We really like the actual photos around this part. Our guide to the best instant cameras features a collection of the latest gadgets that let you print photos you can stick to your fridge or pin to your wall. But what about the people who started it all? Polaroid cameras have been rummaging through attics, garages and cabinets for decades. And if you’ve found some film or bought a cheap used one, we have good news for you. All you need is film.
The better news is that, although it used to be a huge challenge, it’s now easier than ever to obtain film for your old Polaroid camera. But despite the ease with which you can find cheap film on Amazon, there’s a bit more nuance to choosing a film than just randomly picking whichever one appears first. If you’re not sure what type of film your camera uses, read on.
A brief history lesson
Finding film for your old Polaroid camera can be both simple and tricky. Today, even if you find a vintage camera manufactured by Polaroid, which went bankrupt and closed in 2001, you can buy film for that camera from Polaroid, a new, largely unrelated company.
Still confused? Stay with me and you will understand.
When Polaroid Corporation went out of business, its assets, including its film and camera production lines, were sold or licensed to various investors over the next few years. Film was still produced using the Polaroid brand until the company that owned Polaroid’s assets decided to abandon the instant camera business entirely in 2008. Not coincidentally, this happened less than a year after the original iPhone was released.
That same year, a company called the Impossible Project was founded to take over the space left behind by Polaroid. The company purchased some of Polaroid’s older equipment and developed a new instant film module for use with existing Polaroid cameras. Over the next decade, Impossible frequently collaborated with the company that now owns Polaroid assets to manufacture cameras, film modules, and other accessories.
That is, until 2017, when Project Impossible’s majority shareholder purchased all of Polaroid’s assets and intellectual property. Like reforging a broken sword, Polaroid became whole again, and in 2020, Impossible changed its brand to Polaroid.
This brings us to the situation we find ourselves in today. Polaroid once again makes Polaroid cameras and film for Polaroid cameras. If you search for “Polaroid film” on Amazon, you’ll find films made by Polaroid for Polaroid cameras. Isn’t it convenient? However, there are still some details you need to know about the different types of movies.
What type of film do you need?
Polaroid cameras use several different types of film, and they are generally not interchangeable. The first step is to find out which camera model you have. For example, I have a Polaroid Spirit 600 that (surprisingly) uses 600 film. Below we’ll look at each type of film and some special considerations to keep in mind for each type.
Photo: Eric Ravenscraft
If you have a picture in your mind of what a “Polaroid” looks like, this is probably what you have in mind. Early Polaroid cameras had low sensitivity to light, making them suitable only for outdoor photography. really Bright flash. Polaroid 600 film is designed to be more sensitive than previous film types, so you can take pictures indoors or in low light and still get usable photos.
This module also contains a small battery to power cameras that are not self-powered. This means, among other things, that any film originally manufactured by Polaroid Corporation before 2008 would have reached the end of its life by now. If you’re looking for vintage film on a site like eBay, there’s a good chance the film cartridge won’t work in your old camera. Fortunately, the new Polaroid will be in good working order, with 600 rolls of film manufactured this decade.
Polaroid 600 cameras were popular in the 90s, but if you have a Polaroid camera from the 70s or 80s, you are more likely to use Polaroid SX-70 film. It has a similar square shape to 600 film, but is much less sensitive to light. Most cameras that use this type of film have a hard time taking good pictures indoors without a flash, which many models do not offer.
When the Impossible Project began making its own cameras in 2016, it made small changes to the film cartridges used in existing Polaroid cameras. Instead of putting a small battery in every film cartridge, the camera powers itself. Not only does this extend the life of your film cartridges, it’s also better for the overall environment. This new format is I-Type film.
Comparable I-Type film packs are sometimes slightly cheaper than traditional 600 film. However, you’ll need one of Polaroid’s new I-Type cameras to use it. These newer cameras can accept both 600 film and I-Type film, but you will generally be better off using I-Type film because it does not require a built-in battery like 600 film.