The Polaroid OneStep Cameras are fantastic products that are easy to use and hard to break. They first came out as 600 type cameras, and are still being produced today as i-type cameras. The difference between these two types of cameras is first and foremost production date, and secondly, the kind of film they take.
Polaroid Film Types
The separation is nice and easy: 600 type film has a battery in the film pack and i-type film does not. Other than that, they are exactly the same. Formerly, these film packs came with 10 photos, but the new Polaroid Originals have 8 photos each. This is because of a new formula used in the photos, created and sourced by The Impossible Project (1).
The Polaroid OneStep Flash: A Polaroid 600 Type Camera
This particular camera was one I borrowed from my sister for a few months. I shot a single pack of Polaroid 600 Colored Frames Film, which was a grand total of 8 shots. Most of those shots made it home with me, but the joy of Polaroid cameras is giving some of the photos away on the spot. I mean, who isn’t absolutely captivated when these old school camera pictures come out right away?
This perfect square-format camera was exciting to shoot, and the Polaroids in my future are likely to be similar to this one. It wasn’t anything fancy or technical; only a camera with a flash that folded up to expose the lens, sensor, and viewfinder for taking photos and folded down for compact storage. Except this monster isn’t that compact.
The Basic Functions
Once you unfold the camera, the shutter unlocks, and the flash starts to charge. The shutter release trigger on the right side is designed to fire with the flash, unless you pull the smaller trigger just behind the red part of the button.
Many models today will fire with the flash no matter which you hit, which is an operation error that has come with time. This is the only notable feature that is commonly lost, and many if not all of the cameras that have this problem still work perfectly well. For being cheap, plastic cameras, they sure have held up well over time with minimal issues.
Aside from this hiccup, there is one other variation the user can make to their photos prior to taking. This variation is the exposure of the photo; there is a small indicator on the front with a sliding piece to move to the black or white arrow, or leave in the middle. These indicate having a darker photo, lighter photo, or no adjustment to what the photo would normally be. This is in relation to shutter speed.
My Experience
Most often, the photos I found that I loved more than the batch that came from whatever other cameras I also had on me at the time were heavily premeditated. This is far from the street photography mentality that I typically have any other time I’m shooting.
Most often, I spend more time thinking about the photos I’m taking with the cameras that I have more control over, especially in relation to the quality. For 35mm in an SLR, there is quite a bit of control. The same goes for medium format in my TLR. But when it comes to Polaroids, there seems to be a special consideration that goes into it that doesn’t always go into other photos in other formats.
Sometimes I think this is due to the cost that comes with Polaroids (2). There certainly is not as much instant film in my fridge as there is 35mm, 120, or even 110 film. This is part of what makes it feel special.
Like I mentioned before, I used a pack of colored frames film in this camera. This isn’t typically my style, but it was a birthday present, and I have to admit that I loved the extra color in a lot of the photos.
Final Remarks
If you have any interest in shooting instant film, this is definitely a great camera to snag. Most Polaroid 600 Cameras are going for under $50 unless they are some kind of special edition. If you’re patient and good at watching for deals, you can score some off of Craigslist or other sites and apps for under $20.
Any Polaroid 600 Camera has the amazing feel of a vintage instant camera, and the OneStep Flash especially is great for those who don’t usually shoot film since precise lighting isn’t something you need to worry about. While it doesn’t always give off the professional look, it absolutely provides a feeling of comfort with its simplicity and immediate results in your very own hands.
Helpful Information
Some people love the “randomness” of Polaroid pictures, while others prefer to dial in their craft. Either way, anyone can take stunning photos with cameras as user-friendly as the Polaroid One Step Flash and other 600 cameras.
What To Do If Your Polaroid Comes Out Black?
If you take a photo and your Polaroid comes out black, check for a few different things. Important things to look for are when you notice your film is coming out black. If it is before development (right when it comes out of the camera), or after development (several minutes after it is out of the camera).
