Instant Christmas Magic

*** This Post Comes From Kevin Lane ***

Ok, I'll admit it. I love this time of year. Yes, I know it has it's stresses, and I hate the obsession with "things that will make you happy." I've reached the stage in my life when the value of relationships becomes paramount, which is why this time of year has so much meaning to me. My favorite thing about time of year is getting together with family and friends to eat, drink, laugh, love, and celebrate "togetherness." It's something I look forward to all year.

So, it should come as no surprise to anyone at these gatherings when the cameras come out. While everyone else is shooting with their camera phones, I will be firing my flash and capturing holiday memories on film. I say "cameras" because usually I shoot more then one. And one of those cameras likely will be my Polaroid SX-70 SONAR.
I love using this camera at parties, partly because of the amazement it creates when people hear it fire and see that piece of film eject from the front, but really for another practical reason. People can see the photograph moments after I take it. And more often than not, that photograph will go home with them when they leave and end up being displayed somewhere in their home. You don't always get that with a photo from a phone.

My Polaroid SX-70 SONAR One Step camera and Polatronic Flash, all from 1977.

My youngest daughter, Megan, and her guy, Devin, taken on Polaroid

Originals SX-70 color film

On show #6 of the Uncle Jonesy's Cameras Podcast, Kelley and I discuss why instant photography is a perfect choice for the holidays, especially if you are a film shooter. Everyone is super-busy this time of year, and finding time to develop your holiday party film isn't easy. Shooting an instant camera solves that problem, not to mention the cool gifts the photos become when you give them away. It truly is better to give than to receive.

You have two choices for instant photography:  FujiFilm Instax and Polaroid Originals. Instax cameras and film are everywhere nowadays and are very popular with young people. There will be thousands of Instax cameras found under the tree on Christmas morning. The photos (ten to a pack) develop quickly and look good. The film can be purchased at your local drug store. With Polaroid, it's a bit different. First of all, the Polaroid Originals film is more expensive than Instax film, and it produces only eight shots.  The Polaroid Originals film takes longer to develop (especially the color film), and the quality can be uneven (again, especially the color film - the black and white film looks great). Second, you have the option of using one of the thousands of vintage Polaroid cameras that can be found in antique store, thrift stores, closets, online, all waiting for a fresh pack of film to bring them to life. My SX-70 SONAR dates back to 1977. I also have a 600 OneStep Close Up, which I rarely use, because the SX-70 is a much better camera - easily the best camera Polaroid ever made. For this reason, there are not as easily found as the 600 type cameras like the OneStep Close Up, which has a lot of plastic about it, including the lens. However, you are much more likely to find 600 type cameras as all of the above-mentioned places. The big question regarding vintage Polaroid cameras is:  Will it work when you insert a fresh film pack into it? Unless the person who is selling the camera can confirm that it has been tested and is working, the only was to know is to do is to try it out. If it powers up, great. If not . . . I keep empty film packs that still have good batteries to test cameras with, and after you successfully shoot your first pack, you will have one, too. 

Of course, you purchase a brand new Polaroid camera, the Polaroid Originals OneStep 2, which was introduced last year. The OneStep 2 looks similar to previous 600 type cameras, but it has a lot of updated features like an onboard rechargeable battery, which makes the battery in the film pack no longer necessary. The camera has gotten some good reviews, and because the I-Type film packs the camera uses don't have a battery in them, they are about three dollars less than SX-70 or 600 packs. Unless you already have access to a vintage camera or are "vintage-minded," a new Polaroid camera may be the best was to go. If something goes wrong with the camera, you can return it for another one. 

As far as buying Polaroid Originals film, your best bet is to plan ahead and order online. However, if you like to be spontaneous, you can usually find the I-Type and the 600 film at Target and Barnes & Noble stores (although yesterday both stores were completely sold out of film and cameras due to heavy holiday demand). Unfortunately, neither of these retailers sell the SX-70 film. There is a workaround, however. Polaroid Originals makes a reusable neutral density filter that fits onto the top of a 600 film pack, so that the much faster 600 film will not be overexposed when used in an SX-70 camera. 

Instant photography is a great fit for this time of year, and the photographs you make will become treasured keepsakes for many years to come. Whether it's FujiFilm Instax or Polaroid Originals, get yourself and camera and some film and start capturing memories.