by Lonnette Harrell

Created on: January 23, 2009

Remember how exciting it was back in the day, to smile for a Polaroid instant film picture, and immediately be able to watch it develop? While the quality was not always the best, it was instant gratification. I can still remember the pungent smell of the coating that we would drag across the picture to seal it. And there was no waiting for a couple of weeks, to get your pictures developed at the neighborhood drug store. But with the advent of cell phones that can instantly capture a photograph, as well as digital cameras, those days are pretty much a faint memory. As digital cameras became more affordable, and people began to enjoy sharing their pictures over the Internet, the purchase of Polaroid instant film by the general consumer faded steadily.

Polaroid stopped making instant cameras for commercial use a couple of years ago, and for consumers about a year ago. (The first instant camera was marketed by Polaroid in 1948, and was an immediate success.) Polaroid instant film and cameras were at the peak of their popularity in the 1960s and the 1970s. But the company has now announced (2008), that when the amount of Polaroid instant film produced reaches enough to last the company through 2009, it will then stop production completely, according to Courtney Dentch, of Bloomberg.com. The company will now turn its focus to flat screen TVs and digital photography. Polaroid also has unveiled a line of ZINK (zero ink) printers, used in turning out wallet sized pictures, from a digital camera or camera phone in 60 seconds (without an ink cartridge.) The small printer size resembles a deck of cards. Polaroid also produces a variety of electronics, including TVs, computer monitors, and DVD players. The company was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2001. In 2005, it was taken over by a private investment company.

There is hope, however, for those who still value this type of photography. Polaroid plans to license the technology for their instant film to interested third-party companies. Also Fuji film will still continue to produce instant film, and its 4 types of available instant film fit Polaroid cameras. However, they were made for the old peel away picture cameras, and many photographers need film for an integral camera system, that was later produced by Polaroid. Fuji film has this type of film, but it only fits its own camera, the Instax. So the news has caused photographers to make a run on stores that still have a supply of the Polaroid instant film, and at least

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