Hands on with the Polaroid Instant Digital Camera

Fri Jan 9, 2009 6:36PM EST

See Comments (73)

Desperate to try to replace the instant-developing film that made it famous with something for the digital age, Polaroid has finally launched a camera that snaps digital pics and gives you a printout within about a minute.

The Polaroid Instant Digital Camera is as big as its name (weighing 10 oz.), a clear first-generation product that will appeal to relatively few buyers, due to the generally poor quality of the prints.

The camera itself is a five megapixel model with a fixed focus lens (digital zoom only), and quality is about what you'd expect from something with such low-end specs. The focus here, of course, is fun, on-the-fly pictures, with a feature that lets you add goofy borders to your shots before you print them out.

Once they slide out of the printer slot (paper runs $4.99 for a 10-pack), picture quality is decidedly grim. The sample shot taken of me (at right) makes me look like Casper the Ghost (hey, even I'm not that pasty), and the color reproduction is dismal. It's probably fine if you're shooting pics as souvenirs for your four-year-old's birthday party, but anyone thinking they'll replace their standard digicam with this is going to be sorely disappointed.

The good news: The camera itself is only $199.

Here's hoping for a 2nd generation product that improves the quality!

Comments on Hands on with the Polaroid Instant Digital Camera

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  • 26 Posted by coalstar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    One of the ink colors seems not to have printed on your test picture...there's no red.

  • 27 Posted by apoeticfaerie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    $199 for a first generation that takes poor quality prints? Come on! Too high.

  • 28 Posted by two_knives on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Gee ..... maybe Polaroid ought to just bring back the old instant camera and film that took perfectly good pictures. We have tons of those old pics from the 70's and they still look great. Some things just don't need changing ..... Rusty in Ohio

  • 29 Posted by sydney.fisher63 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    A scan of the picture would have been more realistic of the print quality - was your face overexposed in the original? Any other sample pics?

  • 30 Posted by rimandoroots on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    The idear of eventing the instant print camera is a noble idear, but they should work hard to improve the quality of the print out. By improving quality this will boost the sales because quality is everything. Mwamuye Mwatsuma Deche Nairobi Kenya

  • 31 Posted by rimandoroots on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    The idear of eventing the instant print camera is a noble idear, but they should work hard to improve the quality of the print out. By improving quality this will boost the sales because quality is everything. Mwamuye Mwatsuma Deche Nairobi Kenya

  • 32 Posted by smasheromalley on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Lets see, a digital camera AND printer that fits in your pocket? Are you seriously complaining?

  • 33 Posted by kcurran11 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    When I was younger, I bought a polaroid camera. When I went to buy film for it, I was told they stopped making that film. My new purchase was now useless. I won't buy a product from a company that doesn't support what they sell....ever again Kevin

  • 36 Posted by papamichael on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Polaroid doesn't get it. We're in the digital age now. No one needs printed pictures. We keep them and view them digitally now. The last gasp of a company in its death throes.

  • 37 Posted by swalls.rm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    without a white plastic border, instant prints mean nothing to me.

  • 38 Posted by swalls.rm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    without a white plastic border, instant prints mean nothing to me.

  • 39 Posted by marvincyan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just get a bailout loan from the govt and bring back poloraid instant film you idiots!

  • 42 Posted by snowolf1957 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    What a piece of CR - P! Is there any question why the economy and businesses are in trouble?! $200 for a piece of junk; likely made in China on top of it. Think about it - at Minimum wage you need to work approx. 30 hours to buy this!! Is this JUNK worth 30 hours of your life?! Buy a better camera for less and print out pix on the FREE printer almost everyone is giving away these days.

  • 43 Posted by richard_starr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm sorry but low quality at high prices = no interest. You can get a good camera and a nice portable printer for that price or less. Pass.

  • 44 Posted by starlites71 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    it sounded good until i seen the price tag.it stated it gives poor quality pics and its 200.00 wth.i only paid 130.00 for my digital and its a very good camera.had me til the price......

  • 45 Posted by karlwithak1960 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I still have a Spectra and it produced nice pictures. The film was a bit high, but the quality was good for what it was. I will not be buying this new camera. Like everyone else who still has a polaroid camera the company would have been better off discontinuing the production of the cameras but still producing the film. I know a lot of people who did incredible art work with their polaroids. Go on the intranet and type in Polaroid Art.

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