A polaroid camera It is part of our general culture, both for those of us who are already a certain age, and for millennials, Z generations, and those to come. Because it is clear that instant cameras have been able to maintain the type and make a corner in the houses of many of us.
And it is that the polaroid photos they are, without a doubt, a memory for life, so I encourage you to continue in this article where we will talk about what Polaroid is, how a Polaroid camera works, what are its best cameras, pros and cons and a loooong etcetera 😉 .
Before we get into the matter, let me introduce you to this mega guide with all the information about photo processing, because if you’re reading this, it’s because you really care about photos on paper.
Now, let’s get to the topic at hand. In this guide you will find:
INSIDE THIS ARTICLE… 📖
What is Polaroid?
Polaroid is a company based in the USA that is dedicated to manufacturing instant cameras and photographic paper of the same brand. Their first instant photographs date back to 1947, where they achieved a development of only 60 seconds and their applications since then have been multiple and varied (especially for the general public but it was also used in military photography, etc.) until 2008, in which the brand decided to close the factories that produced its reels.
What happened to Polaroid?
Luckily someone took care of picking up the glove and, under the name of The Impossible Projectbought the only factory that was still working to create these instant films.
Thanks to them, all of us who had a Polaroid were able to dust them off and use them again. I would even dare to say that people who had not heard of them, after the closure announcement, felt interest and wanted to try one 😀 .
Different classic Polaroid models
How does Polaroid work? Step by Step
The main attraction of a Polaroid camera is its ability to bring together instantaneity with the analogical physical support.
If you are a reel user or have been, you know how tedious the entire process can be until you get a paper copy.
The grace of the Polaroid is mainly in its reels, which are both reel and paper; that is, in the same positive support and reveals.
What what?
So when you buy one polaroid film and you put it in your instant camera you are before, neither more nor less than, a small portable laboratory.
It is the same reel that carries all the chemicals necessary to develop and fix the image that are activated the moment you press the button and the camera expels it through the slot.
- Step 1: Photosensitive paper is exposed to light by pressing the shutter and captures the image.
- Step 2: The camera ejects the paper from the front opening.
- Step 3: Before leaving, it passes through some rollers that spread the chemicals (located in the wide part of the characteristic white margin) on the photosensitive paper.
- Step 4: You already have your photo on paper just a few seconds after pressing the shutter. Not bad for technology from almost 70 years ago, right?
Ideal type of user of a Polaroid camera
If you are the king of technology, quality and minimalism, if you don’t like to accumulate things, or hang photos on the walls or in photo albums, surely this camera is not for you 😉.
If, on the other hand, you love photos with aroma vintage, keep memories, wallpaper walls; if you are into books in physical format and pass the Kindle; If you value the uniqueness that an unrepeatable moment provides you, a unique image that you will not be able to reproduce…, you will love this type of camera!
Those old tones in the color of the photo, that characteristic frame, that unique moment in which you press the shutter, those seconds of intrigue in which you wait to see the image appear… You follow me, right? 😀
Pros and cons
This type of camera has almost as many advantages as disadvantages. It is up to you to decide which side of the scale you like the most.
Pros of Polaroid cameras
Well, I guess it goes without saying that if you’re going to make it your everyday camera, it’s going to be expensive to use.
On the other hand, if you reserve it for special occasions, for unique moments, as unique as it is, it can give you unforgettable images.
- instantaneity: Press the button and have it 😉
- Physical support: You can frame them, hang them on the wall, on a rope with clothespins…
- Uniqueness: Or the value of the uniqueness of each image for those who know how to value it.
- Easy peasy: Point and shoot.
- Styling: Obviously you have to like the support, the color tones, the size, etc.
- Resistant: The simplicity of the elements that make up the camera itself makes it difficult for it to break. I rescued one from the attic with almost 20 years of life and it worked the first time without problems.
And for me, because they taste and smell like a memory, because at the very moment you hold it revealed in your hands, you are aware of the past state of things, because it tastes like a special, unique and unrepeatable moment.
Because it tastes like friends and loved ones to me, which is mainly what we use it for, to portray everyone who visits us at home ☺️
Cons of Polaroid cameras
- The price: When you invest in a digital camera you will probably spend a lot more money than buying a Polaroid (unless you go for a cheap compact camera), but then you don’t have to spend anything more.
