The trusty Impossible Project scan adapter that I’ve used for many years finally has a spiritual successor.
At last, some good news for a change! The folks at Brooklyn Film Camera and Cameradactyl have joined forces to create and release a new Polaroid scan adapter. A scan adapter is a critical part of the scanning process, preventing the dreaded Newton ring effect from ruining images.
The Impossible Project sold scan adapters for both Spectra and 600/SX-70 frames, but then inexplicably just… stopped (I was told the reason was the sales didn’t justify manufacturing, which boggles my mind since this is such a critical piece of gear). I managed to get my hands on a Spectra adapter, but I’ve been scrambling for years to find a replacement for myself and others.
I haven’t gotten my hands on this new scan adapter yet, but when I do I’ll be sure to post a full review. I’ve been pestering the Impossible Project/Polaroid Originals/Polaroid for years to release a new adapter, so I’m glad somebody has stepped up to the plate.
You can read more about it in my in-depth guide to scanning instant film, but Newton rings are rainbow patches that look like little oil slicks that appear in scans. They are caused by contact between the plastic layer on the front of the Polaroid and the glass surface of the scanner. Scan adapters make it so the Polaroid doesn’t touch the glass, while still keeping it close enough that it doesn’t soften the image.
I’ve cobbled together my own homemade scan adapters, but they’ve never worked as well as the real thing.
At 55 USD the price may seem a bit steep for a chunk of plastic, but it is absolutely worth it. Newton rings are insanely difficult to get rid of in photoshop, making this worth its weight in gold for any serious Polaroid photographer.
An improvement over the original scan adapters is that the new ones don’t have any glue pre-applied. The Impossible Project scanners had glue on them that was supposed to hold up across multiple uses, but I found that it quickly fell apart and had to scrape it out. I use tape now, which is exactly what Brooklyn Film Camera recommends for their adapter.
I’m not an affiliate with Brooklyn Film Camera, so I don’t make anything recommending this product. I get emails all the time from people asking for advice on where to get a scan adapter, so I’m just thankful I finally have a good place to point them to.