In early times
before the invention of digital cameras, film cameras were used by
photographers and the pictures had to be processed or developed before you can get
the photo itself. Because of this, the Polaroid was created. The Polaroid is a
type of camera with internal processing that produces a finished print rapidly
after each exposure.
The man behind
the idea of the Polaroid was Edwin Land, an inventor and a physicist who was
inspired by his 3-year-old daughter’s confusion on why pictures cannot be
produced right away after they were taken. By 1937, he found the Polaroid
Corporation which came to be known for developing the world’s first instant
camera which was called the Polaroid Land camera. The first few films, which
were introduced later in the 1950’s, were in sepia and black & white. The
colored film only appeared later on during 1963.
By
1977, another model was made by the Polaroid Corporation called the OneStep
Land Camera which became a huge hit; it was also the biggest-selling camera of
any type for four years during that time. Throughout the 1990’s, the Polaroid
Corporation has already made 600 series of instant cameras. Every camera has a
little difference in its outward appearance but all have the similar basic
design and has always been priced the same regardless of economic conditions.
Similar
to the present situation where companies send free items to sponsors or
celebrities for feedback on their products, the Polaroid has also done the same
for their instant cameras. They gave resources to photographers or artists in
exchange for feedback about their products. One of these was Ansel Adams, a
landscape photographer, who was hired by Edwin land as a consultant for the
company back in 1948. For Adams, “Land was convinced that images can be as
effective as words and that every person has a latent ability to make effective
contact with another through visual statements.” (Adams, 1985)
New
innovations for the Polaroid began in 1998 when the Polaroid Company decided to
make cheap disposable cameras which the people can use and then send back to
the Polaroid Company to be recycled. In 1999, the Polaroid JoyCam was
introduced which was cheaper and the price of the films were cheaper as well.
The size of the camera was smaller than the regular size of a Polaroid camera
and was good for outdoor portraits.
At
present, a brand of instant cameras called Instax is very popular among the
public. Instax, which is a brand of instant cameras and films, is marketed by
Fujiflim since the late 1980’s. You can see a big difference towards the
old-styled instant cameras and the new ones.
Lots of features can be seen in the new
instant cameras produced by Fujifil like the different appearance and design. The
Instax can be bought in different colors and has a wide range of models. The latest
model which was released last September 2013 was the Instax Mini 90 Neo
Classic. This instant camera was made with a full range of camera functions
including the double exposure and macro mode.
In
my opinion, it is great that there are more and more innovations in these kinds
of gadgets so inventions like these wouldn’t be forgotten. The concept of having
a photo processed after it is captured is great for those who still love
keeping photographs in albums, frames, etc. Since there are already a lot of
social networking sites in the internet where you can just upload your photo
and the need for developing them in shops is seldom seen, the instant camera is
very useful for those who enjoy taking pictures and wanting them to be
developed right away to be kept or given out to their friends, family, etc.
References:
Polaroid.com. The Man Behind the
Camera. http://www.polaroid.com/75-years.
March 9, 2014
Gauntlett, David. Some things
about art and cities.
http://www.newmediastudies.com/art/polaroid.htm.
March 9, 2014
Bellis, Mary. About.com
Investors. Edwin Land - Polaroid Photography - Instant Photography.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpolaroid.htm.
March 9, 2014
Boston University. A Brief
Timeline of Polaroid. http://www.bu.edu/prc/forms/polatimeline.pdf.
March 9, 2014
Harvard Business School. Polaroid
Instant Camera.
http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/nd/contemporary-leaders/polaroid-instant-camera/cl-camera-6.html.
March 9, 2014
Fujifilm. Fujifilm Showcases
Latest Instax Instant Film Camera Models. https://www.fujifilmusa.com/press/news/display_news?newsID=879817.
March 9, 2014
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