangefinder Instax cameras which take decent enough pictures, I also realised that the plastic-Ness bothered me almost as much. A proper Hasselblad Instax back might be a next project for me..

@TBetancurj Жыл бұрын

Ok, i tried it and it was amazing. At first I rushed trying to get the film into the SLR camera but it was totally worth it. One thing to note is that the backside of the film, the dark part that you can see when it's expose it, it's the photosensitive side so be sure to put it like turned back towards the lens.

@ShootOnFilm Жыл бұрын

Cool. Yes, while working in the dark you need to pay attention to which side is which. :-)

@grigvulpe3266 Жыл бұрын

Mobile lab, instant one. - I saw a guy taken the other way, transforming the instax into a pinhole. But your way its belisimo. Basically, its about the liquids (painting oil) from the polaroid frame back. Its an stereoscopic illusion, but a nice one!

@issataysissemali3203 4 ай бұрын

I had this idea of using an instax film in the old medium format cameras as well. I have a Soviet Lubitel camera, and i have also bought a used instax mini 11 camera. I'm planning to try to reverse-engineer the instax film extraction mechanism, and try to make an alternative film door for Lubitel camera. Hope that would work out

@IdowuAsumah 2 ай бұрын

Hi, did you create this project? How did it go? I recently got a Mamiya RB67 and my goal is to redesign the back for instax film. If you'd like to collaborate on this, pls reach out to me.

@mattisulanto 3 жыл бұрын

Nice hack indeed and pretty pictures too.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks thanks. I was indeed surprised by how nice this film looks like!

@mattisulanto 3 жыл бұрын

@@ShootOnFilm So it's not the same stuff as the Fuji FP100c? I'm talking about the film stock, not the size. I remember the FP100c was very realistic looking compared to equivalent Polaroid, I forget the type. The one that we used to take test shots way back in the day. Polaroid had unpractical ISO 64 rating and the tonality was pretty far from, say Ektachrome 100. However, the FP100c was rated at ISO 100 and the tonality looked much like the Fuji Provia, for example. So, it was much better for those test shots than Polaroid. Also the clients appreciated the Fuji FP100c, because it was so much better looking and closer to the final film exposure.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

@@mattisulanto To my understanding, this is totally different. I've got boxes of both in my hands, and even though they are both made by Fuji, I believe they are totally different. Also, with Instax you don't peel anything away. You just wait. And it is exposed from the back of the film so the picture is in the right way. And, as you said it is ASA 800 whereas FP-100c is not. Finally, you can still buy Instax pretty cheap :-)

@jimgoodin-analogphotography20 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome and well done! I’ve been wanting to use the film in my pinhole cameras so thank you for the guidance. I was hoping you might be leading to something you made to process the film and not have to have the instax camera for that purpose. I’ve heard of Manuel ways to run it through the rollers and squeeze the pod. I suspect the challenge is accurate squeezing of the pod but I’m thinking about trying that somehow. Regardless thank you for well done creative way!

@ShootOnFilm 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, thanks! You can get one of those Instax cameras dirt cheap -- Ebay, even new. :-) A friend of mine has used a pasta squeezer (probably not the exact term, but you know what I mean). It seems to be very difficult to get it smooth and even, though ...

@sebastianschlagenhaufer4961 3 жыл бұрын

Cool solution. I use the Rollei-back for sheetfilm to shoot instax film. Although I can preload a few cassettes like you, there is only a 6cm x 6cm picture exposed. So the 4x5 inch format has some advantages. The Rolleicord maybe the better size option of the camera, the 4x5 is the better size option for the picture. Thank you for your video, I will try shooting instax again soon. Also a very inspiring idea to use a pinhole camera. By the way, which ISO do you think instax film has? Some say 800?

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah. It is ISO 800.

@MichaelZieschang 8 ай бұрын

I have a sheet holder frame for my Rolleiflex 3.5 but without the back plate. I wonder whether you could build a holder using the original Instax cassette as a filmholder .. I tried this methof in my Pentacon Six. before.

