Iain Kendall • My first run of Fujilfilm FP100-C packfilm through...

My first run of Fujilfilm FP100-C packfilm through the Polaroid 100 Automatic Land camera was my chance to learn what makes this camera tick and what I needed to know in using packfilm.

I loaded it up before I set off walking to work one morning and took the first two shots. The first one was taken with everything set to default; the lighten and darken wheel on the front was set in the middle, but I felt it was quite dark. Next I cranked it round a couple of notches into lighten and took the traffic warden shot. I’ve grown to love this given the excessive no parking lines and a lack of cars, yet he looks to be guarding his spot. Too bright this time. At lunchtime I headed back and took another in the middle of the normal and what I had it on before…better. Around the corner was an old favourite location of mine and kept the settings as they were…I seemed to have found it’s sweet-spot. The sunrise pictures taken were the next morning, firstly at the default and then again at a couple of notches into lighten. It really does need that.

What I soon learned about the film that it hates rain; my lunchtime shots were ejected and placed in my pocket after being caught in the rain a bit. This caused the paper to weaken, spreading chemicals all over my iPhone which was in the same pocket. Also, you can’t be to quick in pulling it out the camera, a smooth continuous pull is needed to get an even spread across the film. My last shot went completely wrong and I’m not sure why, the chemicals seemed to gather at the end of the film.

It’s a wonderful camera though and gets lots of attention when you’re out shooting. I have two more packs so it’s time to see what I can make it do now.