Polaroid Christmas Gift Guide 2021

Whether you’re shopping for that person who has everything or your niece or nephew or grandchild and you want to get them something to inspire them, you should definitely consider getting them a Polaroid as a Christmas gift.

Do Polaroid Cameras Make Good Gifts?

The short answer is absolutely! Well, absolutely for almost everyone. They are a one size fits all kind of gift and creates a wow and ooooh factor that yet another sweater or gift card just don’t have. From pre-teens to 80 year olds, polaroid cameras are easy to use and fun to use! All you have to do is point and shoot and you’re creating great images and memories to last a life time. Giving a Polaroid camera as a gift can inspire the creativity of the recipient, especially with some of the newer cameras with bluetooth connectivity! It’s a creative gift and a tech gift, all wrapped up into one great present!

Which Polaroid Camera Should I Buy?

It depends. There are a few great models out there this holiday season for you to consider. When shopping, you need to take into account the following:

• What features does the Polaroid camera have?

• How much does it cost?

• What type of Polaroid film does it use?

• Is this type of Polaroid film available at a local store or does it have to be ordered online?

• How much does the film cost?

Let’s take a look at some of the holiday offerings from Polaroid and find the answers to each!

Polaroid Now+ Starter Set

The Polaroid Now+ Starter Kit in Black

The Polaroid Now+ is one of the newest and most feature rich instant cameras out there! It comes with basic features like autofocus and a rechargeable battery, but also includes Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated app to help you control your device! The app affords you the ability to use the camera to do a wide variety of creative shots. You can also choose between colors! You can get a Polaroid Now+ in white, black, and blue-grey. Getting the starter set is a great idea for a Christmas gift because it includes three packs of Polaroid I-Type film (2 color packs and 1 black and white).

Here are the Tech Specs:

The Polaroid Now+ Starter Set contents:
1 x Polaroid Now+ camera
+ 2 packs of Polaroid Color i-Type Film
+ 1 pack of Polaroid B&W i-Type Film

Camera:
Dimensions: 5.9 in / 150.16 mm (L) x 4.4 in / 112.2 mm (W) x 3.8 in / 95.48 mm (H)
Weight: 457 grams (without film pack)

Battery: lithium-ion battery (UN3481)

Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics
Lenses: Polycarbonate resin

Shutter system:
1/200 - 1sec. (Camera only)
1/200 - 30 sec. and Bulb mode (App Mode)

Focal length:
Standard Lens: 102.35 mm (40mm/35 equivalent)
Close-up Lens: 94.96 mm (35mm/35 equivalent)

Field of view:
Horizontal 40°, vertical 41°

Flash system:
Auto-Adjust Output Vacuum discharge tube strobe system

Lens filter kit, USB charging cable and Neck strap included
Tripod mount on base of camera

Polaroid Now Starter Set

The Polaroid Now Starter Set in White

The Polaroid Now instant camera has a very similar form factor when compared to the Now+, it has the same basic layout and even uses the same Polaroid I-Type film. It’s even got a similar autofocus system and a rechargeable battery like the Now+. But what it doesn’t have is Bluetooth connectivity and app control from your phone. This is still a really solid camera and many people don’t actually need or will use the creative features included in the Bluetooth Now+. It does have a timer and will take double exposures so there are still some creative features included. But overall the Polaroid Now is a solid instant camera with basic features that will work great for most of the people you might be buying for. And again, buying the starter kit is a great idea because it comes with 3 packs of Polaroid I-Type film (2 color and 1 b&w) so that when the recipient opens the box they can immediately charge their camera and get to shooting!

Here are the tech specs for the Polaroid Now:

The Polaroid Now Starter Set contents:
1 x Polaroid Now camera
+ 2 packs of Polaroid Color i-Type Film
+ 1 pack of Polaroid B&W i-Type Film

Camera:
Dimensions: 3.7 × 4.4 × 5.9 in (94 x 112.2 x 150.2 mm)
Weight: 0.95 lbs (434 grams) (without film pack)
Battery: High performance lithium-ion battery (750mAh), rechargeable via USB
Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics
Lenses: Optical grade Polycarbonate and Acrylic lenses, coated
Shutter system: Custom design, using precision step motor for shutter
Autofocus system via 2 fixed focus zones 0.55m-1.3m, 0.6m-infinity
Focal length
Close-up (lens 1) 94.96 mm
Distance (lens 2) 102.35 mm
Field of view
41 degrees vertical, 40 degrees horizontal
Flash system
Vacuum discharge tube storage
Neck Strap and USB charging cable included

