I'm in love ... with instant photography

I like to joke around that using Twitter costs me a lot of money ... I'm constantly inspired by the things my friends talk about, particularly related to photography, and feel compelled to purchase cameras, film, and all kinds of related (and totally unrelated) paraphernalia.

Such was the case when I befriended @polaroidgirl ... It started out innocently enough, but before I knew it, I was bidding on vintage polaroid cameras on eBay, searching for deals on film, and generally just losing my mind with my new found love for instant photography. If you already shoot polaroid, or if you've ever looked into it, you know it's not the cheapest way to take photos. But it's worth every penny, and when a good deal comes along, I take the opportunity to stock up!

Right now, PolaPremium is offering a special deal on 779 film, which is what I used to create the photo you see here. It works with any 600 camera, and you can also use it with vintage SX-70 cameras with a couple of easy modifications. But here's the trick: Someone who's already signed up to receive PolaPremium's email updates must enter your email address. Luckily, I am one of those people. If you're interested, please let me know! The last time PolaPremium ran this promotion, they sold out of 2000 packs of film in just four days, so I expect that the film they've restocked will sell quickly. As they say in the infomercials, "Supplies are limited! Act now!" (Seriously, though, get your butt in gear before the film and the special pricing are gone.)

I suppose it's possible that you're intrigued by the idea of shooting polaroids, but don't know where to begin? That was my situation just a few months ago ... Luckily, a few Twitter and Flickr friends helped me out. Here's what I learned.

Finding a camera

Ebay seems to have the widest selection of polaroid cameras for sale. Other sources include Etsy (search vintage listings), Craigslist, Freecycle, and Goodwill (and other secondhand stores). Amazon usually has 600 cameras for sale.

If you're shopping for an SX-70, there are a few questions you should ask the seller:

Has the camera been tested?
When you look through the viewfinder, is it clear?
Does the front door stay closed, or does it flap open?
Does the camera fold flat, or does it bulge on one side? (If it bulges, the mirror may be loose.)
Does the shutter operate quickly and smoothly? (If the shutter sticks, your photos will probably be blurry & overexposed.)

The most coveted SX-70 models are the ones with silver finish and brown leather. Alpha 1 Model 2 cameras (with a black body) are typically cheaper because the sythentic covers are kind of crappy ... But the covers are easily replaced, and many of these cameras work just fine.

Finding film & accessories

My favorite source for film is PolaPremium ... Mostly because I like the people who work there, and I want to support their efforts to develop a new kind of instant film. If you buy items marked with a little U.S. flag, you can take advantage of reasonably-priced domestic shipping. I've also had good luck finding 600 film online, via Amazon and other retailers. And I occassionally come across 600 film in CVS, Wal-Mart, and other retail chain stores. I know folks who buy polaroid film on eBay, too.

If you want to use 600 or 779 film with an SX-70 camera, there are a couple of things you'll need to do. First, snip off the little plastic nubs on the edge of the pack of film. Then use an ND filter on the pack or the lens. I like to use pack filters from MyPolaStore .com.

Finding hope & inspiration

The most common question I get when people see me shooting with my SX-70: "Do they still make film for those things?" The short answer is "no." Polaroid has given up on analog photography, and has stopped making film. That's the bad news. But there's still a lot of it around, and it will last past the expiration date if stored safely in the fridge. So that's the (sort of) good news.

The even better news is this: There are a lot of people who want instant photography to live forever. (Don't believe me? Check out Save Polaroid.) As I write this, The Impossible Project is hard at work, reinventing instant film for the SX-70. And there's even a rumor about a brand new camera, not too far in the future. But I don't think you should wait for the new stuff to get started. Find a camera, get some film -- remember, I can help you with that! -- and Share the Love with other would-be instant photographers.

The most important thing I've learned: There's no such thing as too late to the polaroid party.

(Many thanks to Anne, Dave, Viv, and countless others for their encouragement and their helpful SX-70 tips.)