The bottom line= I finally got off my ass and bought a SX-70 and some film- if you want the how and why, keep reading…

Alright, so for the last two years I’ve been twiddling my thumbs over getting an SX-70 (pictures it takes), the famous Polaroid Land Camera from the 1970s, 80s. I had never really given Polaroids much thought ever since I was going to buy one at my neighborhood yardsale when I was 10 or so and my parents talked me out of it/didn’t let me get it because the film cost a whopping $8-10 a pack.

However in late 2005 or sometime in 2006 my dad brought home a camera they found when cleaning an old production room at GE. It was a SX-70 Model 2? maybe. Due to my programmed disinterest my brother took it because in that case his obsession with old things out weighed my obsession with photography. It wasn’t until a few months later when I began to read and find about Lomography and alternative Polaroid shooting that I regained interest in the once instant wonder. So I pulled out the camera from my brothers bookcase and plugged in the model on Google. I began to find out all this information and then began reading around on different photo sites. While I was reading, I came across a forum on the film (Time-Zero/SX-70) (I think it was photo.net). They were talking about how Polaroid was finally making good (or bad) on their statement about discontinuing TZ/SX-70 Film.

This of course motivated me to get in on it, since I want to try at least anything once, specifically photography related. I had already missed the Kodachrome boat and didn’t want to add another type of photography to my list of coulda-beens.

However, I remembered I was poor, about to start paying for college- and looking around at sites, SX-70s seemed to be as expensive as ever and the remaining batches of film weren’t that cheap either. I then kept reading the notice from Polaroid and saw you could still use film still produced (loosing the classic TZ look, unfortunately) with some modifications to your SX-70. So, I thought, I’ll just fix the SX that my dad brought home and buy some 600 and 779 when I get around to it. This type of thinking continued until one week ago.

When Polaroid once again thoroughly depressed and shocked (well, not quite for anyone with a half a brain of where photography is going commercially) the photo community with there announcement of the discontinuation of all instant film as well as severe layoffs- in order to

focus on ventures such as a portable printer for images from cell phones and Polaroid-branded digital cameras, televisions and DVD players

AP/Yahoo News

So, this got me off my ass. I refuse to miss out again, especially since I had been amply warned (and didn’t listen the first time). I (bought?) bidding a working SX-70 Model 2 and ordered a twin pack (20 exp) now $26.71 of 600 and a 20 exp pack of 779 for $26 through Amazon from Adorama and Endless Variety. I did find a website that is selling SX-70 original film for a nice $46 (20 exp)- they say the film is “fresh” dated 2008, however I really don’t believe that- they probably mean the expiration date reads 2008.

So now, as soon as it comes, I’ll have 40 precious frames to discover, perfect, shoot and embrace the wonderful world of instant film.

It’s really too bad that film needs to be produced on such a large scale to make it even close to profitable/doable- otherwise someone could have a decent business with a happy “vintage” photo community producing small batches of instant film.

Is anyone in the same boat as me? Or have you been enjoying the SX for years? Tell me about your photo coulda-beens (SX or other) or maybe you have some SX-70 adventures you’d like to share.

Well as may or may not have already heard, the wonderful TSA has issued yet another ordinance so we may travel safer. No more one bag quick photo trips people… I was just reading up on some photo news for the new year (active Jan 1, 2008) the TSA now will be prohibiting any “loose” Lithium-ion battery packs from your carry ons…(more detail here).

Now, I know it’s technically the travelers duty to be up on the latest travel inconvenience, i mean, safety measures. But with no formal announcement of this rule, before this catches on, I wonder what they plan to do with those who are traveling light? Ask them to toss their $30, $40, $80 batteries in that shameful bin of no return to join that of the last minute snow globes, personal razors and key chain knives?

Now, as much as I’m tempted, for the safety of myself and to prevent a government raid on my own home, I won’t go into all the other things that they should restrict before lithium-ions, but to say the least, I think this is a bit over-kill. Now, I understand the bats are still allowed on the plane, but with the track records some airlines have with baggage, we as photographers must now face the very real possibility of ending up shooting a remote gig with only the power in our camera packs and nothing else… dios mi.

As Liz Masoner a contributor to About.com raises the question:

As regulations continue to tighten on electronic devices and their power sources photographers are continually pushed to find new ways to pack and ship their equipment. How do you travel with your photography equipment?

What do you think?