Vintage-Style Polaroid Flip Evaluation: Timeless Design, Traditional Photos, Traditional Weight
Let's Dive into the Polaroid Flip:
This bad boy, the Polaroid Flip, sure sounds like a blast from the past on paper, but its in-person performance leaves room for improvement. Casually priced at a whopping $200, it's a bit hefty on the wallet, and your arms, too. Ain't no denying it looks a heck of a lot like your grandma's 50-year-old Polaroid she used to snap those sun-bleached, cracked beach photos. But hey, if old-school charm is your thing, you might find comfort in its vintage vibe.
The real selling point here is the camera's "hyperfocal" lens system, which consists of four bad boys on a rotating gear. As you snap pics, the smart Flip automagically switches between the different focal lengths depending on your distance from the subject. The maximum focus capacity for the farthest lens clocks in at around eight feet. That's a bit far for an instant camera, but if you're out and about with your crew, you're typically snapping shoots closer than that. In all the snaps I took with the Polaroid Flip, not a single one had an out-of-focus subject. That's a win! As long as the flash didn't give 'em a sunburn, my friends and coworkers were more than happy to hang the printed pics up.
Polaroid Flip
A nostalgic camera that takes solid focused shots, but it's a pain to lug it around.
See at Best Buy Pros
- Snaps great in-focus shots from varying distances
- Easy peasy to operate
- Prints classic Polaroid-size photos
Cons
- Weighs a ton and is tough to hold
- Exposure without flash isn't ideal, even on a bright day
- Film packs are as expensive as a decent pizza
The various focal lengths mean it can take better landscapes, but your mobile device's camera with its wider range of aspect ratios might be a better choice for your next hiking adventure. The Flip's other big selling point is its special light in the viewfinder that blares red if there's too much or not enough light for each shot. The thing is, you're rarely going to find yourself running low on light for your photos. I gave the Polaroid Flip a spin at a Manhattan rooftop bar on a bright, clear day with sunlight shining like gangbusters, and even then, I found that without flash, my subjects were still underexposed.
The Polaroid Flip won't completely avoid the issues that come with instant flash photography, but who would ever give that up for the world? There's a certain magical allure to traditional Polaroid defects—white spots, sun flares, you name it—that you'd miss in their absence. The images I snapped with my coworkers are going on our office wall, so long as they weren't taken with such poor lighting that I couldn't make out their faces.
Carrying this hefty camera around is no picnic. It weighs a whopping 1.4 pounds, making it feel like you're transporting a small brick everywhere you go. Slipping it into a shoulder bag or backpack is going to weigh your gear down, and I can tell you it'll take up plenty of space in any other bag or handbag. Like most full-image Polaroids, the device doesn't have a designated spot for you to hold it. Pick it up to snap a quick pic, and nine times out of ten, your fingers will end up obstructing the photo eject port.
Design-wise, the Polaroid Flip is as retro as it gets, favoring a sloped body and extended viewfinder like the Polaroid Sun 660 from 1981. That camera was the first to bring Polaroid's sonar autofocus into the limelight, as well as a similar rotating lens system to the Flip. It also featured a flip-up flash component to shield its sensitive parts when closed. The Flip isn't quite the high-end model that costs $600 like the Polaroid I-2, and it's not built for creating depth of field on the shots. Instead, it's the kind of camera you're supposed to keep in your closet for family gatherings or slip into your bag for an evening out with friends. There's nothing better than cracking a few brews and handing out a printed memory of the night, even if you've got to wait a few minutes for the film to develop.
Polaroids are worth their weight in gold if you're looking to cement memories, but they're not the most budget-friendly option out there. I enjoy the images I snapped with the Flip, but I can't help but think that a more compact instant camera that generates wallet-sized photos, like a Fujifilm Instax, would be easier to lug around and still let you pass out souvenirs to your friends after a night out. The Flip might not be the camera to take on a spontaneous adventure, but it sure knows how to snap a vintage-looking photo.
See at Best Buy
Enrichment Data:
Overall:The Polaroid Flip's hyperfocal lens system stands apart from other Polaroid instant cameras like the Polaroid Go and Now models, offering superior focus capabilities, weight, and film costs.
Hyperfocal Lens System and Focus Capabilities
- Polaroid Flip: Utilizes a sophisticated hyperfocal four-lens system where each lens corresponds to a specific focus zone: close-up, near, mid, and far. This system switches automatically depending on subject distance, using sonar autofocus to estimate distance and sonar-based distance measurement. This system enhances the camera's ability to focus precisely, particularly in varying lighting and distance conditions. It also includes scene analysis for exposure correction, LED alerts for under- or overexposure, and focus warnings.
- Polaroid Go, Now: These earlier models rely on simpler autofocus systems and fewer lens options. For example, the Now cameras have a single lens with autofocus but no multi-lens hyperfocal system or sonar-based distance measurement, making the Flip more capable in focusing, especially in differing lighting and distance conditions.
Weight and Design
- Polaroid Flip: Despite its sleek clamshell design and rotating four-lens system, it may be slightly heavier or bulkier than simpler and more compact Go and Now models, although it remains user-friendly.
- Polaroid Go: Known for its ultra-compact size and light weight, making it incredibly portable.
- Polaroid Now: Larger than the Go but still relatively lightweight, prioritizing ease of use over compactness.
Film Packs and Cost
- Polaroid Flip: Uses i-Type or 600-type instant film compatible with other recent Polaroid cameras. While the exact cost wasn't specified, it likely aligns with the usual price of Polaroid's i-Type or 600 film. Happily, bulk purchases can lower per-pack costs compared to smaller film formats used by compact models like the Polaroid Go.
- Polaroid Go: Uses smaller, specialized film packs designed specifically for the compact size, leading to a higher cost per frame. However, the packs contain fewer shots.
- Polaroid Now: Uses standard i-Type or 600 film packs, similar to the Polaroid Flip, making the cost per frame comparable.
Pros and Cons Summary
| Feature | Polaroid Flip | Polaroid Go | Polaroid Now ||-------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------|| Focus System | 4-lens system with sonar autofocus; precise in various settings | Simpler autofocus, less advanced | Single lens autofocus, less advanced than the Flip || Exposure Control | Scene analysis and alerts for under-/overexposure | Limited exposure control | Basic exposure controls || Weight and Portability | Compact but heavier than the Go | Ultra-light and pocketable | Lightweight, moderately portable || Film Packs and Cost | Uses standard i-Type/600 film; comparable costs | Uses smaller, niche film packs; expensive per shot | Uses standard i-Type/600 film; comparable costs |
- The Polaroid Flip's hyperfocal lens system, a standout feature among Polaroid instant cameras like the Go and Now models, offers superior focus capabilities, weight, and film costs.
- In contrast, the Polaroid Go and Now models lack the advanced focus system and camera capabilities of the Polaroid Flip, particularly in varying lighting and distance conditions.
- For future technology enthusiasts browsing gadgets and reviews on sites like Gizmodo, the Polaroid Flip's unique features and vintage charm could make it an attractive addition to their collection, despite its somewhat hefty weight and the costs associated with its film.
