The Instant Camera Is Back!

We all remember the state of the art Polaroid Instant camera's from the late 70's. It was technology at it's best, instant gratification. My favorite was ripping out that little square of film and waving it ever hopeful for the next great Ansel Adams shot. And least we forget the under the armpit processor when it was too cold out. And to think I just recently throw mine out while doing what most of us put off, clearing out a few of those mysterious boxes in the garage that have been sitting untouched for years. Yes, I ran across my old Polaroid camera with it's case, I even still had the original box. Of course they discontinued producing the film as well as the camera years ago.
When I worked at an ad agency in the Bay Area and then later in New York, Polaroid's were part of my art. There was no such thing as a digital camera and the first cell phones were just rolling off the production lines. Compared to todays cell phones, my first one could be compared to holding a red brick up to your ear; both in size and weight. . . and yes, I ran across that old phone too. Still in it's original box I might add.

Now Polaroid has just recently reintroduced the new and improved Polaroid Instant. And yes . . I want one. I used my old one for years. At client meeting, it was central to the development of product layouts. A quick snapshot of the product at different angles and I was back at the office with dozens of polaroids pinned up on the wall while I sketched out a catalog product page(s). These new smaller versions produce a business card size photo, and I imagine have much of the same digital capabilities as the current digitals.
It's nice to have something like this come back. There certainly is a market for it's functionality, unlike that brick of a phone that's still sitting in that old dusty box - which by the way I think I'll keep.