Polaroid Go Starter Set

The New Polaroid Go Starter Kit

The Polaroid format has been around for years and is very familiar to everyone. We’ve all seen the classic square image with the white boarders in person and depicted in movies and graphics. The Polaroid Go departs from that very classic Polaroid format and gives us an entirely new format in a smaller size and is perfect for kids and teens looking to get into instant photography. Besides being smaller, the Polaroid Go and the film it uses are also much cheaper! The price alone might be enough to make you choose this starter set. The camera has similar double exposure and timer features as the Polaroid Now, but lacks the dual lens autofocus. This simpler camera is aimed at a market where portability and fun on the go are important. The size of the image it produces is closer to a Fuji Instax than a Polaroid, but its unmistakably Polaroid!

Like the other starter sets, the Polaroid Go Starter Set comes with film, 16 exposures of Polaroid Go Film. Unlike the other sets, the 16 pictures are part of just one pack of film and the only option you have is color.

Here are the specs for the Polaroid Go:

Technical Specifications

The Polaroid Go Starter Set contents:
1 x Polaroid Go camera
+ 1 Polaroid Go Color Film Double Pack


Camera:
Pocket-sized Analog Instant Camera
Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.3 x 2.4 in (105 mm x 83.9 mm x 61.5 mm)
Weight: 0.53 lbs (242 grams) (without film pack)
Color: White

Battery: High performance lithium-ion battery, 750mAh, 3.7V nominal Voltage, 2.7Wh, rechargeable via USB.
15-pack battery life

Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics

Lenses: Polycarbonate resin
Shutter speed: 1/125-1sec
Aperture: f/12 and f/52
Focal length: 34 mm (35 mm equivalent)

Field of view: Diagonal 65.1°, Horizontal 48.1°, Vertical 49.1 degrees

Automatic flash (with override)
Flash system: Vacuum discharge tube storage

Packaging contents:
Polaroid Go camera
USB charging cable
Wrist strap
Quick Start Guide
Safety & Compliance Booklet

Compatible only with Polaroid Go film

Polaroid Film as a Gift

When you’re having fun and snapping photos, it takes literally no time at all to shoot up a pack of 8 Polaroid pictures. If you know someone that already has a Polaroid camera, getting them some Polaroid film is a great idea! Packs cost around $15 each and you can purchase them directly from Polaroid by CLICKING HERE or you can find other places to buy Polaroid film by checking out our earlier blog post HERE.

Make sure you know what film to buy, or at least which camera you are buying for. New Polaroid cameras, vintage Polaroid cameras, and the Polaroid Go all take different types of film. Polaroid’s I-Type film is similar to their 600 film but it does not have a battery pack like the 600 film does. So you can use I-Type film and 600 film in a newer camera, (Impossible I-1, Polaroid Now, Polaroid Now+, Polaroid OneStep2, etc). But if you’re buying for a vintage camera, you can only use Polaroid 600 film. If the person your are buying for has an SX-70, you can only buy SX-70 type film.

The best place to check compatibility is to go right to the source! CLICK HERE to go directly to Polaroid’s guide on camera and film compatibility.

Polaroid Starter Packs are a Great Place to Start Holiday Gift Shopping

If you’d like to browse Polaroid’s catalog and you’d like to SAVE 15% - CLICK HERE to sign up to get an exclusive coupon code offered only through Shutter Junkies! With shortages and supply chain issues, it would be best to order your starter sets early so you can get them in time for the Holidays/Christmas Season.

New Land Camera Could Bring New Life to Your Old Polaroid

Once Fuji Film announced they were stopping production on FP-100C and FP-3000B peel-apart film, I was heartbroken. Not only was one of my favorite instant film formats going away, but so was my ability to use some of my favorite Polaroid Cameras. Exclusively designed for peel-apart film, these cameras instantly became dust magnets once my film reserves ran out.

