The Land List -- Polavision Cameras

POLAVISION MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS (Polavision Phototape)

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Camera uses Polavision Phototapes.

[Picture] Link to an illustration/graphic. Image links will load in a separate window.

NOTE: This short-lived camera category certainly qualifies as one of Polaroid Corporation's few true "bombs." The high original price of the equipment along with the generally poor quality of the film supplied with it had much to do with its lackluster public response-- not to mention that electronic video recording equipment was just then starting to show promise in the realm of amateur filmmaking. Even conventional Super 8 cameras and projectors, whose days were already becoming numbered as it was, had been available with synchronized sound for years-- and Polavision was a silent-only format. [Actually, Polaroid had considered the addition of a magnetic sound recording track ala conventional Super 8 film, but never did bring it to market during the short life of the product.]
However, all was not lost, as the additive process film used in Polavision was gradually improved and eventually became the basis of the reasonably successful Polachrome instant 35mm slide system that was introduced several years later.

COLLECTOR'S NOTES: Due to the poor sales of all Polavision equipment, this would seem to be an ideal category for the would-be Land camera collector; some of the accessories in particular seem to be rather uncommon. [The camera itself doesn't appear to be all that uncommon, however] The "SE" (Special Edition) version of the Polavision camera was also available as part of an outfit including several accessories which might not have been available elsewhere.

Polavision: Produced: 1978-19?? / Original Retail: $210.00

Lens: 8-element 12.5mm-25mm f/1.8 zoom; 2-zone focus
SLR viewing
Filming Speed: 18 fps (?)
Exposure: Automatic; f/1.8- f/22. Non-TTL Cds meter.
Camera/meter power is controlled by a switch in the hand grip of the camera.
Socket for special movie light attachment (TwiLight); power to lights is controlled by same switch that controls the meter.
Film remaining indicator.
Low-light warning visible in finder.
Focus zone indicator visible in finder.

NOTES: Polavision Player is required for film development and playback/projection. Development process automatically occurs when Phototape cartridge is inserted into player the first time; film is "played back" (projected) onto integral rear-projection screen on Player and automatically rewound at the end of the film. The Polavision camera and corresponding Polavision Player were both actually manufactured by Eumig of Austria for Polaroid Corp.

[Picture]: Polavision camera with original display box [JPEG, 12k]

[Picture]: A not-entirely-complete Polavision Special Edition Outfit [JPEG, 25k]

[Picture]: A Polavision Player, three-quarter view. A 12 inch (30 cm) ruler shows scale.[JPEG, 10k]

[Picture]: A Polavision Player with the Phototape slot cover open and the back door open. [JPEG, 12k]

Polavision in Action!

In summer of 2001, I was very generously given two unexposed Type 618 Polavision Phototapes from Tom Corbitt, a visitor to this site. They were, of course, very much out of date (despite being among the last such film produced), but had been stored well over the years and were still partially usable. So, thanks to Tom, I have now been able to use my Polavision system in the way it was originally intended. (!)

[Picture]: A Polavision Phototape ready to process! [JPEG, 47k]

The end result was a movie with a grainy and uneven appearance, with perhaps 20% of the film not developing at all. However, I'm impressed that I even got any sort of usable image considering its age.

I wanted to put a few stills from this film up here on the web site, but it was a bit more difficult than expected to get good quality photographs off of the Polavision Player screen. This is probably due to three things: (1) the low light output of the Player, (2) the plastic Fresnel lens used as a screen on the Player, and (3) the fact that the Player lacks any sort of still-frame capability. But, hey, I guess one good shot is better than nothing. I might try again later if there's enough interest.

By the way, I have seen one "old" Polavision film that was shot when the system (and film) would have still been current, and while it wasn't exactly high in quality either, the grain looked a lot less random and the colors were considerably more saturated compared with what you'll see here.

[Picture]: Nature's colorful fall leaves meet Polavision's colorful confetti-like grain structure. [JPEG, 78k]

[Picture]: Enlarged detail from the same frame shown above. [JPEG, 39k]

Last updated 05/27/2002

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	Camera uses Polavision Phototapes.
	Link to an illustration/graphic. Image links will load in a separate window.