Good-bye Nikonians

I am informed that as my Nikonian membership is at Basic level this is now time limited and that my account will be deactivated in the coming days. (Funny this was never mentioned when I joined in 07.) To stay a member I must upgrade to a $25 subscription with a $5 discount. This money grab is sad to see from what was a site with a sense of community – as a forum member you asked questions you had and answered questions when you could. I don’t want membership that entitles me to discount on Nikonian product, on baseball caps and t-shirts. Nor do I want membership certificate – look good alongside my 007 Secret Agent badge though wouldn’t it? I don’t want an image gallery and free uploads – others do it better. So Bo and Ramon founders of Nikonians.org a not-for-profit site – deactivate away I say!

The Impossible Project

Those are their words not mine. A team of enthusiasts, ex-employees and people not unconnected with Polanoid and Unsaleable.com have set them selves the impossible task of reintroducing Polaroid compatible integral film by 2010. They have a clock on their website  and it is already ticking. The group has taken a 10-year lease on the old Polaroid integral film facility at Enschede in the Netherlands – more of a management back back-in than a buy-out! These people need your help and support of all kinds with their project – you can sign up on the website. The project notes stress that this is the reinvention of integral film and that the new product will have new qualities and new components. Now if only the same could be done for the Mexican pack film facility…

Polaroid Type 32

Many thanks to my Polaroid correspondent TW who has sent a box of Polaroid Type 32 film for my collection. Originally launched in 1955 as a 200 ASA Panchromatic print roll, Type 32 was re-launched in April 1958 as Type 32 PolaPan 400 with double the sensitivity. The pack shown here is an intermediate product, offering the higher detail resolution and brighter picture finally claimed for the 400 speed prints but without the speed hike to 400. More details are on my Polaroid Web site – select Type 32 from the thumbnails. I’d like to establish the exact history of the changes in Type 32 film – so if anyone knows…