Are you looking to buy an old school vintage polaroid camera?
Then you should read my article!
Here I will review the 5 best vintage polaroid cameras you can buy. Check out what features these old school cameras offer and see how they look like so you can choose the best one for you.
Things To Know When Buying Vintage Polaroid Cameras
Advantages Of Instant Image Development
Instant or polaroid cameras are popular for the instant development of images. They allow you to capture unique images and preserve the memories. You can even take these cameras at gatherings like parties or weddings and immediately give photos to your friends and family.
How Vintage Polaroid Cameras Develop Images?
Old School Vintage cameras instantly develop images using a self-developing film. This is a classic way to create photos, but films today are made with a better formula that provides richer colors, contrasts, and quality of film material.
How Cameras Use Self-Developing Film?
To turn the image into a photo, a film has to be developed. Films have several layers that contain all the necessary chemicals for the process of development. The camera exposes a film to the light that results in a chemical reaction that creates an image.
Kinds Of Vintage Polaroid Camera You Can Find
You can find vintage cameras that are refurbished, but polaroid cameras are still being made to look old school. They are inspired by the old vintage cameras but some of them offer modern functions like Bluetooth connectivity and different shooting options.
Where To Buy Vintage Polaroid Camera
If you want to see all the cameras that are available for purchase in one place, you can search them on websites like Amazon. There, you can also find film packs and accessories. All these items you can even catch for a lowered price.
Best 5 Old School Vintage Polaroid Cameras
Best Cheap Old Fashioned Vintage Polaroid Camera
Jollylook Mini Instant camera
Steampunk Vintage Design
This camera has an authentic vintage design with an interesting analog steampunk vibe. It’s available in black color with parts in red color. It’s small-sized, portable, and can be fold-out.
Handmade Camera Out Of Recycled Paper
This inexpensive camera is handmade. It’s made out of cardboard and recycled paper. It doesn’t have any electronics, it has a pair of lenses and a crank handle that lets you manually develop pictures.
Instax Mini Film
This analog camera uses the Instax Mini film for image development. It produces sharp and true color images but every image you take is unique. You can fit these photos in a wallet, mini photo frames, and mini albums.
You Can Manually Control The Exposure
The lens with a focal length of 4.33″ allows you to take photos from portraits to landscapes. You can choose the manual shutter mode with the possibility to manually control the exposure.
Great Camera For All Age Groups
You can display this camera on a shelf since it has an interesting retro look and can be seen as a souvenir. This camera is great for both adults and kids and can make a perfect gift for someone who loves photography. Kids can learn how photography works with this camera that can be set apart.
- crank handle
- Instax Mini film
- manual shutter mode
Best Bluetooth 1970 Polaroid Camera
polaroid onestep+ i-type camera
Inspired By The Original OneStep Camera
Thir retro-looking camera is available in black color and white color. It’s inspired by the original Polaroid OneStep camera from the 1970s. The look may be classic, but this camera has modern functions.
Choose Between I-Type And 600 Film
OneStep+ camera is compatible with I-type and 600 films. Since the 600 films are manufactured to power old vintage cameras, they contain a built-in battery. On the other hand, the I-type film is battery-free and easier on the wallet.
Polaroid Originals App
This camera has Bluetooth connectivity that you can use to connect your camera to your phone. You can install the Polaroid Originals app on Apple Store or Google Play Store for free to discover different creative tools you can use to edit your images and print them.
Choose The Right Lens And Exposure
The dual lens system lets you take both portrait and landscape photographs. You can switch between lens using a lens switch on the top of the camera. You can take amazing photos in any condition with a powerful flash you can turn on and off. With a lighten/darken switch you can adjust the exposure.
Indicators On The Camera
On top of the camera, there are 8 orange LED lights that informs you how much film is left in the pack. With the same 8 LED lights, it’s possible to check your camera’s charge. You can set an 8-second self-timer to place yourself in your photos.
- Bluetooth connectivity
- lighten/darken switch
- battery and film indicator
- 8-second timer
Best Wide Old School Vintage Polaroid Camera
mint instantkon rf70 Rangefinder camera
Design And Basic Features
This pricey black-colored polaroid camera has an old school style. It features a strong automatic built-in flash. It also has a tripod socket if you want to set up your camera. To develop photos, it requires an Instax Wide film.
