Polaroid Flip — hands on with the new insta-camera

In case you weren’t aware, Polaroid are back, and most recently, they are back with the Polaroid Flip.  

The new Polaroid Flip flips digital photography on its head, bringing analogue results to a digital world.  It features the traditional Polaroid design, this one with a flip-up flash at the front.

The built-in flip-up flash provides illumination up to 4.5 meters. Flipping it up activates the camera and shows a simple notification LED. This LED displays essential information such as focus status, remaining battery, number of exposures left, and the current stage of a double exposure. The display is simplified and easy to use and understand, as is the whole camera. 

Key features of the new Polaroid Flip include:

• Hyperfocal 4-Lens Systems: The Flip uses four sharp lenses which are automatically selected depending on the distance to the subject. These four focal sweet spots ensure sharper focus for a variety of styles.
• Sonar Autofocus: A legacy Polaroid innovation, updated to use sound waves to determine subject distance and select the right lens to lock focus with maximum clarity.
• Polaroid’s Most Powerful Flash Yet: Housed in the Flip’s lid, this adaptive flash dynamically adjusts power based on subject distance.
• Scene Analysis: A smart feature that alerts users when a shot is over or underexposed via the viewfinder LED or the external ‘lid’ display.

I spent a few days with a Polaroid Flip and have a few thoughts on where it sits in the world of photography.

Easy to use?

The Polaroid Flip is a large camera, but it comes with a premium fabric strap that keeps it secure around your neck, so you don’t have to worry about dropping it.  

Turning it on is easy, simply flip the front up and you are good to go – the camera charges using the USB-C port on the side but it takes a long time to run it out – longer than the time it takes to shoot a roll of film, that’s for sure.

The display on the back of the flipped-up section will show how many shots you have left.  You can also set the timer and choose a double exposure using the LCD notification area on the rear of the flipped piece.

You don’t need to pair it with your phone but you can to get a bit more control over it.  Within the app, you can set the flash on or off, set the timer, set and use a double exposure, and also manually change the focus range.  The app can also help you learn to get the best out of your camera with instructional videos and documents. There is also an excellent scanner within the app to help digitise your photos to share online.

Then it’s just a matter of point and shoot – and you shoot using the red capture button on the front of the camera and the photo is taken using the hyperfocal 4-lens system.  The camera focuses using the sonar on the front of the camera. The focus system works really well with all photos being sharp and in-focus.

“Sonar waves to determine subject distance and select the right lens, for maximum focal clarity, delivering crisp focus – even in the dark. “

The LCD display and the button at the back also give you the option to change the exposure of the photo — or you can use the app. The camera will try to tell you before taking the photo whether the photo will end up under- or overexposed, and you can then adjust accordingly beforehand. I didn’t have to use it at all, and it still produced good images.

Photo quality and type are different

Once the photo is taken, as expected, an old-school photo shoots out of the bottom of the camera.  At this stage, DO NOT “SHAKE IT LIKE A POLAROID PICTURE!”  Place the photo in a dark location (such as a pocket or bag) for 10-20 minutes to allow it to develop.  After this time, you can check out just how good your photo is.

It can take some time and is a bit frustrating, especially when you’re used to seeing the result of images immediately after snapping them.  Imagine what our peers felt before digital when you had to cross your fingers after leaving the film to be developed the following week (or whenever you got around to it). 10-20 minutes is a fraction of that but still not the automatic results we are currently used to seeing.

The image is different, and that’s because of the film you need to use.  You need to use i-Type and 600 film (available in either colour or black and white).  The prints that result are different from the normal photos we are used to seeing – they have an arty effect, which is perfect for saving those special occasions.

And the fact that they are perfect for saving creative photos of your special moments makes the cost of the film a bit more palatable.  At around $3 a photo (if you buy a bulk 40 pack) you will not want to be shooting a heap of shots at a random BBQ.

On the other hand, imagine you have a wedding and want the guests to be able to capture themselves there in the moment, having fun, write a message etc.  This is where the Polaroid Flip comes in handy. Considering the many thousands of dollars a wedding costs, what’s a few dollars per photo for some great memories that will last with you forever?

The Polaroid Flip is great in that it is big enough to sit on a table to something steady and then you can use the timer to take a group shot — or you can expose using the app on your paired phone.

Another great and creative feature is the double-shot function. You simply take one picture, followed by a second, and the camera combines them into a single image, giving a creative look. As you can see above, I had a crack at it myself — once was by accident (see the chimney sticking out of my head) and the second was deliberate once I’d figured it out properly.

Final thoughts

Insta cameras are great for those special occasions. Pop one on a table with an autograph/messages book and your guests can go to town with their creativity and messages to you on your special day. The ability to visualise the image almost immediately, which helps to create spontaneous moments, is something that will stay with you forever. This is where the Polaroid Flip is perfect.

The Flip is super easy to use but for those looking to be more creative, they can dig into the easy-to-use settings to produce even more creative photos and moments. The photos it produces are consistently good thanks to its flash, exposure adjustment and sonar focusing. The only downside is the cost of the film. At around $3-4 a photo, you will want to avoid wasting too many.

For special occasions, I can highly recommend the Polaroid Flip. Stick it on a table and let your guests leave you wacky photos and messages for those long-lasting memories.

The Polaroid Flip is available at leading tech and camera retailers, including JB Hi Fi, Camera House and WALKENS House of Film, at a RRP of $399.