In 2016, Fujifilm announced it would no longer produce its FP-100C peel apart instant film, citing a dwindling lack of demand for the product. The discontinuation effectively ended the peel apart instant film market, but a new Kickstarter campaign aims to change that. Florian “Doc” Kaps, founder of The Impossible Project, has unveiled ONE INSTANT, a new peel apart instant film expected to launch in 2019.
Following Fujifilm’s FP-100C discontinuation, Kaps had pushed to save peel apart film via SuperSense, the company he founded after leaving The Impossible Project in 2013. The effort wasn’t successful at the time, but has ultimately proven fruitful more than two years later with the unveiling of ONE INSTANT.
As Kaps explains in the video above, ONE INSTANT is a re-invention of peel apart technology featuring single-shot instant film packaged in a paper cartridge. More than two years of research and development went into the innovation.
Kaps explains on the Kickstarter campaign:
“In spring 2016 Fuji announced termination of the world’s last instant packfilm production line. Since that day – more than 2 years ago! – we have been desperately searching for “impossible” ways to save this iconic film material. Just like we successfully did with the legendary Polaroid film by purchasing the last original factory in 2008 and restarting production the classic way.”
We failed! And honestly this was the best thing that could happen.
The single-shot ONE INSTANT Type 100 glossy color ISO 125 film is ‘based on a new, radical concept,’ the team explains. The product is compatible will all classic Type 100 packfilm cameras and is made with original Polaroid P7 material that was acquired by 20×24 Studio.
The team warns that ONE INSTANT “is truly really expensive to produce,” but they have vowed to bring down the cost when possible by optimizing production. The high cost is due to being mostly hand-made; the campaign explains how production takes place, saying:
“ONE INSTANT is a tiny, bespoke, dream-come-true MANUFACTORY in Vienna. ONE INSTANT film editions will be produced WITHOUT the need of giant machines, huge factory spaces and large teams. Our all new manufactory will just consist of a small beautiful darkroom for all production steps that need darkness (mainly the insertion of the negative into the lightproof paper cartridge), a beautiful daylight assembly room and of course our beloved all analog printshop for all paper work, cartridge punching, producing all our hand-made packaging and communication materials.”
Backers are offered multiple products to make a pledge for on the Kickstarter campaign, including various ONE INSTANT bundles that feature multiple packs, different box colors, and a Starter Kit that includes a mint condition Polaroid COLORPACK 2 camera. Film shipments to backers are expected to start in May 2019.
Source: dpreview.com
