It’s been a long time since I’ve used a Polaroid analog instant camera, but it’s every bit as fun as I’d remembered. The Polaroid Go is currently the smallest version of the classic Polaroid instant camera, and while not tiny, is small enough to carry in a bag or oversized pockets. It’s roughly the size of my mirrorless digital camera. The body is made from a durable yet light plastic and contains a rechargeable battery that powers the camera and the flash. Rather than a typical camera neckstrap, the camera is bundled with a wrist strap that you attach to a corner on the base. The Everything Box also comes with two film cartridges containing 8 film sheets each and a set of fun rainbow colored stickers to decorate your prints and camera. On a full charge, the battery should last for about 15 cartridges before needing to be recharged via the included microUSB cable.
Loading the film is super easy. Just open one of the aluminum foil sealed pouches containing a cartridge, slide the door latch mechanism on the bottom of the camera, and insert the cartridge wide end first with the arrows on the cart and camera lined up. When a new cartridge is inserted, the dark slide on the top protecting the film from light exposure ejects automatically. You’ll also receive an 8-pack of small double-sided round stickers with each cartridge to adhere or display your prints on other surfaces.
When you turn the camera on, it automatically charges up the flash and displays the number of shots remaining in the cartridge on a small LED display next to the power button. A small dot next to the counter indicates when the flash is enabled and pressing the white flash key on top toggles it on or off for your next shot. Note that the flash will automatically re-enable after each photo is taken.
Despite having only three buttons, I was surprised to learn that the camera supported double-exposure and self-timer modes, though the quick start guide was lacking on how to enable these features. To enable the self timer, just press and hold the flash key for two seconds until an orange light appears next to the flash on the front of the camera. Then after pressing the red shutter button, you’ll have 9 seconds to position yourself in front of the camera. Keep in mind there is no threaded mounting point on the camera, so it cannot be attached to a tripod, and you’ll need to find a flat stable surface to set your camera when not using handheld. For double-exposure mode, long press the flash button until a ‘1’ flashes on the counter display, indicating it’s ready for the first exposure. After taking the first photo, a ‘2’ will flash on the display when the camera is ready for the second exposure. You can even turn the camera off if you’re not immediately ready to take the second exposure; the camera will pick up where it left off when you turn it on again. This mode allows you to creatively merge two images together for surprising and interesting prints.
The camera has a built-in selfie mirror on the opposite side of the viewfinder to help you frame up your shots when taking them in front of the camera. It’s okay and usable, but in very bright conditions may be hard to see. The built-in flash is eye-wateringly bright when it goes off but its reach is limited, so you’ll need to be somewhat close to your subject and/or the background if you wish to illuminate both.
For beginners, it may take a bit of trial and error and practice to produce decent looking prints. First and foremost, the images don’t actually appear instantly, and you should place them face down or in a dark place, like a pocket, for 15-30 minutes to allow the film to develop fully. If allowed to develop face-up in the presence of light your image may become overexposed and blurry. The second thing is that the focal range of the camera is 1.5 feet and greater, so you’ll want your subject to be at least that distance from the camera if you want it to be clearly in focus. That means no macro or close-up shots. If you’re planning on scrapbooking or putting these photos in an album, the recommendation is to not compress or seal them in plastic for at least 30 days to allow the chemical processes in the film to halt and dry out.
The photos are approximately 1-3/4 inch square and with the frame, the print dimensions are about 2-1/8W x 2-5/8H, so they’re fairly small, but that’s not a surprise since the camera itself is compact. The print quality was slightly disappointing though, and I felt that the color saturation was not very vibrant, the focus a bit soft, and the contrast too low. A friend of mine remarked that the photos looked like they had a “vintage filter” on them due to their washed out appearance, which may or may not be a desirable quality depending on what you’re going for. While they’re a fun size, the price per print is on the high end for what you end up with.
Overall, I do find taking photos with the Polaroid Go fun. Once you’re familiar with how the film behaves and what sorts of print you’ll be able to produce with it, playing around with lighting and shooting conditions can help you create artful and stylized prints. It may not be the best camera for ultra crisp fashion portraits, but if you’re looking to give the world of instant film cameras a try, the Polaroid Go offers you that opportunity in a cute palm-sized camera.
