Back to School DealsSavings is one of our best subjects.Shop now

Skip to content
Main Content

Customer Ratings & Reviews

Your price for this item is $149.99

Customer reviews

Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars with 210 reviews

Rating Filter

Rating by feature

  • Value

    Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars

  • Quality

    Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars

  • Ease of Use

    Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars

Pros mentioned filter

Cons mentioned filter

83%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers have good things to say about the Now+ Instant Film Camera Generation 2's image quality, ease of use, and battery life. Many appreciate the fun features like double exposure, filters, and the ability to create light painting effects. The camera's design also receives positive feedback. However, some users express concerns about the flash's performance, particularly its intensity and range.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 210 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Good Instant Camera

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Overall everything has been pretty good with me with this camera and i have taken so many amazing pictures of my girlfriend and I. It is super fun to take of friends too and to let them keep it. Everyone loves the aesthetic it brings. I did have an issue once with taking a picture but nothing would get printed out. Kept doing it until i took out the film and re inserted. First pic was a dud but it worked after. I will say i havent used the app yet but i know I will soon for setting up timers or tweaking it during different lighting because you 100% need the flash in darker environments and with lighter ones it may not matter but the exposure is pretty high. Also, each picture is a good $2 a shot so keep that in mind because thats what will be the biggest expense. For taking pictures, fyi, it is good to immediately put in a dark place and to not shake it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality, Filters

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Film camera everything about it is amazing

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The best film camera ever! I love it! I love that it comes with extra filters you can add to make your shots even cooler. I’m truly happy with my purchase and I may get a second one too!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A great camera

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 10 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The camera is very reliable even a year after purchase. The photos you can get on a polaroid are truely unlike any other. It will take some time to be able to take good photos but when you do, its all worth it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Such a beauty by itself

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 11 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Back to the classic photo shooting experience. It makes every shot count.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Camera Polaroid

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The best camera that I have I love it, it has a good quality and it’s no that expensive

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Adventure Time

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I’m completely obsessed, excited to learn all the different functions! Picture quality is great!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A must have!!

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Growing up my mother had a poloroid and when I came across it my inner child made me go crazy! Absolutely what I expected and more! I love the fact that you can access and play with more options from the mobile app as well!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Camera quality, Double exposure
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Absolute classic with modern smarts

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is the latest take in the classic Polaroid camera. I remember the classic (and bulkier) cameras from when I was a kid, and liked in Cambridge, MA while the original Polaroid company still had its iconic headquarters, and still drive by their former manufacturing plant Waltham, MA. This camera is manufactured by a group that lovingly took ownership of one of the original film manufacturing plants in Netherlands and the films that this camera uses are still manufactured there. This camera can use two types of films: The original 600 film (That I believe, works with cameras produced after 1972) and the newest 'i-Type' film that only works on 'Polaroid Originals' and thew new Polaroid cameras. Today, there are mainly two cameras: A professional version with a high-end lens and manual controls, and this which is the consumer version. Within this version, the 'now+' adds phone connectivity, while the rest of the camera is the same. Besides the 'plus' button and slight aesthetics both models are about the same otherwise. The phone connectivity does not transmit any images whatsoever. It remains a purely analog camera. What it does is to add controls that are otherwise found on more advanced cameras: - Remote control: with the camera properly positioned, one can use the phone app as a remote control. - Self-timer: Programmable timer from 1 to 12 seconds, also started from the phone app. - Double exposure: A truly cool effect: Take two different pictures (exposures) on the same film. For example, taking pictures of two different persons, one at a time, on the same picture (ideally separate from each other) - Aperture control: Changing the aperture of the lenses controls the depth giving a blurry background to a focused portrait (like the Bokeh effect). - Tripod mode: This is for long exposure at night. The camera has to be very still for this to work. - Portrait: This is a more automated way of taking the forementioned Bokeh effect (see Aperture control). - Light painting: This is to have fun with night photography, light sources during a long exposure picture. - Manual: Full manual control of aperture and shutter speed, and flash control, which can use five different intensity settings or off. When not using the phone app, the camera is point and shoot, with flash control. There is no need to use the app, ever, if one doesn't want to. This set also comes with a pouch with five filters: Yellow, orange, Blue, red vignette and starburst: The red vignette has an opening in the center and the starburst has a pattern through, which causes light reflections to sparkle. The end result is about the same as in classic Polaroid cameras: Generally soft images, although clearer that old pictures when using the 600 series film. Unlike classic cameras, it has a built-in battery (classic cameras used disposable batteries that were part of the film. The i-series films do not have batteries. Because it's a new model, it recharges using USB-C (Cable included) and uses the same wall-charger from a phone. I used my laptop charger. The battery is expected to last about 16 cartridges (8 pictures per cartridge) between charges. Overall it's a great fun camera, definitely retro. Pictures take about 15 minutes to develop. It's recommended to keep the images in the dark until the chemical process completes. It's also great that it's fully analog and so private with no electronic image sensors (It has a light sensor, not an image sensor). One drawback is that the aperture is based on the light sensor, one has to re-learn when to use the flash, and how to control aperture (via the app) as a portrait can appear with a dark background. Particularly when using flash for a portrait, outdoors. This adds to the charm of analog images, but takes some practice, and some amount of film. In my estimation, each picture ends up costing US $ 1.6 in firm costs. Each film cartridge holds 8 pictures.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best camera

