{"id":368,"date":"2014-07-10T11:39:17","date_gmt":"2014-07-10T11:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/?p=368"},"modified":"2015-09-17T17:38:22","modified_gmt":"2015-09-17T17:38:22","slug":"polaroid-the-age-of-the-instant-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/polaroid-the-age-of-the-instant-camera","title":{"rendered":"Polaroid: The Age of the Instant Camera"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all love a good Polaroid camera due to their quirky, instant-picture making quality, and let\u2019s be honest, we all have fond memories of snapping away as a child and enjoying its instant return.<\/p>\n

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Cameras have come such a long way over recent years, and long gone are the days of changing your 35mm film camera under a towel whilst on holiday, just so you didn\u2019t lose the first few precious snaps of a new roll. SLR manufacturers are constantly on the improvement and with new technologies such as Go Pro, who knows what the future holds for today\u2019s photography?<\/p>\n

But are these technologies really as good as the trusty old snap Polaroid camera that provided us with so much entertainment? After their exit from producing film in 2008, Polaroid\u2019s back! And is more sought after than ever, with camera and film prices rocketing.<\/p>\n

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So, put down the SLR for a day and get your old instant Polaroid camera out; here\u2019s a quick guide to get you reacquainted with instant photography and take you back to basics \u2013 nostalgia not included.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Firstly, acquire a camera<\/b><\/p>\n

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If you aren\u2019t lucky enough to have an instant camera stashed in your attic, the camera you buy will depend on the kind of instant photography you wish to pursue and how much you are willing to spend. If on a budget, try out a few of the newer date versions of instant cameras, and if you are after the real deal, the Polaroid \u2013 car boot sales, antique shops and eBay are great places that may provide you with an ideal bargain buy if you search enough!<\/p>\n

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If wanting to get into instant photography but wanting a cheap and modern alternative that offers likewise results, the Fujifilm Instax, Instax Mini and Polaroid 300 take business card-sized photos in a similar fashion to the older styles. However, more modern cameras do not have the same \u2018chunky\u2019 and plastic appearance that traditional instamatics have.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Find the right film<\/b><\/p>\n

Depending on the model of camera, looking for the right film can vary in both difficulty and price. Be warned that serious Polaroid photographers can spend thousands of pounds a year on film.<\/p>\n

Finding film for Fujifilm Instax is easy, and is fairly cheap if purchased from Fuji stockists directly.<\/p>\n

For those willing to spend a little more and put in more effort to find the perfect film, real Polaroid film is still available if properly searched for.<\/p>\n

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If someone you know has had a Polaroid camera, it may be worth asking if they have any film left, and if you come across a supplier selling the rest of his stock \u2013 and the price is right – buy it all, as deals like these are hard to come by. Unfortunately, most is expired due to its last manufacture date in 2008; however these can be a benefit and have interesting and unique artistic outcomes.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Load it up!<\/b><\/p>\n

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For more modern designs, instructions will be provided. However, if you have managed to get a real Polaroid that has come unboxed, check out this fantastic step-by-step guide<\/a> to putting the film in and getting ready to take some instant-photos!<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Accept the limitations<\/b><\/p>\n

Instant cameras offer enough with their instant photo-process, and if you want sharpness, high quality colour and definition to your images \u2013 instant photography is probably not for you! Polaroid and other instant camera models offer a unique photographic type, although it is not a particularly high quality one. The advantages of good Polaroid photography offer an artistic take where colour distortion can often work to the photographer\u2019s advantage.<\/p>\n

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Once you have accepted that you are not going to produce a perfectly balanced, composed and focused image \u2013 you will be free to experiment and create some of the most stunning and non-traditional instant photographs possible. Instant cameras offer a great attitude that even when it goes wrong, it goes right. Check out this fantastic series entitled \u2018Ruined Polaroids<\/a>\u2019 by William Miller for ultimate expired instant-film inspiration!<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Enjoy the process!<\/b><\/p>\n

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If you are used to shooting digital, using a Polaroid camera will be a liberating experience. Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind when taking instant pictures:<\/p>\n