Instant cameras produce prints within a minute or so after exposure. There are a variety of instant camera types from older models that squeeze a chemically enhanced negative portion against white photo paper to the type that produces a print as you watch. There even are instant film backs for professional medium-format cameras, such as the Hasselblad or Bronica. This allows the film photographer to get a preview of how the final shot will look while still able to change it.
Basics
The original Polaroid Land Camera looked like a press or view camera. It had a bellows that extended the lens out from the film plane. It is focused using a rangefinder arrangement. That is, two viewing lenses triangulate on the image and as you focus, two apparent images come together. When they appear as one image, the camera is in focus. Instant cameras from the 1960s use film cartridges holding eight to 10 shots. When you open a film cartridge, you insert it into the film chamber making certain to have the film tab through the slot. After you expose the film, you pull this tab, which pulls the negative and paper through rollers to squeeze them together. The negative image is transferred to the positive paper. You hold the film "sandwich" for about a minute, then peel it apart to reveal the photo.
SX-70
The major improvement Polaroid made to its cameras was the SX-70. The camera is flat until you open it. Once open, it has a triangular appearance. The film cartridge for this and other such cameras sits in the bottom of the camera, not the back. The image is bounced inside the camera to the film. As soon as a shot is exposed, a motor pushes the film out. In this case, there is nothing to pull apart. The image develops as you watch it. One advantage of this type instant film for those with artistic minds is that if you use a pointed but non-sharp implement such as a pen cap, you can push the still wet emulsion around, thus drawing in the print itself. Entire books have been printed of this type of Polaroid art.
For Pros
If you want to turn your Hasselblad or other medium-format camera into an instant camera, all you have to do is buy an instant film back for your type of camera. This film back attaches just like a regular 12-exposure or 24-exposure film back and you get to use the high-end optics from your Hasselblad lenses to expose instant film. Since instant cameras essentially were run out of the market by the advent of digital, they are quite inexpensive. Finding the film, however, takes some work, but it often comes up for bid on websites such as eBay. While you don't get a negative with instant film, you can scan the prints to turn them into digital images.
The New Instant
Polaroid sued to prevent Kodak from continuing to market its instant film cameras and won the case. Since then, Polaroid has had hard times, but has been trying to make a comeback. The company offers digital cameras called PoGos that also produce prints directly from the camera. It no longer manufactures the film for the original Polaroid Land Cameras or the SX-70-type camera, but instant film for these still are available. It just may take some hunting. It sometimes comes up for bid on eBay, but make certain it is the right type film for your camera.
Tags: instant film, film back, film cartridge, instant camera, Instant cameras
