Polaroid Originals - OneStep+ Analog Instant Film Camera - Black

I own Instax wide 300, Instax SQ6, Polaroid Sun600 and Polaroid Onestep+ and this camera would be my favourite of all of them. Simply because you can shoot manual and do more stuff with it. The film price is a bit more expensive than the Instaxs ones but the color and feel of it is different. If you're looking for a more nostalgic looking results this would be the perfect choice.

Well here are some things to consider with this camera. It's a plastic body with a plastic lens that gets the job done. Is this a "point and shoot ready to go camera"? No. Far from it. This is very much a "manual" camera in that you have more options in how to take photos. It's not totally manual since you have the option to just leave it up to the camera to decide. But then will it be easy taking the perfect photos everytime? No. If you thought it was, you are mistaken. Modern Polaroid tends to require using your brain more than usual at times. Why? Because, if the picture doesn't come out right, it could be a number of different factors such as; focus distance, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, enough natural light, the angle it was taken, the temperature it was taken in, the rollers being dirty, ect. If you are buying this camera it's because you want more creative liberty which this camera does a great job at. 10/10 would recommend to enthusiasts. But 5/10 would recommend to casual hobbyists. If u want a ready to go polaroid camera where u have some extra features but without all the thinking, then a polaroid "now" or "go" would do the trick. Although keep in mind that the film used is quite finiky. You could have the best conditions and still get a bad shot somehow. It's just how the film is sometimes. Other than those things to think about, I love this camera. Definitely what I was looking for in a camera that uses such amazing film.

This was a big hit with my nieces who didn't fully understand the concept of not being able to take unlimited pictures! The pictures are so much more special than what you get on your DSLR or phone! They truly feel like a moment captured in time! The app is also great and helps to take better pictures, which is fantastic because there is a bit of a learning curve, and at $2 an exposure that can be pricey!

Though the actual Polaroid brand has been defunct for many years; the name has been sold (and resold) - eventually becoming “Polaroid Originals” (as of 2017).  And, with the new name comes a new version of the classic OneStep camera from 1977. The OneStep+ is a nearly identical refresh to the OneStep SX-70 model, but the nostalgia may not be widely appreciated at such a high price.  The + is incredibly fun to use (especially for those who grew up using the originals), but the enjoyment is quickly snubbed out when you realize just how expensive it is. The camera is more expensive than anyone would guess, and the Film (which is not included) costs around $16.  If that doesn't sound like a lot, keep in mind that you only get 8 photos - which means that you are literally paying $2.00 for each picture!  And don’t forget that with Polaroid, each photo is a gamble.  Waiting up to 15 minutes to see your image might be exciting at first, but soon comes the realization that most results are mediocre (at best) and there is a reason that the simplicity (and high quality) of Digital has taken over the photo landscape. Not having to develop film is no longer novel as it once was.  In the past, this feature may have saved time and offset the high cost of the camera & special film.  But, now that we all have the ability to take high definition digital photos, nobody is driving to an awkwardly placed photo-hut to pay for film developing.  We actually can see our pictures instantly. We can retake them and even edit them to our liking. This camera is not all bad – in fact, it is simple and enjoyable to use (if you don’t mind spending money up front, and continuing to spend money every time you take a picture).  Synching the OneStep+ to your phone is a welcome innovation and is incredibly quick and easy.  This helps users learn to use the camera and adds features that otherwise could not have been included (without adding buttons or a screen that would have further increased the cost).  Using the phone as a shutter remote is convenient.  It is also quite satisfying to see your picture automatically pop out of the camera after the phone hears your subjects say “CHEEEEEESE!”  The best feature, by far, is the double exposure which allows you to layer two pictures on-top of one another for a truly artistic result. The only disappointment is that the phone is not able to display what the camera sees.  This leads to many awkward moments of looking through your viewfinder while also awkwardly fumbling with your phone.  I wish that Polaroid would have found a way to further utilize the capabilities of our smartphones.  Oddly, most photo-shoots conclude with the user taking a cell phone picture of their Polaroid picture.  Now else are we to share our blurry hipster vignettes?   It is always hard to convince people to pay something that they can get for free – and this is the challenge that Polaroid now faces.  I truly do want this camera to be a success. But Sadly, I believe that the skill of taking a great Polaroid picture will continue to be a lost art. The original Polaroid company went bankrupt in 2001. The "new" Polaroid company went bankrupt in 2008.  Let's hope “Polaroid Originals” can finally find a way carry nostalgia into the future. PROS: + Comes with a rechargeable battery built in + Pairing with a phone is extremely easy + View finder is covered with rubber making it more comfortable to hold up to your eye + Has a solid build quality + Has physical buttons & switches for a more retro feel + Lens adjusts for portraits (close up) or standard (distance) photos + Has multiple picture options: The most fun being double exposure + Allows for Manual adjustment of aperture, flash intensity, shutter speed, etc - which allows a higher level of personalization. + Can be mounted on a standard tripod + Shutter can be triggered by noise (when the group says "CHEESE!" the Camera snaps the picture) + Bright & useful flash + LED lights show how many pictures are remaining in the camera + Comes with neck strap & charging cable CONS: - Camera’s price is high - The Camera does NOT come with any film - Film is expensive - Only holds 8 pictures - Size is bulky and not particularly portable - Lens is exposed and does not come with a lens cap - Viewfinder is small and a bit awkward to use (as often you are trying to manipulate your phone while also looking through the camera) - Cell Phone cannot be used as a viewfinder (it does not display the image of that the camera sees) - The paired phone cannot be used to view the picture taken - Picture quality is not any better than Polaroid cameras from decades ago - Film takes a long time to develop (between 5 & 15 minutes) (which also seems as though it should have improved over the years) - Comes with a USB charging cable, but not with the adapter to plug it into a wall

