The Polaroid Corporation

The instant camera photo company that we know as Polaroid was first founded by Edwin H. Land in 1937. They became a hit due to their instant film cameras, which did not reach the public until 1948. Polaroid continued to produce instant film cameras until February of 2008. This was when the company finally made the decision to end production on the instant film cameras and switch to digital cameras instead.

The company was actually one of the first to try manufacturing digital cameras, with their PDC-2000 in 1996. However, they were unsuccessful in capturing the public with such a large idea. In October of 2001, Polaroid Corporation was forced to file for bankruptcy. Almost all of the assets were sold to a subsidiary of Bank One. The company still operates under the name Polaroid Corporation. This was one of the reasons that the instant film camera production was stopped in early 2008. As of 2009, they will no longer sell Polaroid film.

Polaroid’s Specialties

Supporting Causes
 

The digital cameras produced by Polaroid come in a variety of styles and formats. One fact that many consumers find attractive is that some of the digital cameras help benefit important causes or charities. For example, the M635P is a digital camera that was designed to promote the breast cancer research fund. Popular actress Elizabeth Hurley joined Polaroid and helped donate $60,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Breakthrough Technology
 

The ION digital camera manufactured by Polaroid is one of the company’s most memorable achievements. The camera is a combination of high-quality features and easy to use options. The camera also has 8MP of memory storage and it is light enough to carry with you almost anywhere. The ION has other features, which includes a 10-second timer, a resolution of 640 x 460 mega pixels, and the ability to record video clips with audio.

Another camera by Polaroid to mention that is a breakthrough in technology is the first camera to have a modem. The Polaroid PhotoMax PDC 640 is a camera equipped with a 56-kbps modem that allows you to upload photos from the camera to the Polaroid website for editing and sharing purposes. The modem is a very convenient tool to have so that you will not have to have any upload cords. However, the photo quality of the PDC 640 is not as great as the newer digital cameras released by Polaroid. But for those without access to a computer, it would be a great model to have.

Cameras Produced by Polaroid

As mentioned earlier, the older styles of cameras manufactured by Polaroid used instant film, also called ‘roll film’. The roll films were classified by two types: positive developing agent or negative. The rolls were available in three separate sizes as well. The pack film, which was used later in cameras, is when the photographer has to pull the film from the camera for developing. The pack film was first available in a rectangular format, but was later changed to a square format.

The cameras available from Polaroid are now completely digital, as of 2008. The PDC 4355, for example, has a high quality glass lens and a 3x optical zoom. It is also equipped with a resolution of 4.2 mega pixels. This is a great camera for photographers who are seeking a reliable point-and-shoot camera with the benefit of good optical performance.

Other models from Polaroid, including the PDC 4355 mentioned above, have an auto focus, macro mode, an in-built flash, red eye mode, and other auto modes. The PDC 4355 also has an internal memory of 16MB, which help store all of your video clips and pictures. You can expand this up to 256MB with a secure digital card.

One important fact to note is that Polaroid does not have a specific series of cameras that are categorized by a letter or descriptive word as other camera companies do. Instead, the cameras are classified by the mega pixels, and they have various letters in front of the model number. For example, you can choose from 8-10 mega pixels, 5-7 mega pixel cameras, and kid’s digital cameras.

Other Features

Stabilization
 

Many of the digital cameras manufactured by Polaroid are equipped with a stabilization mode. This setting reduces the motion caused by the shake of the camera or by the subject. It ensures a crisp and clear picture. This also means that if your subject is moving then the camera will automatically adjust the settings so that the picture is not blurred.

Face Detection
 

When you use this feature, the camera utilizes the automatic digital zoom technology that is present in many of the cameras, including the t830. The digital zoom is used to extract and retract the zoom lens in order to lock the image of the main subject in the picture. The camera will then follow the subject’s movements in order to achieve a great shot.

Editing
 

Instead of having to wait until you upload the images to your computer, you can edit the images directly from your camera. This includes rotating the pictures, changing the image effect or color, changing the image size, adding a border, and adding a voice memo.

Exposure Compensation
 

In many situations, the lighting or taking pictures is not always perfect. You then find out that you have missed your important shot because of poor lighting or too much light. With the Polaroid exposure compensation mode, which is present in many of the digital camera models, you can add light to the photo or darken it to show more details.

Just for Kids

Polaroid has also produced a model of camera specifically designed for little hands. The CKA-00301S, or ‘Polaroid Pixie’, comes in colors blue or pink, depending on the gender of the child. The camera is equipped with a protective plastic shell in case it is dropped to prevent damages. It is also geared to help capture your child’s imagination and influence their creativity.

The camera is not extremely advanced, considering it is for a kid, and it has a mega pixel resolution of 3.0. However, there is a large and bright LCD screen on the back that allows the child to view their pictures before they shoot. In addition, it has special features, such as a 2x digital zoom, 16MG of internal storage, an SD card, and 2 viewfinders so that the child does not have to squint.