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great camera! It’s my first Polaroid camera and I love it !

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    I love it

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Ya la quiero estrenar me la recomendaron así que deseo que sea lo que espero !!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Self timer!

    |
    |
    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    My favorite part about this is the self timer , am always the one to take pictures now I can be in the pictures with my baby.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Ease of use
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Very cool - old and new school unite! :)

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    TL;DR: 1. USE: Simple to use; you can connect to the app on your iPhone or Android device, or use it old school and just use it out of the box…but remember to get film! :) 2. SETUP: Charge it to 100% before using, install film black side up. 3. Usability is easy 4. The quality and durability are good (not sure how the white shell will age over time. If I did it again, I would probably choose the black shell) 5. Buy one and enjoy it, especially over the holidays! I had the less expensive, lower end Gen 1 version of the Polaroid Instant Film Camera, but my mother in-law liked it so much, I decided to give it to her last year. I was excited to see the Now+ Gen 2 version this year and wanted to try it out. The look of it is very familiar to what I grew up with, although this is definitely a fancier and more durable version. Plus, it has bluetooth and an app to support everything. The first thing I noticed was the packaging was very simple in a nice and environmentally friendly way. Even the USB-C to USB-C cable comes wrapped in a recyclable brown paper wrap. The instructions are very easy and simple to read - and very colorful, like the company’s logo. There are external filters included, which is a nice touch. The only thing that is not included is film; not even a trial version, which was disappointing. Once I fully charged the camera - I plugged it in and went for a 1.5 hour hike. When I got back home, it was fully charged. I then downloaded and connected it to the app. That was very easy and very cool - there are tips and tricks on how to get the most out of the Now+, taking proper pictures (make sure you have light and/or use the flash), and usage and storage of the film [store it in a cold environment (they recommend the refrigerator), don’t shake the picture you just took (either store it in a cool, low lit environment, facedown and/or in your pocket) and let it fully develop, and enjoy your photos free of edits, etc. If you choose, you can upload to your phone to make edits as you want. Overall, it is a really nice camera that has some current features (like bluetooth and app support) and old school Polaroid features (like waiting for the photo to develop and having it with you almost immediately). I only have one role of film and I used it up! I didn’t use all the battery power, but will charge it up and get more film…especially to use over Thanksgiving!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality
    Cons mentioned:
    Flash
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Nostalgic look with a taste of the future

