There’s a certain undeniable magic to an instant photo. That click of the shutter and the anticipation as the image slowly materialises. It’s a tangible moment that a swipe on a screen just can’t replicate.
As a long time polaroid (and film) fan, when the opportunity came up to test out the brand new Polaroid Flip on a street photography tour, I jumped at the chance.
Polaroid is an icon. For decades, they were the name in instant photography, pioneering a technology that brought immediate gratification to picture-taking long before the digital age.
From its heyday in the mid-20th century, a Polaroid picture became synonymous with candid moments, artistic expression, and a certain retro cool. While there an clear advantages to digital, Polaroid has navigated the evolving landscape of photography, and the new Flip feels like a clever nod to this rich history.
My Melbourne test drive with the new Flip began with a visit to a local haven for film enthusiasts: WALKENS House of Film in Fitzroy. Stepping inside is like entering an analog wonderland. The shelves and fridges are lined with every kind of film imaginable and you can get up close and personal with their mini-museum of old polaroid cameras.
We were here to meet up with local photographer and fellow film enthusiast, James Rush to try out the new camera in a controlled environment before hitting the streets.
My fist impressions of the Flip as we strolled around looking at street art in Fitzroy was the nostalgia. Lining up to capture the right shot the first time, the familiar click of the shutter button, the whirring of internal mechanics at work and that moment of anticipation as you wait (around 10 minutes) to see how the shot develops on the iconic white-bordered print. It feels timeless.
The Flip nails the nostalgic aspect that we love about Polaroid, but it’s also packed with modern sensibilities. There are four lenses, good low-light performance due to the sonar focusing (yes, you heard that right), a hefty in-built flash and a classy classic design. The mini LCD screen displays how many shots you have remaining, as well as toggles to indicate flash, timer and double exposure. It’s the Polaroid you know well, thoughtfully updated for today.
A pretty nifty new feature is the connectivity to the Polaroid app. Once you connect to the camera, you can manually adjust many of the camera settings, and even use the app as a remote shutter. Personally I felt the app took you out of the moment of capturing your shot a bit, but I can see the remote shutter as a very handy feature to have for group shots.
There’s a deliberate nature to shooting with instant film as each shot feels more considered. James encouraged us to look for nice shots in the graffiti filled streets of Fitzroy. A quirky shopfront, a laneway filled with street art, the nice Autumn vines on the side of buildings. The immediacy of seeing the print develop in my hand, right there on the streets was incredibly satisfying.
What was also satisfying was the conversations it sparked as our group passed our physical photos around. It’s so nice to share a physical photo rather than passing a iPhone around.
The Polaroid Flip captures everything we love about instant photography, and has all the updated bells and whistles to satisfy film enthusiasts while keeping it as simple as a point and shoot. Slowing down, observing the world around you, and creating something real will never not be fun.
– The Plus Ones
