Features of Polaroid cameras

Cameras of the American brand Polaroid have gained insane popularity and fame thanks to the method of instant printing of the obtained photos. Previously, the quality of images was far from ideal, but buyers were attracted by the fact that ready-made frames could be obtained in the shortest possible time, without waiting for a long time. In this article we will take a closer look at all the features of the famous brand Polaroid cameras.

Polaroid cameras are known to many people and even those who are far from the art of photography. Most of the users know how these devices look and how they should be used correctly. But few people know what the story is, how this legendary device appeared, which is popular to this day. The American company Polaroid was founded by Edwin Land back in 1909. His grandparents were immigrants from the Russian Empire. From an early age, little Edwin tirelessly set up various experiments related to light with stereoscopes and kaleidoscopes. Thanks to this, in 1929, as a student at Harvard University, he was able to develop and prepare the world's first polarizing material that could be used for all sorts of commercial purposes.

It was Edwin Land who became the first person to apply the principles of polarization to consumer products such as table lamps or 3D glasses. He owns about 535 patents. In terms of their number, Edwin could only be inferior to Thomas Edison. Already in 1937, the now-famous Polaroid company was founded. The firm released its first pair of glasses in the 1930s. Demand was constantly growing, so the brand's products soon began to cross the borders of Asia and Europe.

To this end the brand began to manufacture special devices, and also began to produce special cassettes and cartridges for them... The latter contained the necessary photographic material or a combination of such materials with reagents. Thanks to such components, the pictures taken were revealed on special paper.

In the arsenal of Polaroid there are other useful developments, for example, X-ray film, thermal imagers, night vision devices and many other units. However, the greatest attention of people was drawn precisely to unusual cameras with the ability to instantly display images. Against their background, all of Land's other inventions "faded" for some time. In the period from 1977 to 1979, the company specialized in the production of reversible film material belonging to the Super 8 format. And since 1983, part of the business has been sold to another company - Imaging Corporation, which belonged to Bank One.

In 2003, Polaroid entered the consumer electronics market, manufacturing and supplying LCD TVs and DVD players. But already in 2008, the American brand filed for bankruptcy, however, according to the law, the brand could continue to operate further. In 2008, Polaroid demonstrated their own digital apparatus with a built-in printer. In 2012, the company returned to the Russian market, offering new instant cameras with a pocket printer. In 2014, 65% of the brand's shares were sold.

Despite the fact that the cameras of the American brand were popular and in demand in the USSR and in Russia, it should be borne in mind that there is almost nothing left of the old old devices in the Polaroid cameras.

Let's get acquainted with some of the brand's models.

A compact camera with a modern and attractive design. Has a matrix of 10 megapixels. Equipped with an informative 3-inch screen. Supports HD video, has a USB interface. Contrast autofocus is provided, there is its illumination. The maximum capacity of a memory card that can be inserted into this camera. Limited to 32 GB. The product has its own battery in the amount of 1 piece. The camera can record video files. The camera has a digital zoom. Records sound. Equipped with a secure tripod mount. It can instantly print pictures of 5x7.5 cm in size. The time for printing one picture is only 60 seconds.

A beautiful camera that can instantly print a shot (the printing process takes about 35 seconds). Can be connected via Bluetooth or microUSB. Automatic focusing is provided, there is a built-in battery. The device can record video. There is a display on the case. Flash is provided.

Modern model of the American brand. Has a compact size. Works like previous Polaroid models. It boasts very inexpensive consumables. It has a lightweight plastic body, due to which the equipment is weightless, even taking into account the cassette. Auto flash mode is provided. The size of the pictures is 64x46 cm. The device is powered by 4 AA batteries.

Cameras from the American manufacturer Polaroid must be used correctly. Many of the nuances of the operation of such a technique depend on the characteristics of a particular model. Let's take a look at the basic rules for using such cameras for many Polaroid branded copies.

• You can use the viewfinder to start or turn off the camera. The camera can be turned on by lightly pressing the power button located on the viewfinder.
• You can turn off your Polaroid camera by pressing lightly on the viewfinder. This will be needed to be able to push it into the closed position. Then the device will turn off.
• To start shooting with this type of camera, the user must open the lens cover. Next, you need to press and release the shutter button present on the equipment body.
• You can independently restart the device (for example, if equipment freezes or in case of other noticed problems). To do this, you will need to carefully insert 1 end of a paper clip or other small and pointed object into a miniature hole located next to the micro USB compartment. Press there (don't press too hard) until the camera turns off. Then close and open the device's viewfinder.
• Use the camera carefully. It is not recommended to shake it strongly or hit the body. This can lead to many serious damage.
• Make sure that no sand or water gets into the camera. Do not leave equipment near heating appliances or in direct sunlight. Such experiments can end badly for branded American technology.
• If you encounter a particular problem or malfunction while using your Polaroid camera, you should not try to fix the problem yourself. Without the necessary knowledge, you can make the situation even worse.It is better to immediately go to the service center of an American brand, and not experiment on broken equipment at home.

When you buy a new camera from Polaroid, you should always read the instruction manual. This is the first thing the user has to do.

Polaroid Quick Print Cameras are still popular and in demand. They are used by many people who love such multifunctional and convenient devices. Buyers leave different reviews about the products of the American brand, among which there are both satisfied and not very good ones. First, let's look at what consumers love about Polaroid cameras.

• People are attracted and pleased by the modern design of the brand's cameras. They seem stylish, neat, progressive.
• Low weight is another plus noticed by many. According to buyers, using branded cameras is very easy and convenient.
• The quick printing of the photos taken is also encouraging (as always, in the spirit of Polaroid).
• Many buyers have decided to buy such equipment due to its compact size. According to users, the devices are very convenient to carry with you everywhere, they do not take up much space in bags and briefcases.
• Consumers have commented on the reliability of Polaroid cameras, calling them "everlasting".
• Consumers also noted the relatively affordable cost of many Polaroid cameras. On sale you can find enough products with a completely "adequate" price tag that does not scare away buyers.
• In the cameras of the brand, you can install additional memory cards with a certain capacity, which pleased many buyers, since usually a lot of "their" place in these models is not provided.

And now let's find out what disadvantages users note in modern Polaroid cameras.

• One of the minuses has already been referred to above - insufficient internal memory. This feature has upset many buyers, although it can be solved by installing an additional memory card.
• The picture quality does not suit many buyers. People think that the footage could be brighter and clearer.
• Polaroid cameras print images in too small formats. This is another often cited disadvantage that has upset many people. Coupled with the far from ideal quality of frames, this disadvantage turns out to be very nasty.
• A large percentage of buyers noted the lack of decent frame sharpness, which many attribute to the serious shortcomings of the devices.
• According to the statements of many buyers, modern cameras of the American brand in many respects are inferior to the current actual cameras of other manufacturers. For the same money, people often buy other, more functional equipment.
• Due to these shortcomings, many people feel that the final cost of Polaroid cameras is currently unreasonably high.
• The cost of the film also did not suit many users.

For an overview of the Polaroid camera, see the following video.