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I’ve been using the Now+ for a few days and I can say it give you that nostalgic feel with some great features to help you get that perfect shot. I’m a person that loves photography and this camera just feeds my artistic style and feel that I look for to get that digital and rough feel. But at that same time brings it back to this decade with a digital app. The camera can take 600 film and I series which adds versatility if you had an old style Polaroid the film will still work. This set does NOT include any film so be sure to pick some up when you buy it or you will have a paperweight when you get home. As far as the camera goes I like the build quality of the camera and its signature look. The kit comes with a few lense filters to get a signature look. Also comes lense cap and wrist strap which is nice. The quality of prints are as expected with a Polaroid so you are getting that Polaroid look that we all know and love. I got to use the Polaroid app with the camera and it allows for less guesswork of your picture and allows for extra flexibility for making that picture how you want it. After the first connection the camera connects very quick and instant. You can choose from a bunch of cool settings like double exposure, self timer, and manual. I got to use manual and it will tell you if your subject is bright or dark on the app with is nice. You can adjust aperture and shutter speed for that photo. One thing I will say. Light light light. You need a lot of light for this camera. I took some pics indoors and outdoors at night and they came out pretty dark except for the one I used with the built in flash. But that’s with any camera the more light the better. Flash is a last resort for closer up portraits unless you want red eyes. So keep that in mind while taking that shot. But all around this a great camera that allows for a lot of freedom and creativity!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Filters
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Is this really better than back in the 1970's

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    A hit photography product in the 1970’s was the Polaroid Instant Camera. You know what it is. It was a bit bulky, It was white in the front, black in the back and had a red, yellow, and blue stripe down the front, along with a red button. As soon as you took the picture, it ejected out the front. You waited a few minutes and you had a square color picture with a white frame around it. With the advent of digital cameras and the introduction of camera phones, the Polaroid cameras started to disappear. Polaroid went bankrupt in 2001. But that’s not the end of the story. In 2017, the patents, copyrights, and name were bought by a company called “Impossible Project”. They took the name Polaroid and by 2020 they started producing new Polaroid Instant Cameras. Now, Polaroid has introduced the Polaroid Now+ Instant Camera. It looks much like the old SX-60 and SX-70 made in the 1970’s. It’s all white, still has the red button on the front and still has the red, yellow, and blue strip down the front. It now has a built-in flash and charges with a USB-C connection. The film no longer needs to have a battery in it as the camera supplies the power. The camera also includes a lens cover and 5 filters that you can store in an included case. The filters are blue, yellow, orange, red vignette and starburst. I’m including a photo taken with the starburst filter. They have also added a smartphone app that you can use with the camera. The app allows you to use your phone as a remote, provides a self-timer, lets you take double exposure photos, allows you to adjust the aperture, provides a tripod mode, a portrait mode to create sharp subjects with a blurry bright background, allows you to do light painting, lets you adjust the exposure, control the flash, and manually control the aperture and shutter speed. The tripod mode lets you shoot from a tripod at night and keeps the shutter open for longer to let in more light in low light conditions. Light painting keeps the shutter open as you manipulate one or more lights in front of the camera to create special effects. A lot has changed with the camera since the 70’s despite it looking much like it did before. Unfortunately, the picture quality hasn’t. I took a number of photos with the camera as well as with my smartphone. As you will see, there is no comparison between them. The photos taken by the camera look like the ones that you took back in the 70’s. If you are looking for a nostalgic look, this camera will certainly do it, but if you want good pictures, keep looking. In addition, the film costs over $2 per photo, making it rather expensive to take nostalgic photos.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Fun, improved design but unreliable shots

