Polaroid Originals - OneStep+ Analog Instant Film Camera - White

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

Older People like me think of 1970’s cameras as dinosaurs with no practical modern value, but perhaps it’s because I’m living as a (very) mature adult and forgetting how young people socialize. When I asked my 22 yr old daughter to suggest a birthday gift I was surprised to hear that she really wanted one of these modernized Polaroid OneStep+ cameras after seeing one used at a party. Of course most everyone carries a technically far superior cameras to this one on their cell phone, but in a crowded table at a restaurant or party it’s not very practical to hand your cell phone around to everyone in the room, to get a laugh at a funny or poignant picture you just took. That’s a good way to lose a cell phone. Apparently a real film camera that produces a physical picture that they can actually handle and pass around is a unique and conversation starting experience for today’s young people. Most of them have seen Polaroid cameras in movies, music videos and old TV shows, but they’ve never seen one of them function in person. It’s quite a novelty. What makes this modern duplicate of the original OneStep+ camera a modern camera, is its Bluetooth connectivity. Not only can the OneStep+ shutter be controlled (remote, manual mode, self timer, double exposure, noise trigger, light painting) from a free phone App, the App also saves every picture taken digitally and allows the user to email copies with captions to anyone they want to. It’s the best of old and new, blended together into a real party pleaser. FEATURES: - The user can experiment with three different film pack types (2 color, 1 black and white). - Light exposure is adjustable. - The OneStep+ camera electronics and flash can be charged from any cell phone charger or USB port through the included USB to Micro-USB cable. 60 day battery life. - 1 year warranty - Produces both physical and digital copies of each photo. - Self timer and shutter can be triggered on camera or from cell phone within Bluetooth range. - Close-up (1 foot) or wider lens can be selected with manual lever PROS: - Lots of fun at an adult party or for children at a family event. - Three different film packs available for different effects and light conditions. CONS: - The different Film packs cannot be removed, swapped and reused without losing one picture each time, because of light exposure to the top film sheet. - It doesn’t fold flat like the higher end old Polaroid cameras, so it is bulky to pack or carry by its neck strap. CONCLUSION: I never would have considered this reimagining of an old film camera if my daughter had not expressed interest. It is affordable and it will gather lots of attention wherever you use it. Enjoy.

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.

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 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.

Brief Summary: The OneStep+ is an expensive, finicky nostalgic throwback. It works with the Bluetooth on your smartphone to take timed shots and to scan in your photos (among other features), but at roughly $2+ a picture, you would be better off sticking to the Polaroid Snap Touch or purchasing a photo printer. Nostalgic tech is everywhere these days. My girlfriend and I are building our own vinyl record collection. Modern tech is working to make some of these old analog trinkets work better with our digital devices. The OneStep+ aims to recapture the nostalgia of the old OneStep cameras, but it adds Bluetooth functionality to enable timed shots and double exposures. Problem is it’s just all a bit too cumbersome. Setting up the analog levers on the camera, lining up the shot, and then snapping with the phone is just a hassle. I do like the ability to scan in my Polaroid pictures with the app, but it was a bit difficult keeping the glare out of the scan. Then there are the actual pictures. The cartridges come in packs of 8. My black and white pictures look good. But my color pictures on the i-type film were awful. 2/8 pictures came out. At $2.00 a picture ($16 - $20 for a cartridge of 8), I can’t see myself wanting to practice or make this into an actual hobby. I read later that the color film is more sensitive to light and that those pictures need to be shielded for up to 6 minutes. The black and white pictures came out better, but, again, this is a hassle. I like the idea of instant prints, but the OneStep+ is too cumbersome and difficult to be much more than a novelty. I can’t see myself using it much until cartridges come down in price a good deal. I love the look and this did give me a nostalgic thrill, but it also reminded me why I love my digital camera and my smartphone.