Polaroid Peel-Apart Film Cameras

The Polaroid Land Cameras have been around for a long time. There were four generations of the folding colorpack film cameras produced. There were 100, 200, 300, and 400 series cameras produced over the years. While we don’t have time to go through the details of these wonderful devices here, we will come back and revisit them in a future post! Theses cameras are bigger, collapsable range finders, very simple to use and as fun as they are simple.

The only issue with continuing to use these camera is that the batteries are no longer produced. A very simple modification with a new small battery pack is an easy fix for that problem however!

We’ve written in the past about the difficulty in getting film for these cameras. You can read about finding peel-apart film (both Fuji FP-100C and OneInstant Film from Supersense) by CLICKING HERE.

But this post isn’t about peel-apart pack film. Nopeel-apart pack film this is about an entirely different approach to bringing life to those old Polaroid Pack-Film Land Cameras using the new integral film from Polaroid!

What is NewLandCamera?

I was browsing Facebook, wasting time the other day and I came across a post that grabbed my attention. It was nothing more than a picture and a name: NewLandCamera. I couldn’t click fast enough to find out more. It started with just a Facebook page, then I went through their Instagram, and now they’re website is up! NewLandCamera is a company that is focused on the ‘Rebirth of Land Cameras’. My inner fan-boy of the Land Camera leapt with joy. I continued to investigate!

NewLandCamera has designed and is refining a 3D printed device that works with 100-400 series Polaroid Land Cameras and enables them to use Polaroid integral films (I-Type, 600, and SX-70). It appears to be a manual process, meaning that you snap your photo and then have to manually crank the film out. But I’m not upset about this as peel-apart film was also completely manual with having to grab the tabs and pull.

Are you ready to shoot with your Land Camera again? I know I am!

How Can I Find Out More about NewLandCamera?

The easiest way is to head to their website and sign-up for their news letter. They are also actively posting to their social media accounts so make sure you follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

All of the photos here were snagged from their social media and there will definitely be more coming! We will also post any updates that NewLandCamera releases as we eagerly await the release of their adapters!

The Impossible I-1 Instant Camera

I have a lot of instant cameras. It honestly is a real problem for me. They are all just so fun and cute! But among the dozens and dozens of modern and vintage instant cameras I own, there’s one instant film camera that is my absolute favorite! Today we are going to be talking about that camera, the positives, negatives, and everything in between!

What is the Impossible I-1 Instant Film Camera

It was the first newly designed Polaroid instant film camera to be released in decades. The Impossible Project had been recreating Polaroid instant film for years when they decided to branch out into camera design. Its solid matte-black finish and really almost minimalist design made it unique in the world of colorful and find vintage instant cameras from polaroid and even the Fuji Instax cameras. The I-1 comes equipped with Bluetooth, an app for your iPhone or iOS device as well as Android, and for the first time in a Polaroid Camera, it comes with an internal, rechargeable battery. The I-1 can use Polaroid 600 film but was designed to use I-Type film, The Impossible Project’s film that came without a battery pack.

The Impossible I-1 has a built in LED flash system which produces a significant amount of light. The flash can be turned off using a switch on the side of the lens. There’s also an exposure adjustment switch on the other side of the lens with a + and - allowing you to make minor adjustments in the exposure level.

The Impossible I-1 Instant Film Camera Specs

Optics

Focal Length - 82-109mm

Aperture - f/10 to 67

Focus Type - Auto & Manual Focus

Minimum Focus Distanc - 1 foot/.3 meters

Exposure Control

Shutter Speed - 1/250 to 30 seconds

Flash

Built-In LED

General

Tripod Mounting Thread - 1/4”-20

Battery Type - Built In

Dimensions (WxHxD) - 4.3 x 5.7 x 4.3” / 10.9 x 14.5 x 10.9cm

Weight - 15.5oz / 439.4g

How Do You Use the Impossible I-1 Camera?

Using this camera is really easy, even if you’re completely new to instant cameras. Most of the cameras functions are automated by default, but can be overridden using the app. Here’s a quick run down on how to use the Impossible I-1 camera.

How do I Load I-Type or 600 Type Film?

Notice the slider switch on the front - also excuse the dirtiness of my I-1! It gets used a lot!