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I was excited to get this Gen 2 version of the Now+ after seeing the design of the first. From a physical design standpoint, it doesn’t disappoint - A sturdy chassis and quality ABS plastic form a simplified throwback shape of the Polaroid One Step cameras from the late 70s. It’s a welcome effort, but it does come with drawbacks from the i-Type film itself. My shots were of unreliable quality, which is either an indication of how far cameras and prints have come, cheaper lenses in these cameras, or a change to the film’s composition today. Design: Like most of the color-ways available, the all-white option I got didn’t disappoint. I love the design, it achieves it’s goal to bring something special (back) to the world of photography. All of the key angles of the original cameras are masterfully simplified for this modern take. Its main caveat is that even in doing so, it still feels like a toy camera by modern standards. This comes a bit from it’s unique bulky form that’s and experience to hold, but largely due to the unreliable focusing and fidelity of the shots themselves. Prints/Film: As recommended, I used the i-Type film in mine, which is essentially a battery-less version of the normal film. In theory, this should mean we’re getting the original film experience with these cameras, but I struggled to get good shots. Out of an 8 shot pack, 3 of them worth keeping - the others are either blurry or underdeveloped. A few have some artifacting from the film itself and some have one person mostly in focus, while another in that same photo is not (despite being at nearly the same distance.) All images have a vintage filter effect to them, regardless of what you do. Unlike the ‘shake it like a Polaroid picture’ guidance of pop culture, you’ll want to take a photo and then place it upside down for about 30 minutes before it’s fully developed. This makes me think things have changed in its formulation, but some claim that it’s the same as it used to be. So, unlike the instant print cameras, you’ll have to wait a bit of time to see your shot. Use & App: A single trigger button makes it largely a print and shoot style camera. There is no direct focusing, but supposedly these models automatically adjust between 2 focusing settings automatically. On this Now+ model, you’ll also get some control over related settings from within the app. This is cool, and the app itself is responsive and the camera finds itself and connects instantly. Selected modes are active as soon as they appear on your screen, but this kind of preplanning is a bit more challenging without the live previews we’re used to from our smartphones. Taking these shots takes some trial and error. That wouldn’t normally be an issue, but the film is quite expensive. Your trial and error will undoubtedly cost you, but if you have the money, have fun! - Between this fact and the included color and effect lenses, the overall package feels like either a party camera (that you should test-run prior to your party) or a fun camera for kids who want to take silly photos of friends and share in a bit of the old-school nostalgia their generation is otherwise completely unfamiliar with. The app does not store any digital photos, it is purely for setting up artistic or manual shots, or acting as a remote trigger. Overall Impression: This a nicely designed throwback camera, but feels limited by its film and focusing abilities. I’m sure I could get much better shots with careful pre-planning, but not without spending a fortune in film. As a result, it succeeds largely as a party camera (with some pre-practice required) or a toy camera for kids/teens and their friends. Good stuff: - Nice, minimalist throwback design - Sturdy w/ durable materials - App is responsive and easy to use Less than good stuff: - Inconsistent print quality - Unreliable autofocus - Environmental lighting dependent, even with flash - Expensive film

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality, Ease of use
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Polaroid - Nostalgia with a Modern Twist

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Granted, this Polaroid Now+ Gen 2 Instant Film Camera is more of a "niche" item. These days, photography and 'picture taking' has evolved, to the extent that anyone with a smartphone, has a camera with them at all times. But what about having a physical copy of a photo? Sure, you can still get film developed or go to a variety of stores and have photos printed out from a memory card/stick or even print them out at home, but "taking a Polaroid" is just plain fun. Setup was easy. And the camera is made well. This model is still relatively simple to use, even without using the mobile app. There are several other photo options in the app though, with tips to make your picture taking better. I particularly enjoyed trying the Double Exposure mode, although I haven't mastered that yet. I really liked that the camera came with 5 filters - Starburst, Red Vignette, Orange, Yellow, Blue - and a lens cover, all of which fit inside a handy zippered pouch. There's also a wrist strap, but I don't see much point of this accessory, as the camera is a bit too heavy to be dangling off your wrist for carrying around. There is a Tripod Mount on the bottom of the camera which could prove useful for those wishing to capture that 'perfect shot.' One minor issue I've found is that the 'film shield' when it retracts, does appear to slightly scratch the undeveloped photo. But I'm sure there's a trick to removing the photo from the camera once it "ejects" and I just haven't got the hang of it yet. I will say that the cost of film is a detriment. Film for these types of cameras has never been inexpensive, especially for the number of photos you can take with each pack. Factor in that the shot you take may not be 'just right.' The app does help, and I spent quite awhile playing around with the different modes, trying things out. But the reality is, the film is too pricey for doing much "trial and error." Oh, and unlike what we've always believed, you do not "need" to shake the photo as it's developing. You should, instead, place the photo in a dark place or face down (though I chose not to do this as it doesn't make much sense to me to place a freshly taken photo that's still developing face down so that the front of the photo is touching any type of surface). If this type of camera is right up your alley, than I can recommend this Polaroid Now+ Instant Film Camera Gen 2. For some, it's the nostalgia factor, for others this camera might appeal to you simply as a novelty, or as something to bring to get-togethers where you might want to "capture the moment" and give a pictoral memory to friends or family which they can take with them. Bottom line - it's a Polaroid. The quality you remember is there. So, while I do recommend this Polaroid camera, it's with reservations.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Filters
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great Camera, just a few Problems!

