![]() ![]() The newer and less used your Spectra camera, the more likely you are to enjoy uninhibited success with the film, but seeing as how Spectra cameras found in thrift store rarely have clear indications of how many miles are on their motors, it still remains very much a gamble. Compounding the issue is that some tricks seem to work with some cameras, and some cameras have no issues at all. ![]() Suggestions ranged from removing a mylar strip on the film pack, to hitting the side of the camera, to vigorously shaking the camera during ejection. Some claimed the batteries in the film packs were no longer strong enough for the cameras to push out the wider film. The common culprit cited is the age of the cameras themselves. Looking back on those problems, do we know what caused them? Yes and no. Numerous YouTube videos were posted outlining possible causes and solutions to the problem and Polaroid Originals even pulled the film from the market while their engineers tried to fix it. The problem stymied both photographers worldwide, as well as Polaroid Originals. As mentioned above, Spectra film started encountering frequent issues jamming in the camera during ejection. But sometimes good things just cannot last. Once again instant photographers could make that larger image on all those nifty Spectra cameras they had kept tucked away. With the rise of The Impossible Project Spectra was given a new lease on life as it was brought back alongside 600 and SX-70. Like the rest of Polaroid film, Spectra was initially discontinued when Polaroid announced the end of film production back in 2008. These Spectra cameras are arguably what really drove Spectra’s popularity as the cameras often feature nice lenses, more manual controls and additional features such as self-timers or auto-focus. Polaroid introduced a whole new series of cameras with which to use the film. But there was more to Spectra than simply a larger frame. Spectra film shared the same basic chemical formulation and ISO rating as 600, but offered a larger and wider picture area measuring 7.3cm by 9.2cm, versus the nearly square 7.9cm by 7.7cm of 600 and SX-70 film. It would probably be well worth your while to pop over to the Film Friday write-up we did on Polaroid Originals 600 B&W, which will fill you in on the history and characteristics of that instant film. At its most basic, it is essentially an alternate format of the Polaroid 600 film. Spectra was introduced to the world by Polaroid in 1986. So we thought we’d send it off properly with a Film Friday review while we still had the film to enjoy and to shoot. As of the writing of this Film Friday review, we still have some stock remaining but when it is gone, that will likely be the end of the Spectra era for us. Then, it was unavailable for nearly a year, only to briefly enjoy newfound availability before it was announced that Polaroid Originals would be discontinuing production of the film in October of 2019. Starting in 2018, photographers started reporting widespread jamming of the film in their cameras. Spectra film has had a bit of a tumultuous recent history. ![]()
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