Loading film into the camera is easy. There’s no difference in how you load the film, regardless of what type you are using. I-type and 600 type film load exactly the same way. On the front of the camera is a small slider switch. While holding the camera facing you, slide the switch to the right and then pull down on the front film door. Open your pack of Polaroid I-Type film or 600 Type film and slide the cartridge into the camera, narrow end first. Your film pack will reach a point where it stops sliding easily and appears to almost be in place. Give the pack one more little push, which will force the narrow plastic tab down on the front of the film cartridge. Now simply close the film door. The camera should automatically eject the dark slide. Once the dark slide is ejected, you’re ready to use your camera!

How do I take Pictures with the Impossible I-1 Camera?

You have a couple of options with the I-1 instant film camera. You can just use the camera and snap away, or you can use the app to take photos. Both options work great and mostly depend on what kind of photo you are trying to take.

To use just the camera, you turn the side rotary switch to the solid white circle, which turns the camera on. The LED ring flash will light up and indicate how many images you have left in your pack. From here, you can turn the flash off or on and adjust the exposure by using the switches on either side of the lens.

Once you have everything set, its time to frame up your picture. For me, this is the most frustrating part of using the camera. The viewfinder is a dual element device that requires you to align a smaller circle on the back element with a larger circle on the front element. It works but it just doesn’t feel precise to me. I find myself struggling to get it right sometimes. But it does always give me a pretty accurate image when comparing the picture to what I actually saw through the viewfinder. The viewfinder is held on magnetically so make sure that it is always snuggly in its correct position as it can be knocked off easily.

A screen shot of the Impossible I-1 Camera’s app as it appears on iOS devices.

Using the app to take photos is a little more complicated. The app allows for the following modes:

• Remote Trigger

• Manual Mode

• Self Timer

• Double Exposure

• Noise Trigger

• Light Paint

• Color Paint

Additionally there’s a scanner mode that allows you to take a picture of your polaroid with your phone. There’s also a handy link to help you buy a new Polaroid Instant Camera under the “upgrade” button.

A screenshot of the app in manual mode.

Each of these modes is pretty much self-explanatory. I use the remote trigger quite a bit as well as the manual mode. I love the manual mode because it allows to make sure I’m getting the right exposure rather than wasting film. The manual mode uses your phones camera as a light meter and helps you to adjust the settings manually to get the exposure you want. Its very handy!

Double exposure is fun also, as is the light and color paint features. I’ve personally never used the Noise Trigger, but its a nice option to have.

Are There Any Problems with the Impossible I-1 Camera?

No camera is perfect, so definitely yes. After several years of use, I really only have two complaints about this camera. The first is the viewfinder, as I’ve already said it can easily be knocked off or the elements won’t extend all the way when you release them. It is a little difficult to use sometimes as well. But the biggest issues I’ve found is the internal battery. Every time I pick up this camera to use it, the battery is dead. Now this is probably completely my fault, but its just a pain to remember to put it on the charger ahead of time. I understand why Impossible designed the camera this way, but I can also see why Polaroid originally put the battery packs inside the film cartridges. If you just make sure and put this camera on the charger ahead of time, you’ll never have an issue!

If you’re having problems getting your images to come out, make sure you check our post about troubleshooting your Polaroid Film by CLICKING HERE.

A Few Impossible I-1 Camera Tips

• Low-Light is not this camera’s friend - us it in places with lots of light!

• Every time you power up the camera, the LED’s on the flash tell you how many exposures you have left in your pack of film

• Double check your viewfinder to make sure it is on snuggly and that the elements are both in their full upright positions.

• Charge your battery often!!!

Can I still buy an Impossible I-1 Instant Film Camera?

Yes! But finding one can be a bit tricky. They are available on Amazon for $199 in new condition. They are also available on Ebay for various prices ranging from $179 to over $250. You can find them in used condition in a lot of different places from Facebook Marketplace to Craigslist. These cameras haven’t been produced in several years so finding new cameras is only going to get more difficult as time goes on. But this is a great camera to have and has been extremely reliable and offers quite a bit of control over the image when shooting in manual mode with the app!

Where can I buy film for the Impossible I-1 Instant Camera?

It is actually available at a lot of different places! You can head on over to the Polaroid Website and by film directly from them! Or, check out my earlier blog post about “Where Can I Buy Polaroid Film” to find a shop near your or to order film online!