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    As someone who has wanted a Polaroid Instant Film Camera forever, I was not disappointed! I’ve been looking for a camera with a bit of a retro style and this one certainly gives more of a retro vibe compared to a modern camera. I have never owned a Polaroid Instant Film Camera of this caliber before so I wasn’t too sure what to expect when getting this, but I can say that I’m pretty happy with the product so far. In this review, I will explain why the camera was great and the minor items I wasn’t exactly content with. I wasn’t sure what common accessories should be included with a Polaroid Instant Film camera but I definitely liked everything that was included! There were more accessories than I was expecting. All the following were included: 5 colored filters, a container for the filters, a hand strap, and a cover for the lens. I appreciated the color variety of lenses that Polaroid provided. If you like colored photos, then I think you’d like the lenses but as someone who mainly just wants a cool picture with no color, I wasn’t too crazy about them. My favorite thing about these Instant Films is when a photo comes out perfect and you find out it’s great for hanging on decorative lights or just putting it up on a mirror. The camera’s physical appearance is more of a modern retro look so if that’s the aesthetic you are looking for then you would like it. Putting in the film gets easier once you figure out how to do it the first time. If it is your first time putting in the film, I recommend finding a YouTube video on how to do it, so you don’t mess up and break something. Some of the bad things were the price of the film and the inconsistent quality of the pictures. Taking pictures can be a bit challenging if the lighting within your environment is not the best or positioned a certain way. Sometimes you may get a picture where you can barely tell what’s in it because it may come out way darker than expected. But this is mostly some expensive trial and error, you must figure out what is the best position in your environment and be sure to consider other factors like if the subject is moving or if there are any other disturbances around. The film is pricey for so little, so be sure to use the film wisely. The following lists some of the most significant pros and cons that I found with this camera. Pros: - A variety of lenses for those who like color in their photos - A cool throwback retro design (if that’s what you’re looking for) - The app is great and easy to use Cons: - Expensive film - Inconsistent quality of pictures - Requires a lot of preplanning like lighting, positioning the subject or object, and taking care of any disturbances that may occur Overall, I seriously enjoyed this Polaroid Instant Film Camera. The only problem that stands out is the inconsistent quality of the pictures but other than that, it is honestly a great instant film camera! I would recommend just being aware of the aforementioned problems because they may be a deal breaker for you.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Old School Point and Click