Polaroid Originals OneStep+ It’s possible to reach back in time in your photography, recreating those analog processes you (or your grandparents) once considered state-of-the-art. Grab this grapefruit-size (and weight) Polaroid camera. Make sure it’s been charged and loaded with either the B&W or color film (8 image packs), and you’re ready to capture family events, or special projects, or create some art. As long as you’ve got a mobile phone in your pocket anyway, the Polaroid (iOS/Android) App let’s you accomplish special effects (double exposure, light painting and long exposures) was well as other timing controls. The Polaroid Originals One Step+ offers a very different approach to picture-taking that can be recommended to imaginative and motivated photographers. SETUP: Out of the box you’ll want to charge up the One Step+ for a couple of hours which prepares you for shooting 15-20 packs of film. There is an included Micro-USB to USB cable, but no charging wart. The large, EASY-to-read startup guide will familiarize you with the camera and the film loading process. Bluetooth connection is a bit different. Slide down the back panel RED POWER button and find the BT “+” button on the front panel and press. Make sure your Bluetooth is on in you mobile phone, but don’t try to link from there. You need to be in the Polaroid App which is downloaded from either the Apple or Android App stores. I needed a few tries to get connected . . . I think. The BT LED stayed solid but the App was non-responsive after the first tries. Like I said, it all worked, eventually, but I’m not sure when or what I did in those head-scratching minutes. There is a SCANNING feature in the APP which let’s you scan your finished photos (and anything else, actually) so you can add these photos to your digital collection. This is especially nice if your Polaroids are in demand and you want your own copy. Couldn’t do that back in the 1950/60/70s. PERFORMANCE: TAKING PICTURES was as easy as Polaroid photography has even been. Select the correct lens with the top panel slide based on your distance from the subject, Choose the flash setting (go brightest unless in direct sunlight — trust me), <C> Aim and Press the Red Trigger button to take your picture. The picture pops out of the front tray and around 15 minutes later you’ve got your developed 3” x 3” photo. It’s retro, but there is still a magic to it all. I’ve grown accustomed to the easily after-the-fact exposure corrections on my phone, so I was disappointed with the darker images I kept getting. I’d also add that images in color were not as contrasty, colorful or as sharp as we’ve come to expect. Some of this was my fault, ‘cause real photos demand real lighting which I wasn’t supplying. B&W pictures were more satisfying on every count. RECOMMENDATIONS: Students, scientists, artists, designers and serious photographers will get a nice set of tools by using the Polaroid App to exploit their creativity or address their unique needs for an instant-print camera. The B&W film resulted in nice photos, color pictures were just OK, but be sure to provide sufficient illumination. The fully manual exposure controls, the ability to do tricks by painting with light, and easily controlled double exposures are all useful for the right person. The Polaroid One Step+ is recommended for the serious photographer looking for another tool. Many casual photographers will wonder why they need more than a mobile phone with camera and will be frustrated with the effort and outcome.

In the box comes the camera, a lanyard, a usb type b cable and a quick start guide and a user manual. The camera has a mainly hard plastic construction ( polycarbonate, tpu) with a classic polaroid look but with modern features that brings it forward through time. It has optical grade acrylic lenses and a 1100mAh lithium ion battery that is stated to last 60 days. The camera can be used as is, once loaded with any Polaroid Originals 600 or i-type film but the camera really comes alive once Polaroid Originals app is downloaded either from the Google Play store or the Apple App store. Next to the lens is a “+” button which turns on bluetooth and allows the camera to connect the the companion app seamlessly. Once inside the app there are numerous features that are now available to you. Most importantly, the app offers tutorials to assist users in properly manipulating the camera to get the desired effect for every shot. Some of the features include a self timer, a remote trigger , a noise trigger, double exposure and a light painting effect. There is also manual mode that allows you extra control to fine tune certain settings and a scanner mode that allows you to scan each photo taken into you phone so that you can easily share. This is a fun camera to play around with and it would be a great gift for those who are into photography. Some things to note though, the app does automatically store any pictures taken with the camera and you cannot send photos that are stored on your phone to the camera to be printed.