And when you get ready to put all of those amazing photos you’ve taken in to an album, read all about The Best Photo Album for Your Polaroids Here!

Polaroid Go

The rumors have been flying for weeks now, but its finally here! Polaroid has release the Polaroid Go for pre-order on their website - Polaroid.com. Let’s take a quick look at this new camera and see what the hype is all about!

What is the Polaroid Go?

The Polaroid Go is an instant camera, made to be much more portable than other Polaroid instant cameras. Copy on their page calls the camera “portable, wearable, and take-anywhere-able” which definitely gives us an idea of Polaroid is going for here. This much smaller camera is 5.9” x 3.3” x 2.4” and weighs-in at a little over a half pound (.53lbs). Here’s a quick glance at the technical specifications:

Polaroid Go Tech Specs

Camera:
Pocket-sized Analog Instant Camera
Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.3 x 2.4 in (105 mm x 83.9 mm x 61.5 mm)
Weight: 0.53 lbs (242 grams) (without film pack)
Color: White

Battery: High performance lithium-ion battery, 750mAh, 3.7V nominal Voltage, 2.7Wh, rechargeable via USB.
15-pack battery life

Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics

Lenses: Polycarbonate resin
Shutter speed: 1/125-30sec
Aperture: f/12 and f/52
Focal length: 34 mm (35 mm equivalent)

Field of view: Diagonal 65.1°, Horizontal 48.1°, Vertical 49.1 degrees

Automatic flash (with override)
Flash system: Vacuum discharge tube storage

This camera is plastic with a plastic lens so its definitely designed more for the consumer and younger crowd. The pre-order price, which includes film is only $114 so the lower price point will definitely be attractive for many.

What Kind of Film does the Polaroid Go Use?

It obviously uses a much smaller film, designed to compete with the Fuji Instax line with its smaller camera and smaller film. Polaroid Go film is 2.632” x 2.122”, including the frame. The image size is 1.851” x 1.811”, producing an almost square image. The sensitivity of the film is ASA 640 and takes 10 to 15 minutes to develop, just like its much larger, older sibling Polaroid film. Also like the larger Polaroid instant film, it comes in an 8-pack.

Can the Polaroid Go compete with the Fuji Instax?

That’s a good question and I guess only time will tell. Instax is already very well established brand and format and is beloved by many. The film develops much faster and comes with 10 photos per pack. While the new Polard Go is competitively priced, it is going up against an almost immovable force with the instax brand.

If you’re interested in learning more about instant photographer, go check out some of my previous posts, like this one on Where to Buy Polaroid Film, or this post exploring Polaroid Instant Photography all together.

Where to Buy Polaroid Film

You’ve got your polaroid camera, you’re feeling inspired and ready to go out and take some photos and live in all the glory that is the instant photo life, except that you don’t have any film…

Where to Buy Polaroid Film

I go through A LOT of polaroid film. And I’ve bought it from every place you can imagine trying to get the best deal, or the newest batches, or just find availability. Today’s post is a quick guide to help you find the film you need to keep your camera loaded and keep shooting!

Buy Polaroid Film Online

This is a great place to start and you can find some really good deals if you look hard enough. There are actually a lot of retailers that sell the film online so you’ll have lots of choices in products and prices. Shopping online gives you the ability to compare and get a feel for what all is out there!

Buy Polaroid Film from Amazon.com

This is the first place a lot of people go, especially if you’re an Amazing Prime member. If you just search for Polaroid Film on Amazon, you’re going to get a lot of different products pop-up, including Polaroid Papers, Instax, and others. But as you sort through, you’ll be able to find a lot of good deals!. Amazon does have some of the best pricing and carries multi-packs which aren’t easy to find in stores. Prices on amazon range from $15.99 for a single pack to around $70 for a five pack.

If you’ve got an I-Type camera (which is all of the newer/modern Polaroid cameras), here’s a great deal on a two-pack for only $29.19!

A bit of warning however, the film you might purchase from Amazon might be older stock that’s been sitting around for a while. With Polaroid film, I have found that the fresher (newer) the film, the better the results. If you’re just getting started with Polaroid, you won’t notice a difference. But if you’re going for higher quality and very specific results, you might not get the freshest batches.