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Polaroid is a classic camera that I remember, and always had fun taking shots with my parents camera. This Now+ Instant Film Camera is a clean looking and modern take on the classic. In the box you get the Camera itself, a pouch with various filters and a lens cap, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, wrist strap and some manuals. The camera works with I-Type and 600 Film, in this package no film is included, so you will need to buy it separately. The Camera has Bluetooth built in which allows you to connect to the Polaroid app, this allows you a few options to snap photos. Remote, Self-Timer, Double Exposure, Aperture, Tripod, Portrait, Light Painting and Manual. There are some nice options to the app, but you will just need to go with what the app is telling you in terms of how the show is, as there is no video sync to the app, so you will still need to line up the shot using the camera itself. I find this for most tripod or remote settings, the rest you may get used to over time, but with the cost of film, it up to you how much time you would put in to learning the settings (for casual photo takers). For me, this is a nice camera to use with just the simple point and click options. You have the power, shutter, flash buttons. There is a + button, which will switch between self-timer (Single Press), double exposure (double press) and custom shortcut (Long Press), there is a light indicator that shows you which mode it is in, which this lines up with some of the features accessible in the app. The shots don't compare to a ton of the newer stuff out there, but it's much for about the nostalgia to me and the memories that can be created with my kids. I'm sure some wonderful shots can be taken with this camera, but the kids love it for the instant snap to film, plus it's been a little creative tool for them when playing as this is more for them and the memories they have begun to create. It's still an instant film camera, with old school feel, I hope the kids continue to have fun with the camera and possibly get more in to photography.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    A throwback with some take it or leave it quirks

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Polaroid Now+ Gen 2 is a charmingly retro camera that offers USB-C charging (a must-have in 2023, thank you EU for my life) and a gorgeous design. Having never owned the Gen 1, I can't directly compare the two but this isn't my first instant camera! Besides the disposable ones from convenience stores that were popular back in the day, I've also had a good amount of time with the Instax Mini 9, my favorite camera. I love the format, so I was hoping the Now+ 2 would be a heavy contender given that Polaroid is THE brand I think of when I think of retro photography. To start with the positives, it feels good to hold in the hand and it looks amazing even just sat on a desk. The white colorway is a lovely callback to Polaroid's vintage cameras, but even people who aren't familiar would like it as it translates well to modern-day design aesthetics. I particularly liked that the battery was rechargeable and that it was made of 40% recycled plastic. Although I enjoy the vintage aesthetic, I'm not a fan of disposable lithium batteries (and neither is Mother Earth) so it's a huge plus to have the retro experience without feeling guilty about generating waste. The app is great and being able to tweak settings is a massive perk. Most things are fairly intuitive in the app - messing around with settings can be intimidating as a non-professional, but I can tell they did their best to make things as user-friendly on that end as they could. For some, this level of control might be too much; coming from the Instax Mini, it can be useful to be able to tweak settings in such detail versus switching between exposure presets. The downsides of this camera, though, are unfortunately tough to overlook. The experience using the Now+ was pretty mixed overall. I liked the retro vibes of some of the better photos, but inconsistent exposure was massively frustrating to deal with. Photos often came out overexposed, but sometimes underexposed instead, and could be blurry or focused on the wrong subject (which I believe is due to the autofocus feature) - all incredibly frustrating issues. Colors were washed-out, and not always in the pleasant "retro"/"vintage" Polaroid way (though the prints do have more of that "old-school" essence than the Instax's do). Having to fiddle with the app while holding the camera and taking shots was impractical at best and annoying at worst, especially when outdoors. If I have to take out my phone to make photos come out just okay, why not just use my phone which has a vastly better camera? I understand that the appeal of this style of camera is the look of the photos that come out as well as having the physical print, but if the photos are coming out poorly and I have to use my phone anyways, it's hard to see a situation where the Now+ is the more pleasant option in terms of either experience or outcome. The Now+ isn't by any means unusable nor were all the photos bad, but of perhaps 10 shots I would only feel happy about 3 or 4, and the rest would be either so blown-out or dark I could hardly make out anything. A photo taken at 11 a.m. could look like it was taken at midnight, and it was hard to control. Photos taken five minutes apart could come out looking like they were at different times of day entirely. In a moment where I might only have one shot, I don't know that I want to take that gamble. That is part of the "charm" of instant cameras, though. The Instax Mini also has some issues with over- or under-exposure, but I consistently like the shots from my Instax more. They do tend to have a blue cast versus the warmer feel of the Polaroid pictures, but I've never had an issue with out-of-focus shots unless the subject was moving. The contrast is usually better, the colors more saturated. But it was overall just more fun to use the Instax, and for me, that's the key point - I use these sorts of cameras for fun! I'm not a pro using a film camera to get the best shot ever so I am comfortable with resulting photos that aren't perfectly exposed or have slightly blurry subjects and washed-out colors. It's fun to watch the film develop. It's fun to take a photo and get something physical at the end. Half the fun is the experience, so it's easier to overlook the aspects where maybe the result isn't perfect...but the Now+ was simply not very fun to use most of the time and the end photos weren't great. There were very few shots where I felt the Now+ was even comparable to what I wanted (clear shots with true-to-life colors and proper exposure), let alone better than the Instax. The Now+ has color filters included in the box which weren't useful to me but might be for the right person. Also included is a quality-feeling wrist strap which I appreciated, and a cheap kinky USB-C cable which is a disappointment but not a dealbreaker since you can easily swap to a better cable if you want. The biggest disappointment that isn't directly related to the actual camera abilities of the Now+ is the cost of film for it versus the Instax's as well as needing to refrigerate the film itself - something that isn't always practical for me as I tend to use these sorts of cameras on trips. Having nearly $2/photo film go bad because I had it in my backpack instead of a fridge is a sour point when film for the Instax averages out at $0.70/photo and is remarkably resilient in comparison. When you consider that most shots don't even come out well in my experience, $2 for each poor shot is far from ideal and makes it a tough sell for traveling. Ultimately, whether the Now+ works out better than something more "point and shoot" friendly like the Instax Mini depends entirely on what you're looking for. As a casual photographer who just wants to capture the moment, I still find that the Instax is more economical, more fun, and more fitting for my desires in a photo. I would recommend it happily to any hobbyist or casual photo-taker who wants a hassle-free experience. I can appreciate, however, the aesthetic the Now+ brings and that the challenge it presents taking photos in and of itself might be fun for certain shutterbugs and diehard retro fans who fully embrace the fiddliness of vintage photography. The Now+ does feel overall more true to my experience with instant cameras back then for what it's worth, although the shots just don't come out as well for me with the Now+ as they seemed to then. Perhaps that's nostalgia talking though! If you enjoy that process and decidedly prefer the retro look to your prints, the Now+ is a clear winner.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Double exposure
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    The Inkjet Printer of Cameras