- On the other hand, Polaroids are very well priced while film is a fixed expense for life. And they are not excessively cheap, at least if you shoot at the pace of a digital camera 😉 (prices per photo are around 2 Euros).
- logistics: You have to go buy them, either at a store, or wait to receive them online. So you have to invest some time to get the reels every time you run out of them.
- Degradation: All of us old analog photography users know that the weather It also goes through the images. Go through the negatives and photos. Even more so in the case of Polaroids in which there are no negatives to resort to in order to obtain a copy of the image.
- Size: I guess you’ve already seen Polaroids and you’ve noticed that pocket cameras are not 😅
- And if the camera is big, the photos are usually small, especially in the new models.
- Little control in the result of the image: In some you can decide whether to fire the flash or not, or regulate something similar to the aperture, but little else, unless you make the leap to the new models digital-analog which we will see later.
How to take a Polaroid photo?
Taking Polaroid photos is very simple, but you should keep a few ideas in mind to get good results:
- Save the polaroid film in the fridge to keep it in optimal condition.
- When you are going to use it, the first thing you have to do is follow the instructions on how to place the reel inside your camera. This will depend on the snapshot model you have.
- Once you load the reel, the film protector will automatically come out of the slot and you can start taking pictures.
- The viewfinder and optics don’t match, so it’s best to always leave some air in your compositions.
- As for lighting, obviously the more homogeneous, the better. Avoid the dark or scenes with a lot of light (don’t shoot into the sun).
- Once the photographic paper comes out of the slot, do not expose it to light, store it as tight as possible for the time indicated by the Polaroid film you are using. The time usually ranges between 10-15 minutes.
I leave you with a video where you can see the new version of the classic Polaroids in action: the One Step2.
instant polaroid cameras
Polaroid has been betting heavily on its instant cameras for some time now and has created a more than interesting market to get one of these retro wonders.
These are the Polaroid cameras that you should have in your sights if you are interested in one of them:
polaroid cameraImageThe bestWorstAvailable coloursPricePolaroid One Step2Original retro design, flashSize, price 7 reels
€129.99Polaroid OneStep+User reviews, double exposureSize, price reels2N/APolaroid Now+Creative filters, self-timerSize€3,149.00Polaroid SnapSize, microSD card slot
Photo Size4N/APolaroid Snap TouchTouch screen, 13MPPhoto size6N/APolaroid GoSize, priceSize photos€196.99instant polaroid cameras
polaroid cameraThe bestWorstPricePolaroid One Step2Original retro design, flashSize, price reels
N/APolaroid OneStep+User reviews, double exposureSize, price reelsN/APolaroid Now+Creative filters, self-timerSize€149.00Polaroid SnapSize, microSD card slot
Photo SizeN/APolaroid Snap TouchTouch screen, 13MPPhoto sizeN/APolaroid GoSize, priceSize photos€96.99instant polaroid cameras
If you want further information on instant Polaroid cameras and/or want to take a look at other brands, don’t miss our complete guide on the best instant cameras where you will find all the models on the market analyzed in depth.
polaroid film
Several aspects related to Polaroid films must be taken into account:
- Make sure the film is compatible with your camera model (many are not compatible with older cameras).
- Choose the finish (black and white or color).
- Choose the color of the frame (it is not always the classic white).
- The packs are cheaper. If you are sure that you are going to get the most out of your Polaroid, it is better that you buy several reels at the same time.
- Always respect the development time.
- Always handle the paper by the part of the frame, never touch the part of the photo with your fingers.
If what you are looking for is a Polaroid film, here I leave you with some models with different finishes:
Reels for instant Polaroid cameras Reels for instant Polaroid cameras
In short, Polaroid cameras and the like are cameras with very attractive designs, great for fun, to unleash creativity, for situations where light is very easy, and for those who enjoy the charms of instant analog photography. .
Surely, it would never be a first camera for someone who is very interested in photography, but it could be a second or third camera for special occasions, to have fun, to decorate with the photos, to put them in an album, to use them for give away, etc.
I hope the information has been useful to you. If so, please share it with whoever you think might be interested. Thank you very much and until next time 🙂