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Polaroid: This Time It's Digital

Posted by Soulskill on from the who-doesn't-enjoy-voluminous-gadgets dept.

MrSeb writes "Long before Facebook and Twitpic, photos were shared by simply handing someone a print. No camera made this easier than the once-ubiquitous Polaroid. Nothing represented instant gratification better in the film era than having a print develop before your eyes, ready to hand out in a minute. Unfortunately for Polaroid, the advent of digital photography sounded the death knell for its iconic instant print cameras. A brief reprieve in the form of inexpensive sticker-printing versions was ended by the cellphone camera revolution. Now, after a decade in remission, Polaroid has returned with a full-up digital camera that incorporates instant printing technology. The Polaroid Z340 is a 14MP digital with an integrated Zink-enabled (Zero Ink) printer. In a nostalgic touch, the new camera prints 3×4-inch images, the same size as the original Polaroid film cameras. Remarkably, all this fits in a one-pound, seven-ounce package, about the same weight as a mid-range DSLR."

12 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. What about a film polaroid by jbolden · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That sounds good and I'm glad they're back. Though I wonder if coming back with an old fashioned analog polaroid might not sell as well. "The polaroid" was a name for a type of picture, a digital print isn't going to feel that unique.

    1. Re:What about a film polaroid by muridae · · Score: 3, Funny

      Other than a printer that doesn't use ink or ribbon cartridges? That should be the real lead to this story "Dead camera company brings ink-less printer to market, attaches overpriced camera to it to make sure they keep their name."

    2. Re:What about a film polaroid by icebike · · Score: 5, Informative

      Not only are some trying it, but Polaroid is not alone.

      The linked site contains a link to Zero Ink, which shows other products on the market.
      Some of them, like the Tomy Xaio look a little more appealing than the Polaroid.
      http://www.zink.com/TOMY-xiao

      I suspect there is a market for this, but probably not in digitally savvy countries where
      everyone has a smartphone and can email the picture and put it on facebook before the
      Polaroid can even print out a single copy.

      Presumably these devices retain a digital image, so that capability may be added
      just in time for the whole idea to go bust again.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    3. Re:What about a film polaroid by badboy_tw2002 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Its what you DON'T bring to the party that matters - that is, a wireless printer. Instant printing has a niche at some types of events, so I can see this filling that. Sure, you can bring a printer with you. You could also bring a laptop with you. That isn't the point of this.

    4. Re:What about a film polaroid by uniquename72 · · Score: 3, Informative

      There already is an analog Polaroid available. Its called the impossible project, and their store in Vienna was packed when I was there a few weeks ago.

    5. Re:What about a film polaroid by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Unfortunately, 'ZINK' is "zero ink" in the sense that "the necessary dyes or precursors are embedded in our unique proprietary paper and then heat-activated by the printer".

      Technologically speaking, 'ZINK' is substantially more advanced than your basic monochrome thermal printer, as seen in most label and receipt printers everywhere, and I give their tech guys full credit; but I cannot help but be extremely unimpressed by the likely value proposition of a printer where you have to buy the manufacturer's proprietary paper(and in the correct size for your mobile gimmick widget, unless you feel like doing some cutting). At present the stuff isn't cheap and either due to limited market or patents on the paper technology, no generic compatibles appear to exist...

    6. Re:What about a film polaroid by syousef · · Score: 4, Informative

      At present the stuff isn't cheap and either due to limited market or patents on the paper technology, no generic compatibles appear to exist...

      Nor are they likely to....

      http://www.zink.com/how-zink-works
      "ZINK was developed over several years and has generated an IP portfolio that includes over 100 patents and patents pending"

      There's more on the page about patents and registered trademarks than the tech itself. Tell me again how IP law encourages creativity? This will be tied up for decades, which won't allow it to take off.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  2. Probably too little too late by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have a soft spot for Polaroid cameras, having grown up back when they were all the rage (just after the dinosaurs died). The Land Camera was a lot of fun, back in the day. But, really, the only thing unique about this new camera is the printing, and no one wants to do that anymore.

    The whole point of printing, way back then, was simply because it was the only way to share your images. That's no longer an issue. Even my mom's phone can send and receive photos. A print can only be shared with one person, while a digital image can be shared with an arbitrary number of people. There's just no advantage to being able to instantly print in this form factor.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  3. Missing the point. by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 5, Informative
    You're missing the point. With the total lack of privacy online and the risk of leakage of so-called "private" pictures, it's about time for a camera that can print real pictures on impulse.

    A real-life example - many years ago, My girlfriend and I used a Polaroid to manufacture child pornography of ourselves and some of our friends (we were all 15 at the time). It was a crime most heinous, but high-school kids don't deserve to be charged and have their lives ruined because of it.

    But Ethanol, why not just have them printed at a drugstore?

    I was a film developer at a drugstore. All images are archived (yes, even at the "print your own" kiosks) and every picture on a roll of film is seen by the developer, because we have to manually correct for CMY, density, and a host of other factors for maximum customer satisfaction - which means that your trick of taking a few "normal" pics followed by a bunch of nudes and finally more "normal" pics doesn't keep your dirty secrets from us. Fortunately, I saw a lot of nudes but never saw anything questionable.

  4. Special paper... and expensive by mariushm · · Score: 3, Informative

    Unfortunately, at 20$ for 30 sheets of the special photo paper it needs, I don't see it being successful.

    I guess they're probably trying to use the classic inkjet printer selling scheme, where the printer is cheap but the cartridges are expensive... though their camera is 300$.

    It can also print just 25 photos with its battery which is not clear if it's removable or not - strange number considering the paper is sold in packs of 30.

  5. There is no Polaroid by El+Puerco+Loco · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's just a brand name now that's licensed out. Edwin Land's company is long gone.

  6. Ad by Jiro · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A statement of the form "nothing makes it easier than (brand)" is ad copy. It's a statement which means "we can't say it's better than the others, so we're going to make a statement which implies it's better than the others while it may only mean that all brands are basically the same" (after all, if they're the same, then nothing else is better).