mom2daniel's Full Review: Polaroid I-Zone Pocket Film Camera
I'm an avid journal-writer, not a photographer. One day, someone suggested to me that if I want to improve my journaling, I should purchase one of these cameras and carry it with me everywhere. Why? Because it's small and handy enough to take a picture of something that I want to write about! After thinking about this, I decided to get one to try it out. I'm thrilled with it! I now have the ability to capture something on film and use it for my journaling, even when I can't sit down to write right away.
What is the I-Zone?
The Polaroid I-Zone is a small camera that takes tiny pictures. By tiny pictures, I mean that they are 1.4" x 1". This feature alone shows you that this is not a professional camera, but one that is made for fun. The camera itself is handy enough for a large pocket or small purse, and is made of lightweight plastic that comes in many colors. Mine is red, and I got it on clearance only because they had discontinued the color!
According to the Polaroid web site at , the I-Zone comes in four different colors as of this writing: Blue Bliss; Silver; Phat Blue, and Icicle. I have seen them in the stores in solid neon colors as well.
The I-Zone that I purchased came with a starter kit which included two double-A batteries and a starter pack of film, (six pictures) and a photo album. It is sealed in that impossible-to-open plastic that you need a butcher knife to open. It also comes with an instruction sheet on how to use the camera and load the film, which is interesting to read because it is written in literally 26 different languages.
The batteries go into the bottom of the camera, as does the film. The camera is clearly marked as to how to place the batteries, and the film snaps in the bottom. Once you pull the long tab that is left out after you put the film in, you're ready to go!
There are three settings on the camera: inside, outside, and close-up. They are clearly marked on the top of the camera on the right side, and there is a big pointer that you move to choose the setting you want. The button to take the picture with is in the same area on the camera, so you want to be careful while you are changing your settings. The button is large and black, easy for little hands to take pictures.
The pictures, for being so small, are remarkably clear. I experimented with pictures of my son, and they are all wonderful!
The Film
What is unique about this camera is the film. The pictures are actually stickers that you can put virtually anywhere! This is why my friend recommended I use it for my journaling: I can take the picture, and put it in the journal where I am working from. The only problem is, when you take a picture and pull it out of the camera, you have to cut around the picture on two sides to get the backing off of it. My first couple of pictures were cut quite unevenly because I didn't want to cut into the film. Each picture has an attractive border on two sides as well, to give it a nicer look than just a small picture.
Once you cut the picture, there is a backing that you need to peel off to get it to stick. I found this a bit difficult to get to, and if you don't cut the ends just right, you're going to have a problem. Like I said earlier, this is not a professional camera, so if you mess up, you're not going to be too upset! Once the small backing is off (which is a clear sticky plastic), you can stick the picture to almost anything. I have used mine to put in my journal, and I can attest that it sticks to paper perfectly.
The film comes in packs of 12 and 24 that I have seen, and is quite pricey: $8.99 for 12, $15.99 for 24. I am still looking around for something cheaper.
Warnings
From the package insert:
The film uses a caustic paste. Do not put in mouth or eyes. This camera has small parts and is not recommended for a child under age three. This camera is battery operated. To avoid electrical shock, do not expose to or immerse in water or other fluids, disassemble, or operate if dropped or damaged.
Mom2Daniel's Recommendation
I do recommend this camera for a number of reasons. First, if you have children that are dying to learn how to take pictures, this would be an excellent starter camera for them. It fits little hands perfectly, it's easy to point and shoot, and they'll love the sticker film. Second, if you are a writer like I am, this is a great way to snap a quick picture of something that catches your eye that you want to write about. Third, if you are a teen, you can use the pictures to decorate your locker, letters, or diary. And fourth, if you want a fun camera to be silly with, this is perfect for you.
Ultra-portable Polaroid camera takes instant mini-photos Stick photos anywhere including books, lockers or friends Automatic flash and autofocus Uses ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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