I have been using Polaroid film for almost half a century. I knew the first Polaroid Automatic 100 Land Camera that then developed to the The black and white Polaroid Swinger camera. It was a sort of digital camera of its day. A picture could be seen almost immediately and though the final product was not as good as other cameras at that time, they were still presentable and fun to use and create.

The film at the time came out of the camera like they do today but a liquid film had to be applied directly on the film and then be allowed to dry. If I recall that process kept the image from fading. Of that I am NOT positive. I can tell you that the process of a coat of liquid on the image is no longer needed. Years back a different kind of film was used withe the later Polaroid cameras that were manufactured. Today the Polaroid 600 Instant Film is most widely used and available. It can be found in most places where camera film is sold.

The film comes in single, double and other multi-packs. This review covers the single pack that contains ten shots.

The ten pieces of film are packaged in a box with a "foil" type packing on the ends of a cardboard box. Somehow that keeps the film fresh and out of the light. All the film is in a plastic cassette type holder that inserts as one piece into the proper Polaroid camera. It fits the great majority of their instant camera line.

Most of the Polaroid cameras I have dealt with have a flip latch on the front of the camera. The full cassette... slides in and the latch is closed. A black piece of cardboard that was protecting the top piece of film from light comes out as soon as the latch is closed. The film is now ready for the first picture to be taken.

It's a colour film that is 640 ASA designated. The cameras are preset for the film and in the cameras I am familiar with, there is no changing ASA settings.

The final image comes out of the camera on a somewhat heavier paper than usual film. The overall size is Three and a half inches by a bit over four inches but the finished product is a square three inches. Novelty frames are made specifically for this size format.

After the film comes out of the camera, immediately after pushing the shutter button, it takes between two and a half minutes to three minutes to fully develop. The final results are decent pictures as a novelty. They cannot be compared to better cameras, film type or digital.

I do like the close up portrait shots the film delivers. The further from subject matter the poorer the quality image. The photos all have a glossy finish. No mat finishes with Polaroid that I am aware off.

I have had open cassettes of film in cameras open months at a time. They are usually fine. The problem though is that before I use the film for "professional reasons" I have to test it and lose an exposure. Each exposure coasts about a dollar. I have picked up this film for $9 a ten pack but usually more in the $13-$14 price range at retail stores. We do purchase direct from a distributor that saves us some dollars purchasing in bulk.

Though many insurance companies and employers have gone digital their are many that still use Polaroid cameras for their own reasons. I don't think the "instant" film will be fleeing the market soon.

I'll finish by noting the film is packaged well and easy to use. The portraits and closer images are best. The camera is suited for candid shots in a fun atmosphere. The camera does not allow enough light for the film to catch darker objects in the distance. I see absolutely no use for this film for indoor wide shots because the poor flash capabilities. I'll also note that I deem the film useless for any kind of quality outdoor landscapes.

Having said that, the Polaroid line is still a fun novelty camera and the film suits it well.




Polaroid OneStep Film Camera
Polaroid One600 Classic Film Camera


Recommended: Yes