If your polaroid picture comes out black before development, you should see: Is your film expired? If you have expired film that is all dried up, the chemicals will not spread and your photo will never develop.
If you have fresh or usable film in and your image is coming out black after development, then it could be that your camera is not getting enough light for the exposure. Alternatively, your camera may not be functioning properly and the aperture may never open to let in light. If you take a photo in daylight, then the camera may not be functioning properly.
When your photo comes out black, the best you can do is fix what was wrong and prepare for the next shot.
What To Do If Your Polaroid Comes Out White?
Now, if you take a photo and your Polaroid comes out white, this is due to too much light hitting the film. The reasons why your photo came out white are: because it was too light out or you had a setting off on your camera, there was some improper loading of the film that caused unwanted light to hit the film, or the film door was opened at some point letting in unwanted light.
One last cause could be that the Polaroid was not properly protected from light once the camera ejected it.
How Long Does It Take to Develop Polaroid 600 Film?
The full developing process takes about 30 minutes, but you can usually view the image safely after 10-15 minutes. While this shorter window gives you an idea of the image you will get, the picture on your polaroid 600 or i-Type film can take up to 45-60 minutes to add in all the shadow details.
Of course, this all depends on the Polaroid film you are shooting with. If you use Black and White Polaroid Films, the Develop time will be much faster. All of the information is located on the back of the film’s box, so it is a good practice to keep the boxes until you have finished shooting the film and no longer need it.
Do Polaroids Fade with Time?
A short answer to the question is: yes, polaroid pictures do fade with time, but primarily due to exposure to light. When the film develops, it gets a mixture of chemicals over the film itself. At the end of the process, the chemicals are not washed off. Roll Film development always ends with a washing step to get rid of all of the remaining chemicals. Since Polaroids do not get the chance to wash off the chemicals, fading is inevitable.
The good news is that the newer Polaroid 600 film won’t fade at the same rate as older films, and you will hardly notice that it fades at all unless you keep it in direct sunlight for years.
Is There A Cheaper Alternative To Polaroid 600 Film?
Yes there is! It does, however, require a little bit of work. The trick is to take Polaroid i-Type film and reload it into Polaroid 600 or Polaroid sx-70 cartridges.
If you have shot Polaroid 600 film or Polaroid sx-70 film in the past, keep your film cartridges. They have the batteries on the bottom that the i-Type film does not have. If you remove the photos from the i-Type cartridge and load them one at a time into the 600 or sx-70 cartridge, then you will be able to use i-Type film in your Polaroid 600 Camera. All of this has to be done in complete darkness, of course. And don’t forget to put the dark slide back on top!
Since i-Type film is regularly $3 per pack cheaper, this is a great way to save some money. Be warned: it doesn’t always go so smoothly. With some practice on old photos and cartridges, you should be able to nail the process no problem. If you do it without too much trouble or errors, this can be a great Polaroid 600 film alternative.
Where Can I Get Cheap Polaroid 600 Film?
If repacking film isn’t your thing, you can always keep an eye out for expired film. Expired film can be bought at stores like target, Walmart, or even some online stores. Stores that specialize in camera gear and film will usually try to get rid of expired film stocks faster, so the older it is, the cheaper it will probably be. Remember: Cheap Polaroid 600 Film does not always mean good Polaroid 600 Film.
There are some things to look out for with expired film though. A lot of times they will turn out darker than normal, discolored, with odd stripes or “wisps” over your photos, or simply not at all. expired roll film is often usable for decades after it expires, but polaroid films typically don’t work as well unless stored properly.
My best advice is to not buy film more than one year expired unless you are feeling extra risky. I have known people that have shot film from 2009 in early 2021 that turned out, just discolored. Some photos from packs from 2016 I shot in early 2021 turned out as duds.
The beauty and frustration of expired film is you don’t always know what you’re going to get. Just make sure you’re having fun while shooting!
The Argus STL 1000
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