Want to get a polaroid but which one?

<p>I am interested in getting a polaroid camera, compact size, that I can take around with me, but which one? I dont want to get the SX-70 though I would love to, because of the difficulty of getting the film, and the price of the film I did find ($30/8 images). I shoot digital now. I am not getting into film (just got a 35mm) and thought it would be fun to shoot with a polaroid as well. </p>

<p>any suggestions on other polaroids?<br>

thanks!</p>

<p>Most amateur Polaroid cameras have cheap lenses. Look for the Model 195. Top notch shutter and lens. Not cheap to buy however, so it depends on your budget.<br>

<a href="http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2201.0">http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2201.0</a></p>

 

<p>this is a great camera, but out of my price range unfortunately. I wanted to stay under $300 or so...<br>

any other suggestions?</p>

 

<p>Fuji Instax (Mini and 210 sizes), Polaroid 300-series. The Polaroid is just a rebranded Fuji Mini. Film for either will cost you about $1 per exposure. The <a href="http://the-impossible-project.com/">Impossible Project </a>aims to bring back Polaroid 600-series film, with some film available for purchase now. The quality and longevity of the film is uncertain, though.</p>

<p>http://www.instantoptions.com/faqs/faqcam.packfilm.php<br>

The 180, 185, 190 and 195 give manual controls and have 4 element glass lenses. There's also the 600 and 600 SE. http://www.instantoptions.com/landlist/cameras/packfilm/pro.php But all of those are usually quite spendy. Many of the cameras at the first link in my post can be had for under 50 US dollars. Some will be nice cameras, others not. Reference that link first before commiting to buy. You'll want a glass lens (unless you're truly going for the Lomo look of it) and the condition of the individual camera should be taken into account. Also make sure that the camera you buy takes 75 speed film (that would be all but 2 of the rigid ones on that list). With the selector set for 75 you can use 100 speed film and adjust the exposure comp a bit for a good exposure. Some experimenting will likely be needed. Most, if not all, can be modified easily to take AA batteries if it hasn't already be done.</p>

<p>This all assumes you'll want 3.25x4.25 peel a part film. If you're looking for inexpensive integeral (shake it like a polaroid) style I'd say that Instax is your best bet, but the "Mini" or Polaroid 300 or Polaroid Mio all produce prints about the size of a business card. The Wide is bigger, but still smaller than 4x6.</p>

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<p>and the price of the film</p>

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<p>To echo J.P. Morgan, "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it."</p>

<p>Polaroid/"Instant film" has never been particularly economical as an alternative to ordinary film, and this is definitely not going to improve. In a seeming contradiction to the supposed law of supply and demand, the fewer people who are willing to spend the money to shoot instant film, the more expensive it becomes.</p>

<p>If they still made it, I'd still be shooting Polaroid 4x5 Type 52, but they don't make it any more. :(</p>

<p>Look at <a href="http://polaroids.theskeltons.org/history.htm">http://polaroids.theskeltons.org/history.htm</a> Click on the model numbers on the upper left side. The details of each model are listed including what lens it has and the shutter speed range, etc. As for myself, I like the old 100. Better than that is the 450 and 350 or anything with that chrome viewfinder.</p>

<p>I would recommend a Polaroid 250. It's one of the better consumer level packfilm cameras, and has a few useful features. With a 250 you get a metal body, a tripod thread, and multiple filmspeed options that are useful for over/under exposure compensation. They are plentiful. I frequently see them for $20. $40 is a fair price for a nice one in case with a clean battery compartment. <a href="http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landdcam-pack.htm">Check out the Landlist for details.</a></p>

<p>I would vote for a Polaroid 100, metal body, tripod ready, and glass lens. I converted a Polaroid 110A to pack film which has a nice lens. Comparing images taken at the same time I could not tell the difference. And as pointed out the battery conversion to AA is easy.</p>

<p>Which Camera? I would look for a quantity of film on e-bay or Craig's list FIRST—then find the best camera to tke it. </p>

<p>I have never thought that polaroid films wre that good anyway (please no letters—just my own opinion). </p>

<p>Tthe one rick that made Polaroid worth foooling with was the "instant" feed-back. Currently, this nitch is adiquatly filled by digital alternatives. Low end P&S cameras are inexpensive and soon everyone will have a 8 Mp camera in their telephone anyway! Even hard-copy snapshot size prints can be made available in short order with portable printers.</p>