- In 2017, Polaroid rose from the ashes by capitalizing on the attraction of young people for analog photography.
- With its new Polaroid Now, the manufacturer delivers a device that wants to be even more technically accessible, with a lens with an autofocus.
- Sold 129 euros, it is only 10 euros cheaper than its connected elder, the OneStep +, and the price of printed views, at 2 euros per unit, remains a handicap.
After confinement, the time for reunion. You may want to immortalize your return to the office, to your parents, to your sweetheart ... And you may be tempted to equip yourself with an instant camera. Polaroid has released a brand new one in the midst of a health crisis, the Polaroid Now, which is more accessible than its predecessors.
Rare concessions to modernity
Since its OneStep 2 launched in 2017, Polaroid has caught its breath. After different versions, including the OneStep + (a connected version), the octogenarian manufacturer returns to a more traditional model, even if it displays technical and ergonomic progress.
Obviously, it looks like a "Pola". Red, orange, yellow, green or blue, the OneStep Now uses the color codes of the Polaroid logo with the rainbow spectrum. The device is also available in gray. Without doubt the brand is inspired here by the success of its eternal rival, the Instax Mini instant camera that Fujifilm, its manufacturer, has declined in many colors. Aesthetically, there are hardly any differences with the OneStep +, except a rounded and no longer rectangular flash, or revisited buttons.
As a concession to a new era, a view counter invites itself to the rear of the case. It takes the form of a tiny orange backlit LCD screen. A self-timer also adds to the new panoply. Another distinctive sign: the big red button on the top of the OneStep + to change the depth of field has disappeared. Polaroid highlights for its OneStep Now the presence of a lens with autofocus (35 - 40 mm). This automatically switches to Portrait or Landscape mode. Or the possibility of taking photos from 0.55 mm to 1.30 m and from 0.6 m to infinity.
Signature washed-out colors
The manufacturer specifies that "one of the characteristics of the Now range is its ability to take clear, clear and natural photos regardless of the brightness". Our tests show that this is generally the case. After a few fuzzy tests on all fours (photos taken too close), we venture towards a self-portrait with self-timer. But the sharpness is not completely there.
And then, say, Pola: a small mirror like those found on Instax Fuji would be good for framing his selfies ... Direction the garden where the beauty of spring flowers is at its peak. Photo revealed after a few minutes, the small washed-out side of the tulips is in keeping with the "Pola" spirit.
A photo of our “Vue du Velux” street shows, like our other shots, a slight dominant dew and a slightly smoky appearance. The brand's signature is there.
2 euros the view anyway
Operating on battery (announced autonomy: up to 15 film packs, or 120 views), the Polaroid Now remains very simple to use and has very comfortable ergonomics.
Sold 129.99 euros, it is only 10 euros cheaper than its big brother that we still prefer: thanks to its connectivity and its application, the OneStep + still allows you to be much more creative.
For its part, the price of photos is still as high: at 15.99 euros for an 8-sheet cartridge (Color i-Type Film). This increases the price of each view to 2 euros! What imposes not to miss when pressing the shutter button.
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