Polaroid: This Time It's Digital

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."

Comments

Probably too little too late

[93 Escort Wagon]

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.

Missing the point.

[Ethanol-fueled]

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.

Re:What about a film polaroid

[icebike]

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.

Re:What about a film polaroid

[badboy_tw2002]

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.

There is no Polaroid

[El Puerco Loco]

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

Re:What about a film polaroid

[syousef]

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.