I loved instant photographs when I was a kid. It’s nice to play with this as a grown up. My only issue is with the app. It’s just too much. I can’t take a picture and use the app at the same time. Just too much to hold. I do like issuing the app to do more “artsy” photos but it’s really not necessary for everyday type of photography. I also like that I can easily scan the photo with the app to have it in a digital version so I can post on social media. Would be nice if we could see what we are photographing though the app before the snap. Seems like it would be more useful then.

I really enjoyed the Polaroid camera as it brought back a lot of nostalgic memories. The feel, look and functionality of the camera all felt natural. The only issue was the limitations of picture quality and cost of the film itself. However that smell of film when installing the film cartridge brought back so many wonderful memories. Pros: Rechargeable Battery Lightweight Actual Buttons / Switches Light indicator of pictures left Able to be mounted on a Tripod Bright Flash Portrait and Landscape Mode Multiple App functionality via Phone Cons: Cost of Camera Cost of Film Average Picture Quality No Lens Protection ::Setup:: It is ready right out of the box, easy to insert film cartridge turn on and shoot. Even the strap is nostalgic trying to get those darn straps through the small plastic bindings. It takes about 30 seconds for the flash to charge and be ready when turning on. The App setup was very easy as well and comes with video guidance. You just hold down the Bluetooth button on the camera and it easily connects to the phone. The app provides a lot of additional features which I will go into later. ::Ease Of Use:: The camera's case is plastic which makes it lightweight and easy to hold steady for that perfect shot. There is no way to know how the shot will look before taking so it falls back to old school of looking through the view finder and making an educated guess. The button responds perfect to the touch and the film pops out without issue. It takes about 15 minutes for the film to develop so must be patient and keep out of the sun. Battery life is days and not a worry as more then likely you will run out of film before running out of battery. ::Picture Quality:: The picture quality is average and is geared more towards those looking for a nostalgic shoot. It is very important to keep out of directly sunlight and allow 15 minutes for the picture to fully develop. Also just like back in day do not shake/wave the picture trying to make it develop faster as it could ruin the picture. There are two types of film cartridges , Color and B&W, however both cost the same 16 dollars at the time writing this. $16 dollars for 8 shots = $2 per shot is very pricey so expect to pay a lot for your pictures. ::Phone App:: I was really impressed with the features Polaroid provided through the application. Understandable they are limited with the camera hardware itself yet was able to add a lot of useful features. You have the ability to take pictures remotely through the phone which works like a charm. The self timer is always useful along with the manual mode to have the customization of aperture / flash / timing. The fun features is the double exposure / light exposure and noise trigger. The double exposure provides a fun ghost like image or dual image. The light exposure provides a rave like look making it fun and very creative. The noise trigger is great when wanting to capture that moment of laughter or surprise ! ::Scanner (Phone App:: The Scanner function was by far the most used feature for myself. After you take a picture using the camera you can then use the scanner option to save the picture to your phone. This is ideal for being able to keep a digital copy of your original shot. You hold the phone at an angle and the software automatically adjusts and capture just the picture itself. It scans it perfectly without any issues and save the picture in your picture gallery. Overall I really enjoyed this camera and it brought back so many great memories. Unfortunately that comes at a cost as the camera is very pricey and the picture quality itself is average. In addition the cost of the film per shot is very expensive, I can see myself only using this on special occasion. I would recommend this camera for those who wan the old school feel and nostalgic shot.

Overall: I would highly recommend this camera if you're wanting to get back into Film. They have done a great job keeping the camera simple while adding a ton of new features for 2018. And there's something to be said about having a photo instantly in your hand. I grew up with Polaroid cameras so its nice to see they're making a resurgence with a few nice updated touches. The camera itself works relatively the same as an old Polaroid. The difference now is that the camera can connect through your bluetooth on your phone. Setup was SUPER easy and only took seconds. Honestly it was probably one of the easier devices i've setup lately so bravo to them for that. The ability to use software add's a lot of new features to the polaroid camera: Self Timer - the ability to set a timer before the camera takes a picture. Remote- The ability to use your phone to fire the camera remotely. Double Exposure - The camera will take 2 photos before exposing it on the film. Light Painting - Ability to use light externally to add brushes of light to the photo. This is best done with a flashlight or bright spotlight that you can move around and create trails. Noise Trigger - ability to fire the camera using a loud noise. Manual Mode - what you would expect from a manual mode, ability to adjust aperture, time and flash. All of these options open up a lot of possibilities for the camera itself and I think make the Polaroid a viable option again for people wanting to get back into Film. There's something to be said about having a tangible photo in your hand immediately as opposed to it just getting lost in your Phone. I felt that feeling immediately with the first picture of my dog Chloe, which I now have hanging on my fridge. The first one in a LONG time thats ever made it to the fridge, so there's something to be said for that. I definitely recommend this Camera.

I love Polaroids and have an old sx-70 & one step. This camera is great and the app helps with more creative tools. I recommend this to anyone interested in instant, tangible photography.