POLAROID I-2

With full manual controls and a huge price tag, is this instant camera worth the big bucks?

- James Artaius

www.polaroid.com £599/$599

When I first heard about the Polaroid I-2, I was thrilled. As a lifelong fan, the idea of a Polaroid camera with full manual control, a high-quality glass lens, and a fast aperture was exciting. Could this be a move back towards the quality and performance of the SX-70 and Spectra? The answer is a resounding yes. Not only does the Polaroid I-2 officially feature “the sharpest-ever Polaroid lens”, but its f/8 aperture matches that of the SX-70 – it can even shoot on SX-70 film. And while that iconic camera limited the user to adjusting exposure compensation, here we have full manual control over the aperture and shutter speed. Throw in a LiDAR autofocus system (albeit at the expense of manual focus) and this is the company’s best and most advanced camera ever. The Polaroid I-2 is easily the best instant camera for creative capacity; but is it much better than the Polaroid Now+ or even the crosstown rival Instax Square SQ40?

Key features

Polaroid claims this is “the first analog instant camera with built-in manual controls” – and that’s the I-2 in a nutshell. This is an almost fully manual camera, enabling you to adjust the shutter speed and aperture. However, what comes as a huge surprise is that (unlike the Spectra and SX-70), there’s no option for manual focus. Instead, the I-2 features LiDAR – the 3D laser-based autofocus system that has found its way into drones and camera phones.

1 The I-2 is an instant camera with built-in manual controls.

2 The lens features a filter thread (49mm) for more versatility.