Polaroid Cameras or Instant Cameras

Easily one of the most famous camera designs to the modern day is the Polaroid. Remember the camera where you would take the photo and then wait for the image to slide out, quickly remembering to blow and fan the photo so it would develop correctly. Instant or 'Land' cameras - due to the inventor of most Polaroids being named Edwin Land - were very popular in the 60's, 70's and 80's with reaching the peak during the 70's. The most recognised manufacturers of instant cameras were Fujifilm, Kodak and Polaroid but the first invention was due to Edwin Land in 1948 with the initial thought being to be able to see the photos instantly. And thus he invented a device that included camera and portable darkroom in one that allowed this.



And thus was born the instant camera. Not incredibly technically astounding but consumer friendly and filled the gap in the market for fast developed photos (at the time.) They gave teens and adults the ability to 'instant' memorabilia and nostalgia triggers. Over the decades there have been many many different products in the style of instant cameras but the one that stood proud against time was the Polaroid. This is shown by the fact you can get an app on your smartphone that replicates the look, feel and product of a Polaroid camera.

The iconic white background to Polaroid photos gives any person that had one flashbacks. I love the old instant cameras, not so much for the quality of photo that they produced but the originality that the design showed. Everyone, even people my age know what a Polaroid photo looks like and an invention that is able to influence generations to come is one to be respected. Also there usually quite a nice filter to the photos, one that a lot of people, replicate on Instagram - even more proof of the influential nature instant cameras have had.