(C) BoingBoing
This story was originally published by BoingBoing and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



There's a new Polaroid camera and it's $600 [1]

['Rob Beschizza']

Date: 2023-09-07

Polaroid, long-dead but now in the credible hands of Impossible Project after a couple of decades as a rent-a-brand, is releasing a new instant camera with a startling price tag: the Polaroid I-2 [polaroid.com] will be $600. It looks a lot nicer than the Fujifilm Instax you can buy at Target or wherever for $50, but there's a lot more to it, including manual controls, a high-quality 98mm f1.8 lens, lidar ranging, and "the unique chemistry of Polaroid film."

Built-in manual controls

Continuous autofocus 3-lens system

Outer and VF display

6 camera modes:

Aperture, Shutter, Multi exposure, Timer, Manual & Auto

Adjustable aperture range (from f8 to f64) and shutter speed

Accurate, human-friendly flash system

USB-C charging cable included

App-connected (iOS & Android)

Uses Polaroid i-Type, 600 and SX-70 film

Color and B&W instant film

White frame

8 photos per pack, 24 photos in total

Battery-free film

Development time: 10-15 minutes

DPReview concludes that it is indeed the best instant camera.

Pricey but capable, the I-2 is the best Polaroid camera money can buy in 2023. Its suite of full manual, auto, and semi-auto exposure modes provides plenty of flexibility. The sharp lens outputs fantastic shots and autofocus works with solid reliability. Plus, the camera handles well and looks even cooler. However, for a lot of folks, the core features of the Polaroid I-2 are going to be overkill. This is especially true given the point-and-shoot style Polaroid Now camera is just $95. It doesn't have as nice a lens or manual controls but it is $500 cheaper. Just think of all the film you could buy with that savings. (Though the prints are significantly smaller.)

The Verge's Becca Farsace found it interesting but "at times frustrating," a thought echoed by PCMag's Jim Fisher ("expensive and tricky to use") and Terrence O'Brien at Engadget ("unpredictability will keep all but the fanatics away.")

Unpredictability as a flaw! Kids these days, expecting perfection with every shot. Polaroid anticipated the reaction: its marketing tagline for the I-2 is "For the Imperfectionists."

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://boingboing.net/2023/09/07/theres-a-new-polaroid-camera-and-its-600.html

Published and (C) by BoingBoing
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/boingboing/