It’s been a long time coming, but here we are with our first episode on Instant Photography! And joining us today is our good friend and the latest addition to the team, Chrissie! Chrissie is a prolific instant shooter from Polaroid to Instax.
In an Instant!
Instant photography is nothing new and has, since the rise of the Impossible Project, now Polaroid Originals, and Fuji Instax has seen a resurgence since the death of Polaroid. And while many of the original cameras are starting to age, there’s still plenty to have out there!
Polaroid Originals OneStep 2
If you think you’ve seen this camera before, you’re probably right. The OneStep 2 takes its retro styling from the original OneStep right down to the rainbow. But the OneStep 2 brings instant photography into the 21st-century. The biggest changes are an internal rechargeable battery (done through a USB connection) and a flash. The internal battery means that the camera will work with both Type-600 film and the I-Type film, I-Type, having no battery in the film pack. While pricey the camera does bring the joy of Polaroid into the hands of new photographers.
Camera Specifications
Make: Polaroid Originals
Model: OneStep 2
Type: Viewfinder
Format: Type-600/I-Type
Lens: Fixed, Polaroid 106mm f/11.5
Year of Manufacture: 2017-Present
Polaroid One
When it comes to old-school Polaroid cameras, the younger the camera the better. In the case of the Polaroid One you get some of the same stylings as the Spectra with the clamshell design. Plus it is one of the final models of the Type-600 line to see manufacture before Polaroid went under. And it’s easy to use and produces fantastic images. Not to mention the small size even when open makes it easy to carry around.
Make: Polaroid
Model: One
Type: Viewfinder
Format: Type-600 Instant
Lens: Fixed, Polaroid 100mm f/11.5
Year of Manufacture: 2001
Fuji Instax Mini 90 Classic
While not one of John’s favourites, there’s nothing wrong with Instax Mini. It’s a fun little party camera that will have your guests taking their pictures and sharing the fun of watching the image develop. But the camera itself feels cheap, and that is one of the biggest problems with Instax is that the cameras are often poor quality. Maybe fuji needs to output
Make: Fujifilm
Model: Instax Mini 90 Classic
Type: Viewfinder
Format: Fuji Instax Mini
Lens: Fixed, Fuji Lens f=60mm f/12.5
Year of Manufacture:
Polaroid 600SE
Don’t let the name fool you, the Polaroid 600SE does not take Type-600 film. In fact, the 600SE is simply branded Polaroid, in reality, it’s a variant on the Mamiya Press series of cameras. And out in the field the thing is a beast. And while you can use more than just the Type-100 pack film (which is becoming harder to find) you can add 120 roll film backs.
image by Georg Holderied (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Make: Mamiya
Model: Polaroid 600SE
Type: Rangefinder
Format: Polaroid Type-100
Lens: Interchangeable, Mamiya Press Mount
Year of Manufacture:
Getting Into Instant Photography
Bill sits down and talks about having never shot with Polaroid or Fuji in the past, and questions the group on what you should look for to get into the amazing world of instant photography. From old school Polaroid to Polaroid Originals (Impossible Project) and Fuji Instax along with Lomography cameras.
Looking for a good spot to get your gear and material fix check out Burlington Camera (Burlington, ON), Downtown Camera (Toronto, ON), Film Plus (Toronto, ON), Belle Arte Camera (Hamilton, ON), Pond’s FotoSource (Guleph, ON), Foto Art Camera (Owen Sound, ON). Out West there’s The Camera Store (Calgary, AB) and Beau Photo Supply (Vancouver, BC). Additionally you can order online at Argentix (Quebec), buyfilm.ca (Ontario), the Film Photography Project or Freestyle Photographic. Looking for development options, check out these labs that have our support, Boréalis Photo Lab, Old School Photo Lab, The Darkroom, and Film Rescue International.
Also you can connect with us through email: classiccamerarevivial[at]gmail[dot]com or by Facebook, we’re at Classic Camera Revival, Twitter @ccamerarevival, and Instagram (@classiccamerarevival)!