@tompaste387 Жыл бұрын

Use a good modern camera such as Fujifilm X100V. Then send to a share printer such as an Instax mini printer or the Share SP-3 uses the Instax mini or square film. Problem and pfaffing around solved. Though, I do like the 4x5 idea

@ShootOnFilm Жыл бұрын

I much rather avoid all digital whenever possible. In my daily job, I’ve created imaging algorithms, consumer devices, digital cameras, phones, software ---- so with photography digital to me is an absolute no no :-)

@utekopka7920 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Ari and extremely helpful! And you are not the only crazy person here. :) I have just bought a Polaroid 110a because I read an article about how to shoot 4x5 handheld, 120 film and instax wide with it. (I didn't want a converted copy). I have a (probably dumb) question about the instax stuff. Do I have to put back the darkslide on the cartridge before I put it in the instax camera or is it sufficient to just load the cartridge in the dark without the dark slide? I am worried that the cam might interpret the 1st sheet of exposed film as darkslide and eject it without development.

@ShootOnFilm 2 жыл бұрын

No need to put the dark slide back. Actually if you do, then you need to shoot twice: first to get the dark slide ejected and then the film. Just make sure no light when you deal with the sheets

@utekopka7920 2 жыл бұрын

@@ShootOnFilm Thank you very much for the prompt reply! Now I still need to get an instax wide camera, and film of cause. I will keep you informed how it works. The Rodenstock Ysarex 4.7/127 seems to be a terrific lens. I think I will test the camera first with some 120 film that never runs out in my house. :)

@ShootOnFilm 2 жыл бұрын

@@utekopka7920 excellent ...!!!

@MeumGaudiumRivegauche 3 жыл бұрын

I actually love the night yellowish shot. Too bad you didn't take a shot with the Instax camera itself to compare with the other shots.

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

yeah, I should have :-)

@jamesprovenzano7021 Жыл бұрын

Hi Ari. Rewatching some of your videos. First a question: how bad is reciprocity with instax? Second: I saw that Rollei makes a back that takes film holders made for Rolleiflex/Rolleicord. Thoughts?

@ShootOnFilm Жыл бұрын

I don't think thee is almost any reciprocity error with Instax. I'm pretty sure the characteristics of Instax film are similar to Fuji color positive films -- that has very low r-curve. Second: I have a few of those backs. You cannot use them with instax - the small one. Won't fit.

@tumaprints Жыл бұрын

Have you tried shooting on direct positive paper in your pinhole camera? Any advice, I want to try it this summer with a homemade pinhole camera.

@ShootOnFilm Жыл бұрын

No, but I've shot regular photo paper. Like this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hsxofqRmua6UeYE.html

@danbobski 7 ай бұрын

What’s the ISO on the film? That pinhole picture was really great!

@ShootOnFilm 7 ай бұрын

It is 800

@mistrotech8894 5 ай бұрын

Can I take instant photos with a 120 film camera? It's a Kodak Hawk-Eye folding camera. I'm new to this 😅

@ShootOnFilm 5 ай бұрын

Yes you should. Those I used are 120 film cameras. Take a used instax Image or make a paper mock up based on instax measurements (google them) and see how it fits.

@MB-or8js 3 жыл бұрын

What did you do with the Instax films after exposure and after you took them out of the 4x5 holders? Placing each frame again into the Instax camera cartridge to have each photo released by the Instax camera to get the chemical process started?

@ShootOnFilm 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, but you can process many as a "production line", no need to do one at a time. One cartridge holds 10 pics if needed and you can put them all into a cartridge, cover the front lens, and press the shutter release for 10 times. :-)

@MB-or8js 3 жыл бұрын

@@ShootOnFilm Thanks! A video which uses the 3D-printed cassettes for Hasselblad 500 cameras with Instax film would be great, too!