Buy Polaroid Film from Polaroid.com

Getting the film directly from the manufacturer definitely has a lot of benefits. When I have ordered my Polaroid film directly from Polaroid.com, I’ve gotten amazing customer service and the freshest stock of film. They also have a lot of variety in their film offerings, a lot of different combo packs, and occasionally some specialty framed films that are a lot of fun to pick-up. I love getting film directly from Polaroid!

There are a few downsides however. Polaroid.com does not give you an opportunity to get discounted prices, BUT, they are often the exact same price as most retailers! I-Type Film from Polaroid.com comes in at $15.99 plus shipping. The other downside is that shipping can take a little while. It isn’t slow, every just takes the normal few days to arrive.

I normally order from Polaroid.com if I’m wanting the freshest possible film stock for my project. I’ve been a customer of theirs for years (since way back in the Impossible Project days), and I still buy from them on a regular basis. Also, you’re needing SX-70 film, Polaroid.com is probably going to be your best bet. It’s not in stock in any local stores and sometimes its a little hard to find on Amazon.

Buy Polaroid Film In Stores

While many of my projects are using polaroid instant film are planned in advance, there are many times when I’m using the film personally and I find that I’ve ran out. Now, there are several retailers that carry the film IN STORES!!! While several stores do carry the film, I’m only going to talk about the top three that I use on a regular basis.

Buy Polaroid Film at BestBuy

All of the BestBuy locations near me carry the film, in both I-Type and 600. BestBuy even carries multipacks if you’ve needed a whole lot of film. But in my experience, BestBuy usually has some of the oldest film packs out there. I’m not sure why, but most of the manufacture dates on packs at BestBuy are a year or more old. I’ve picked up a lot of film from them, and its competitively priced, but if its for a professional project, I generally steer clear.

Buy Polaroid Film at Target

Target stores usually have a pretty great selection of film also. But, there’s a very special reason why I stop in all of my local Targets and check out their film; Target stores will very often put Polaroid Film on sale at a discount! I’ve picked up older packs of film that haven’t sold for as little as $2.99! Most of the time, the discount isn’t that substantial, but any discount helps! Even if the film isn’t on sale, I still end up picking-up a pack or two. I mean I’m already in the store, standing in the photo section, looking at the film… I might as well buy some!

Buy Polaroid film at Wal-Mart

We get everything else there, why not get my Polaroid Film there too! Walmart’s selection is definitely the least of the in store options and they don’t really ever discount the film. Walmart gets a mention in my post today because of the convenience factor. The film is always older stock but its available when I need it. Well at least a couple of packs are. What I have found is that most stores only have two to eight packs available, so if you’re needing more you might not be in luck if you run to the Wal-Mart.

Cheap Polaroid Film

At around $16 per pack and only 8 shots per pack, $2 per phot isn’t cheap! The prices have come down over the years but getting good with your polaroid takes practice and at $2 per practice shot, you don’t want to waste a lot of film.

So where can you find cheap polaroid film - online or in stores? I would check places like Ebay.com and scroll through a lot of Amazon. I’ve found film and used cameras on Craigstlist and even Facebook. People are often getting rid of their cameras and film and you can find some really great deals in the used but never opened market.

If you’re looking in stores, I honestly have only ever found cheap polaroid film in Target stores because they discount theirs more often than anyone else. But other stores sell the film besides the three I listed. If you go into a store, check to see if they have stock and then keep an eye on their discount bins! As the film ages and new stock comes in, stores often will move their older film to the discount bins!

Conclusion

The good news is that you’ve got a lot of options! The even better news is that once you have the film you’re going to love working with it. Here’s my final breakdown on where to purchase Polaroid Film :

Amazon - Fast shipping, great price but might get older stocks

Polaroid - Slower shipping, comparable price, but will get newer/fresher film packs

Best Buy - Local pick-up, comparable price, will get older film

Target - Local pick-up, comparable to very discounted prices, film seems to be a decent age to maybe a little older

Walmart - Local pick-up at almost every location, comparable price, you will get older film.

I hope that helps you in your search for Polaroid Film! If you’re new to Polaroid and instant photography and would like a little more advice about what cameras and films to buy, check out my other blog post by CLICKING HERE!