Customer Ratings & Reviews

The polaroid now will bring back memories from the 70 and 80s. The retro looks are great, even as a center piece in your retro cabinet. Everyone has a Polaroid memory. The packaging is great for minimalists, as it only comes with a standard warning/lawyer speak sheet that is immediately tossed, a quickStart guide, a USB charging cord, and a neck strap. If you want more info head to Polaroid.com where you can download the 11-page manual. Loading the film is a snap. Just a button and the door drops down, the cartridge clicks in and is auto loaded. A plastic cover kicks out (just toss this). A window near the power button on the back will give you the number of photos left. Film comes in packs, black or white. The battery is charged via a USB and power left is designated by lights (green which is good enough for 15 packs, orange which is good for 1 pack , and red means, don’t leave the house without charging) next to the charge port. The camera has a 9 second self-timer for group shots, An auto dual lens for close or long shots, and a neat dual exposure for artistic shots that is activated by hitting the self-timer 2 times. The display will flash 1 and 2 for the first and second exposure. The camera even has EV (exposure value settings) which is not mentioned anywhere unless you dig into the manual. It is activated by holding flash button down for a second then tap through the settings (1/2 under to a 1/2 over). Now for the gist of this review… If you are looking for sharp or spot on detailed pictures, this is not the camera for you. This is not a camera you would rely on for a once in a lifetime vacation or wedding but more for parties or get togethers. This is more of a quick result/return camera. The picture quality has not really improved since 1970. You still get the same hazy/soft focus shots you did years ago. In my opinion this is more of a fun retro look from back in the day type camera. Fun for parties or gatherings. There also is no Bluetooth or SD card option. I wish I could take the pictures and decide what to print just in case I shook the camera, or someone’s eyes were closed. But you are stuck with what you got when you hit the button. A major negative against this camera is the film. Not very cost effective. This was enough for me to ping it for –2 stars other than that I would leave it up to you to decide what you are looking for. I would only recommend this camera if you know what you are getting and what to expect.

A quote on the bottom of the camera reads ”An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.” In my opinion, Polaroid lived up to the quote. They tried to be creative and bring back an old favorite but I have no idea why anyone would want one, except for nostalgic reasons. The Polaroid Now is a good reproduction of the original Polaroid camera, but there are good reasons why they were replaced with better technology. The basic difference between a vintage Polaroid camera and the Polaroid Now is that the new version charges via a USB instead of batteries and it has auto focus. It uses the old style film cartridges and it has a tiny viewfinder. If you miss your old Polaroid, then this camera is for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it. I prefer being able to take multiple pictures, delete the ones that aren't good and printing a few (for less than $3 each). It is just as heavy as an old one and the pictures are the same quality – dark and sepia toned background – and each picture costs about $3. You have to be careful to keep the film dark as it develops, which can be challenging when taking pictures outdoors. If you make a mistake or something moves, you’re out $3. There is no option to download pictures or delete and retake as there is with the newer cameras. The USB cable did not connect well to the camera so charging was tricky. The instructions say the indicator will blink when charging and turn solid when charged. But they failed to mention that the solid light is only seen after the “on” button is pressed. It just seems like a step backwards to me.

This Polaroid now instant film camera is a blast to use. Pictures can come out blurry sometimes depending on conditions but with the proper lighting they come out great. Just make sure you look up how to properly use the camera to get the best results. Honestly, nothing quite beats the old school feeling of taking a picture with a Polaroid camera. Kids will love this also and it would make an awesome gift. If you are looking to take a step back in time with your photography then look no further.

Love the retro feel of this camera and polaroids in general. Very cool for special occasions or for random family pictures - we have a two year old and this makes for some great retro-style photo memories. The only thing to me that is lacking is the photo quality - it isn’t up to 2020 standards of crispness/detail - now, I would still buy this camera but I figure it is worth pointing this out in the event you are wanting something that prints very high quality photos.

This camera is so much fun to use, and brings back so many memories. I grew up in the 90s. So when I saw the Polaroid Now Instant Film Camera, I had to have one! There isn't much setup before you use it. It does charge via micro USB. I wish it was USB C, but that isnt that bad. You insert the film cartridge, and point n shoot. Nothing to it. The film takes a while to develop, but it comes out great. Just like using the old cameras in the 90s. This product is definitely not something you may need, but it is something you will definitely emjoy.

We do a lot of photography projects of manhy different types. This new version of the old school Polaroid seemed like it might make a good addition to our camera toolbox. It does, but very specifically. This new take on the old Polaroid has new features and old. There is a time delay shoot feature that is useful for selfie type pics. The exposure and light development are pretty similar to the old versions. This is great for trying to recreate or produce rerto looking photos. Do not get this if you want digital qualtiy and clarity, that ius not what this is made for. It is great using the flash. LOw light, indoors or outside after sundown. Pics in sunlight, hi inside light etc will look out of focus. Just fyi. We love it for what it adds to our picture portfolio from and old schoold feel standpoint. Well worht the price to get these type of photos without using filters or editing.

