Polaroid continues with its rebirth thanks to the small Polaroid Go, a modern version of the glorious 600 series.
The long history of Polaroid begins with the industrial production of polarizing filters and then at the end of the 50s the great intuition: instantaneous photography. A global and long-lasting success, at least until the advent of digital.
As with many other companies, Polaroid also failed to adapt to the diffusion of digital photography; the ups and downs of the 2000s saw it close and slowly reborn with the Impossible Project. Today it is officially back as Polaroid, committed to relaunching the iconic cameras that made its name big. The latest born is Polaroid Go.
The camera takes up in a modern way everything that made instant photography famous: the pyramid shape, the arrangement of the lenses, the dynamics and the sound of the ejection, just to name a few elements.
The modern vision of Polaroid Go, unlike the original of the past, it is particularly visible in the reduced size of both the camera body and the image itself. It is undoubtedly an easily transportable machine, very comfortable to hold with any hand.
Snapshot, in its own way
When we talk about instant photography we refer to everything that Polaroid Go wants to make us relive: magic and emotion to take and immediately have the photo ready. Some of us lived our childhood accompanied by some Polaroid shots of the period and waiting about 15 minutes for printing was considered instantaneous.
Today, combining 15 minutes with the instant concept is almost impossible. When we take a photo with our smartphone we can share it with the world in less than 5 seconds; Polaroid Go unfortunately still extends those 15 minutes to something longer. The image, after ejecting from the camera, takes about 10 minutes to become barely visible. After about one hour the colors will have stabilized. But in reality they will continue to develop, slowly, for a long time to come.
Polaroid Go: a true instant print
Let's talk now about the image, seen up close. What we have in our hands is a print that fully reflects the Polaroid style. Support is often, with three different texture touch sensitive: the ivory white frame with texture, the glossy film that protects the image and the smooth black back. The dimensions are different than in the past. The entire stand measures 67mm by 53mm, with the square part of the image 45 × 45mm.
The beauty of the instant image of the Polaroid Go is in its unique way of rendering colors, sharpness and contrasts. We love this unique mix as we love our foundling cat, perhaps with some fiscal flaw but unique in his character.
The uniqueness of the Polaroid Go, with its Instant Go film, is precisely in the pastel colors, the never full blacks, the milky whites. We also combine the fact that the exposure is often more of an under exposure, therefore with an evidence of light tones and an amalgamation of dark ones. When all is well.
The beauty comes when the chemistry of development collides with environmental factors (hot / cold) or with stresses (I press the print): colors take a deviation towards heat or blue, white dots form, dark halos appear . And the feeling Polaroid.
The focus is fixed, played entirely on‘iperfocale. You will only notice it by scanning; generally the sharpness is acceptable or, still thinking of the foundling cat, typically vintage.
Polaroid Go is essential as per tradition and adds some interesting details. The first important detail is for selfies: the external lens of the viewfinder has a mirror lamination that allows you to center the frame with ease. The button for excluding the Flash allows you to set the self-timer of 9 seconds (consequences of a display with one digit); the same button allows you to set double exposures.
The USB port is for charging the battery
Curiosity prompted us to investigate the micro door USB present on the side, curious for an instant camera. It is used to recharge the internal battery, nothing else. A full charge allows the shooting of 15 cartridges with 8 shots each. From this fact we then discover the shooting range of 8 images, a little anticipated by the small display on the back, actually composed of a single digit. 8 shots per cartridge means that we will have to come to terms with certain compulsive attitudes that digital has always granted us.
Polaroid Go review: quality with its price
The camera is well made; the quality of the plastics is top-notch. The few visible mechanical parts work safely. Polaroid Go is made to be held continuously in the hand, even if we are not shooting. It has a reassuring shape, even for the act.
The price in Italy is the one seen for the whole world: € 119,99 for the Polaroid Go only. If purchased immediately with a pack of 8 + 8 shots you spend € 139,99.
The films are sold in packs of 8 + 8 shots, at a price of € 19,99. Calculator in hand a print of the Polaroid Go costs € 1,25, all in all acceptable.
If we were to think about a photographic project with the Polaroid Go the first thing we would consider is to start with at least 10 packs, just to avoid the anxiety of being around with a few shots and letting go of the creativity shot by shot.
Availability is immediate if you pass through a Rinascente store, which has the exclusive for sale until June 5th. From 6 June we will find it in the best Italian shops.
Discount
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