ZombieCake
Well-known member
A few thoughts on my latest camera : A Polaroid One Step 2
The Polaroid brand name has done the rounds in the last few years and the latest proper chemical based incarnation is Polaroid Originals, formerly the Impossible Project, based in the Netherlands. They make cameras and film for new and old / refurb Polaroids and also sell refurb polaroids. https://uk.polaroidoriginals.com/
So I bought a new One Step 2 for ?100 gift set (from Park Cameras) that comes with a film & box to put piccies in, and in addition some filters and some more film. After 24 hrs and ?30 of film (that's 16 photos), here are some Pros's and Cons:
Pros:
> Real physical pictures in your hand, and to hand around ? absolute magic
> It's a proper chemical Polaroid.
> Black & White film is wonderful. I'm wondering if there is a bit of IR sensitivity there ? a good thing.
> Good excuse to buy those extra lights you always wanted for internal use.
> Ergonomics are pretty good and looks cool
> Camera not that expensive
> Brings a smile when using
> Pixel peepers and those who spend their sad lives moaning about chromatic aberrations, vignetting, and other artefacts will hate it. Yay!
> No RAW, Photoshop, or Lightroom etc. Yay!
> Have to think about photos ? you only have eight and it's ?2 a pop. No machine gunning a digital thing and hoping one turns out. I loaded up a pack of eight piccies of B&W film and wandered round where I am. OK wasn't really eight as wanted to test out the red filter and prism filter, so five shots reflecting where you are is a nice challenge.
Neutral (could go either way):
> May get a sudden urge to listen to ABBA, drink Liebfraumilch, or have a fondue.
> Not too sure about the colour film, although I haven't given it a proper test yet to be fair, and spent a few shots experimenting.
> Lens is about 50mm 35mm film equivalent or maybe just a bit more in focal length.
Cons:
> Film is pricy ? around ?15 for eight piccies. Using Bugatti Veyrons in a demolition derby maybe more economical long term. Still if you rarely take photos why spend a thousand on a digital?
> You'll spend the first film getting used to it (hence my thoughts on colour so far).
> Not really for low light. Film is ASA640 (none of this modern ISO stuff. Hint: ISO is essentially the same as ASA), but I think the aperture is rather small to cope with a 2ft to infinity focal range. Shutter speeds and aperture aren't published.
> It's really a point and shoot bright light instamatic thing
> You may be accused of being a hipster tosser (I don't have a beard by the way)
> Flash could be more powerful ? bring back flashbulbs!
> Film temerature sensitive when developing.
FAQs:
> So where are the pictures? Well it's proper analogue chemical brilliance and I'm a bit short of a scanner, so I'll up load a few soon. You'll have to wait a bit.
> Do I like it? Yes, within it's limitations it's rather nice. I like the mono film.
The Polaroid brand name has done the rounds in the last few years and the latest proper chemical based incarnation is Polaroid Originals, formerly the Impossible Project, based in the Netherlands. They make cameras and film for new and old / refurb Polaroids and also sell refurb polaroids. https://uk.polaroidoriginals.com/
So I bought a new One Step 2 for ?100 gift set (from Park Cameras) that comes with a film & box to put piccies in, and in addition some filters and some more film. After 24 hrs and ?30 of film (that's 16 photos), here are some Pros's and Cons:
Pros:
> Real physical pictures in your hand, and to hand around ? absolute magic
> It's a proper chemical Polaroid.
> Black & White film is wonderful. I'm wondering if there is a bit of IR sensitivity there ? a good thing.
> Good excuse to buy those extra lights you always wanted for internal use.
> Ergonomics are pretty good and looks cool
> Camera not that expensive
> Brings a smile when using
> Pixel peepers and those who spend their sad lives moaning about chromatic aberrations, vignetting, and other artefacts will hate it. Yay!
> No RAW, Photoshop, or Lightroom etc. Yay!
> Have to think about photos ? you only have eight and it's ?2 a pop. No machine gunning a digital thing and hoping one turns out. I loaded up a pack of eight piccies of B&W film and wandered round where I am. OK wasn't really eight as wanted to test out the red filter and prism filter, so five shots reflecting where you are is a nice challenge.
Neutral (could go either way):
> May get a sudden urge to listen to ABBA, drink Liebfraumilch, or have a fondue.
> Not too sure about the colour film, although I haven't given it a proper test yet to be fair, and spent a few shots experimenting.
> Lens is about 50mm 35mm film equivalent or maybe just a bit more in focal length.
Cons:
> Film is pricy ? around ?15 for eight piccies. Using Bugatti Veyrons in a demolition derby maybe more economical long term. Still if you rarely take photos why spend a thousand on a digital?
> You'll spend the first film getting used to it (hence my thoughts on colour so far).
> Not really for low light. Film is ASA640 (none of this modern ISO stuff. Hint: ISO is essentially the same as ASA), but I think the aperture is rather small to cope with a 2ft to infinity focal range. Shutter speeds and aperture aren't published.
> It's really a point and shoot bright light instamatic thing
> You may be accused of being a hipster tosser (I don't have a beard by the way)
> Flash could be more powerful ? bring back flashbulbs!
> Film temerature sensitive when developing.
FAQs:
> So where are the pictures? Well it's proper analogue chemical brilliance and I'm a bit short of a scanner, so I'll up load a few soon. You'll have to wait a bit.
> Do I like it? Yes, within it's limitations it's rather nice. I like the mono film.