    |
    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Polaroid's new Now+ camera is being marketed as a groovy analog image creation tool, but it fails to deliver even the simplest pictures with clarity and balance. These newer cameras differ from older polaroid cameras by having the power supply inside the camera as a rechargeable battery - older camera systems relied on battery packs that were part of the film cartridge. Aside from that, the basic premise of the camera is unchanged. In this iteration of their camera, Polaroid has added the ability to control the camera remotely from their app. Users can trigger the camera remotely, set a countdown timer, create a double exposure, control the aperture (control depth of field), take a longer exposure (on a tripod) in lower light conditions, go portrait mode, paint with light, or take full control over shutter speed, aperture, flash, and film ejection. And while these options present interesting possibilities for imaging, they require fumbling between the camera and your smartphone - an unwieldy process that I find dissatisfying. The camera also comes with a set of filters (four color filters and a starburst filter). The strongly colored lenses are a curious choice - I can't really understand what desirable image they are there to create. What the camera does NOT come with is film. As with more recent Polaroid cameras, this camera uses i-Type films - so you can purchase film packs for color AND for black-and-white photography. And while this option is interesting, it is also expensive. A color film pack goes for about $2.00 an image! Just like how the consumable cartridges of an inkjet printer are its major expense in the long run, the consumable film packs here become the major expense of owning this camera almost immediately. But all the bells and whistles aside for this camera, I think the ultimate way to judge this camera is on image clarity and balance when taking a simple no-app picture. Check out my golden retriever below.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Polaroid Support
      Posted .

      Hi VADarkstar, We're sorry to hear you're having issues. If you can contact our customer service team at usa [at] polaroid [dot] com, we can help figure out what may be happening.

Sponsored