First impression of this Polaroid camera is that the design is almost the same as the original Polaroid Instant Cameras I remember. Which is good…and bad. The good is that it’s very retro-chic and for those of us who remember using these cameras years ago, a sense of familiarity. The buttons are the same, so there is no learning curve for using it. The bad is that the camera is as boxy as the original camera. The casing is slick and hold to hold. If a neck strap had not been included, I’d say it would be almost impossible to handle while you’re in motion, which is usually how people have their Polaroid cameras. They carry it and then stop to shoot subjects, then move on. The viewfinder is also small; I found that even when I centered the subject, I still had more background than I wanted in the final photo. The unit comes with a USB cable for charging, but the camera was already charged and ready to go. Other than that, there are no digital capabilities. It is just a simple camera. While the design and features are decidedly retro, the photo quality…should not be. I was disappointed with the photos that the camera produced. Each takes about 15 or so minutes to develop. Not sure who has 15 minutes of patience anymore to wait for a picture to show up. We are so used to truly “instant” pictures on our phones and digital cameras, that 15 minutes is no longer considered “instant”. The colors on the finished product are more muted and paler than my family’s Polaroids from the 1970s. It’s like an Instagram filter…which itself is based, in part, on retro photographs. The flash washed out my daughter’s features, but not using the flash made the photo so dark I couldn’t make out ANY details. A photo of a blue sky and a lush green pine came out with nearly no color at all. I’m not sure who the camera is meant to be marketed to. The quality of the photos is poor, there’s no digital features, and it’s hard to hold. The film is expensive and only has 8 available photos per pack. Other than the aforementioned retro appeal, I really wanted to like this camera, but this I don’t see myself using this camera in the future.

The camera is easy to use. Charge, load the film and shoot. Pros: *Rechargeable (Comes with a charger) *Simple (easy to use even for a novice photographer) *Great photo quality (the lens is of superb quality for the camera) *The sound of a picture being taken (Amazing) Cons: *cheap feel (too light and plastic) *Film is very pricey (using this as a daily camera might be expensive) *need a light source (Flash will not be enough unless subject is close to camera) I love Nostalgic items because of the aesthetic and the pleasing aspect that it brings to people who were raised around them. This camera bridges the gap between generations. I would give it five stars if it felt like a product made of a bit higher quality.

This is a really neat item if you want a modern polaroid camera that can produce polaroid prints within minutes. This item is rechargeable with a micro USB cord that is included. Upon arrival, I recommend fully charging the camera for the best power. The film is easily insertable and the quick start guide shows how to insert and remove the film. These do take a bit longer to develop than normal polaroids; about 4-5 minutes. The instructions recommend you place them face down on a dark area. There is a flash on this camera, but it works best with additional natural light to get better shots. Overall this is a great product, especially for special events and weddings to get immediate shots.

Polaroid cameras are the ultimate nostalgic piece. This new Polaroid does not disappoint. The camera takes and prints pictures instantly. Very easy to learn and use.

The camera body is nicely made and feels like a quality piece. The ease of use is really high as well. However, the quality of the pictures is sub par at best. First they take forever do develop, there is now way you can call this an "Instant" camera. I could prolly take pics with my phone and then have them developed into an actual photograph at a photo booth, faster than these pics develop on their own. The instructions say 15 minutes, but I have found that the picture doesn't look it's best until a few hours have passed. As far as those pictures are concerned, make sure you only use this camera in super bright light, otherwise the pictures come out realy dark and faded. Adding plenty of light doesn't really help that much though, the pictures still look like they were taken 30 years ago. The colors are not accurate, the lighting is terrible, and they are washed out and faded like a 50 year old photograph instead of like one I just took 30 minutes ago. I still have my old Polaroid camera and lots of pictures that I took with it, and I can say that this new camera takes 3-5 times longer to develop a picture, and said pictures look terrible and don't even compare to the old Polariod camera/film.

First impression out of the box was that there is a lot of plastic, making the camera feel more like a toy than a quality piece of equipment. For $100 I wasn't expecting much but it feels very cheap in the hand. Manual states that 3-5 feet is the sweet spot but even then the pictures are terrible. I get it, it's supposed to look vintage but I don't watch TV on an old tube set because I get a better picture with HD on my flat screen. I'm 45 and when I was young we had to take film to the hardware store which would then send it off to be developed. The week long wait was excruciating. My grandmother bought a Polaroid probably around 1982 and I remember how exciting it was to have your pictures right away and we still have some of those old instant photos in our scrapbooks. Fast forward almost 40 years and it's not nearly as much fun. After I decided I wouldn't be using the camera, I gave it to my 9, 7 and 5 year-old children to use but it took on average almost 10 minutes for the pictures to develop so they quickly lost interest and once done, the images are terrible. They went right back to taking their pictures with their iPads and Galaxy Tabs. As purely a flashback to my childhood it fits the bill but with an 8 pack of film costing $15 plus tax, $2 per crappy, grainy picture is not an option for us. I can take a quality photo with my phone and bluetooth it to our photo printer and have a very nice image in less than 2 minutes for around 40 cents. Bad photo quality, long wait time, cheap build and $2 per photo means that, unfortunately, the Polaroid Now camera is probably headed for the top shelf of the storage room, never to be seen again.