Choose Between Auto And Manual Control
This camera is made to let users take full manual control. You can control the shutter speed, focus, and aperture, or you can let the camera take control by choosing the auto control. The mechanical rangefinder helps you focus easily.
6 Apertures To Choose From
This camera offers 6 apertures. If you want to create amazing bokeh, you can choose the largest one. With this camera, you can make shallow depth-of-field. This camera features framing and focusing windows to help you get the best shot.
Choose Between 14 Shutter Speed Settings
You can choose between 14 shutter speed settings. They enable you to take pictures with or without a flash, in the night, or daylight. You’ll still get a perfect picture, no matter what are the shooting conditions.
Accessories You Can Purchase
For an additional cost, you can purchase a lens set with three different Neutral Density filters if you want to use the camera for long exposures or with large apertures. If you want to prevent glare on pictures, you can buy a lens hood that also comes with a leather pouch.
- 6 apertures
- 14 shutter speed settings
- full manual control
Best Large Old School Vintage Polaroid Camera
Instantflex tl70 2.0 camera
Camera Design And Film Supported
This twin lens instant film camera is inspired by old school polaroid cameras and comes in black color. It features an amazing viewfinder with anti-glare glass. To develop images, this camera uses the Instax Mini film.
Take Portraits With Depth Of Field
You can make perfect portraits with amazing depth of field so the subject will stand out from the background. This camera has the largest aperture you could find among all instax cameras.
Brighten Up Photos With Large Aperture
To brighten up your photos, you can choose a larger aperture that will allow more light to enter. But if you’re shooting in darkened or smoky places, you can turn on the powerful built-in flash.
Choose Between Different Shooting Modes
You can get creative with a light painting mode to make stunning light strikes. By using a double exposure mode and combining two images into one, you can make unique photos. You can also use a long exposure mode or a close-up mode.
Available Accessories
For an extra cost, you can buy a leather strap that you can adjust, replacement lens cap, and a set that comes with 3 neutral density filters that allow using the camera on bright daylight with large apertures or for long exposures, close-up lens, and a lens hood.
- anti-glare glass viewfinder
- light painting mode
- double exposure mode
- close-up mode
Best Old School Vintage 1980s Polaroid Camera
Polaroid Originals 600 red stripe camera
Refurbished Camera From The 1980s
This black polaroid camera from the 1980s has a boxy design and can be folded into a compact carrier. It’s faithfully refurbished by the professionals and has some features improved.
The Original 600 Film
This vintage polaroid camera works with the original 600 Film that is manufactured to power old polaroid cameras. This battery-packed film is made with a new and better formula that ensures richer colors.
Automatic Flash That Acts As A Lens Cover
The 600 camera features a built-in flash that calculates the light in the surrounding area and automatically adjusts itself accordingly. The flash is designed that it’s also used as a lens cover.
Adjust The Exposure With Lighten/Darken Slider
This camera comes with a fixed-focus lens. A sliding close-up lens you can use if you want to shoot small subjects. You can also use a lighten/darken slider to adjust the exposure of your shot so you can take brighter or darker photos.
Impossible Frog Tongue That Shields Photos
An Impossible frog tongue is a new supplement to these vintage cameras. It protects photos from the light as they’re ejected from the camera so that it doesn’t diminish the quality of colors. This is an innovative and reusable device that improves the results of films.
- close-up lens
- lighten/darken slider
- Impossible frog tongue
Conclusion: Which Two Vintage Polaroid Cameras You Should Buy?
If you want to buy a larger old school polaroid camera, then the InstantFlex TL70 2.0 camera may be the one for you. It features twin lens and different shooting modes you can get creative with. But if you’re looking for a vintage-looking camera that has modern features like Bluetooth connectivity, then the Polaroid OneStep+ I-Type camera would be the best one for you.
If you want to learn more about polaroid cameras, check out this post about polaroid cameras. If you’re looking for an aesthetic polaroid camera, read this review about the best aesthetic polaroid cameras. But, if you’re looking for a classic polaroid camera, read this review about the best classic polaroid cameras.