The Post-Polaroid Age: Some Still Cling to Instant Film

Instant film, however, is unlikely to regain enough mass appeal to make its production viable.

"In the end it's going to come down to a business decision," Mr. Winfield says. "The company's not going to save it [just] for these people that are nostalgic for the film."

But that hasn't stopped the hopeful speculation among diehard fans about forming a distributor that would market instant films manufactured by another filmmaking company.

"We're cautiously approaching doing it ourselves," Mr. Tubridy says. "We have no idea what's really involved. Starting a business for a niche product is not something you do on a whim."