This Polaroid instant film camera isn't something I would use very often. It is fun to take a picture and get instant film for a scrapbook or photo wall but it's not of much use other than that. The camera also functions poorly indoors and needs natural light to capture a good full image otherwise the surrounding features in the picture will just be purely black. I tried multiple indoor photos with the flash on but the photo never came out well even with the recommended 3-5 feet distance from the subject(I used up a lot of film trying to get a good indoor photo. You can't just keep trying because the film is limited and will cost a pretty penny for more film). You need a lot more light than just the flash to capture the full image you see on the viewfinder. When you move outdoors during the day with a lot of light you can get a full good image. I can't use it indoors or really at night and that's what makes it more of a gimmicky product. The film is also very expensive for as little as you get for it .I would rather purchase a photo printer with photo paper and print out my clear digital photos. It is a fun product when it works and when you're able to use it but it isn't one that would be used very often and therefore not a great investment for the price. However, this product is better targeted for the younger generation even though it is suppose to give millennials a nostalgic feeling. It would better cater to children to use with their friends to capture playful memories on physical film to hold onto. It will be tough for anyone to want to resort back to film in the digital age.

I wanted to get into photography and loved the instant film aesthetic. I decided not to spend too much money and went for the Polaroid Now and I love it. Yes, film is expensive, but honestly? Makes it feel more special to me. I take time to make sure every photograph is perfect. And no I’m not expert. But I watched some guides and videos and have a basic idea. It’s a lot of fun and immensely satisfying to get good photos

I absolutely loved the retro styling and simplicity of the Polaroid Now camera, the last time I had used a Polaroid I was a kid and it brought back some nostalgic memories. However between the size of the camera, which is extremely bulky and awkward to hold, and the cost of the film it's just not something that wouldn't make sense for me to use on a regular basis. However, as a novelty product, it's cute.

A Polaroid camera was the first camera I ever owned back in the mid-80's. I loved that thing, and even though it only took mediocre pictures, they were like gold to me. Fast forward a few decades and I have used every type of camera from 35mm film and actually processed it in a darkroom, to fledgling digital, all the way to state-of-the-art full frames with professional lenses. I was a semi-professional photographer for about 10 years (it wasn't my primary job, but I sold my photos to magazines and in galleries). So I know how to take a good photo. On a lark, I got this Polaroid Now for the nostalgia and the 'fun' of instant photography. While I have to say, they did a great job building this thing and it has quite a few more bells and whistles than my first Polaroid (auto-focus, self-timer, rechargeable), the photo quality has not developed at all (pun intended). I blasted through a pack of Polaroid brand Color i-Type Film, which contains 8 instant photos and all of them were a disappointment. Now this isn't a comparison between my high resolution digital shots and the Polaroid ones, this is actually a comparison between these current ones and ones I still have from the 80's! I have shots from back then that look better than these ones from the 2020's! Most of those old shots have faded but there were a few that I preserved a bit better than others and they have better color accuracy and focus than the new ones. All of the 8 photos I took with this Polaroid now were in full sunlight with static subjects, about as ideal as you can ask for a relatively 'slow' film like Polaroid. Color balance was completely off (very yellowish/red) and focus was quite poor throughout the lot. Now perhaps I had a bad batch of film or perhaps the camera is faulty. I won't know until I load up another pack of film, but as of now I don't think I can recommend the Polaroid Now, even for nostalgia sake, unless you only want it for display!

I have no idea why anyone would buy this thing in 2020; although the build quality is fine, the picture quality is horrible; I've tried flash, no flash, indoors, outdoors, and pictures still look like they were taken in 1970. Unless you have a nostalgia bug, and like weak, colorless, dark pictures, save your money..there are endless better choices for a similar price if you want REAL pictures..

There are plenty of other options if you want an instant film camera. This did not impress. There’s not much else to say about it. Poorly constructed and the film comes out very dull. Yes I followed the directions.

the photos come out like garbage. way too expensive for what it is and the quality of the photos. very disappointed

Thought I would go back in time to use what used to be a great camera and now is pretty much obsolete and not great pictures. This may look like the old Polaroid and what I thought was great prints instantly, instead its exposures are dark and take forever to develop and the pictures are grainy and shady. I would think twice about ordering one of these camera to use for everyday pics. This is more for your kids to play with than a serious photographer. I would stick to the cell phone cameras and a printer.