Polaroid I-2 review – Fun spontaneity goes Professional

Introduction

A camera maker rarely introduces a new line of products, and the Polaroid I-2 heralds the first of Polaroid’s ‘professional’ instant cameras equipped with full manual controls, LiDAR autofocus, and a newly designed 98mm ƒ8 lens (38mm ƒ3.2 equiv).

In fact, when I was informed of the Polaroid I-2’s existence, it took me totally by surprise how Polaroid achieved the technological leap over Instax cameras, especially in the instant photography world where Instax holds solid triumph in market share.

The Polariod I-2 is compatible with all Polaroid film types, i-Type, 600 and even SX-70 film.

tl:dr

In a world where most camera makers ‘make do’ with incremental upgrades (or even updates) when introducing a new model, the Polaroid I-2 is a no-holds-barred all rounded improvement from any other Polaroid camera I have tested in the last few years.

Polaroid has largely successfully aligned what is attractive in analog photography and modern technology into one niche product. Though I am sure some will find the Polaroid I-2 pricey, many photographers will at the same time welcome having more control and, most of all, enjoy the very much improved lens and now reliable auto-focus system.

And the fact is, once you have photographed using the Polaroid I-2, you will never be satisfied using another Polaroid model.

The Polaroid I-2 is a no-holds-barred overall redesigned camera. Using it will render you never satisfied with another lesser Polaroid camera.

My reviews of the Polaroid Now+ and Polaroid GO are linked on their names too.

Technicalities

For the ones interested, it was told to me that Polaroid spent quite a few years developing the I-2 and even sought the help of engineers from another brand on the lens and auto-focus design, and to the eagle-eyed, it is indeed stamped on the back that the Polaroid I-2 is made by the Impossible Project, a company founded around 2008.

Key specifications

• A 98mm ƒ8 lens (∼38mm ƒ3.2 equiv.)
• 7 aperture stops, from ƒ8 to ƒ64
• LiDAR autofocus system with a 3 elements optical design
• Manual & auto exposure modes with exposure compensation
• Compatible with i-Type, 600 and SX-70 film
• Optical viewfinder with LCD info display
• Maximum Shutter speeds up to 1/250 with exposure time range from 1/250-30s
• Internal battery rechargeable via USB-C, rated for 15 packson one full charge.
• Rear OLED info display
• 2.5mm flash port
• Bluetooth enabled (to be used with the Polaroid App)

Fact: The Polaroid is the first and only analog instant camera with on-camera manual controls.

Build, Handling, and Performance

Coming in at 149.9 x 119.3 x 91.2 mm and 1260 grams, the I-2’s dimensions are slightly larger and for sure heftier than its non-professional siblings; for example, the Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 comes in at 112.2 x 95.5 x 150.2 mm and 452 grams.

Part of the increased weight is that the USD599 Polaroid I-2 has a much tougher and more robust build than its sibling cameras, using both aluminum alloy and impact-resistant plastic. The Polaroid I-2 has that nice heft you will expect from a robust camera body, not the toy-like feel you get when handling the USD149 Polaroid Now+ Generation 2.

New to the modern Polaroid cameras, the exterior of the lens and control wheels are also constructed of metal; this is one camera that can take a reasonable knocking (well, not a drop) and still continue unscathed.

The Polaroid I-2’s new lens comprises three polycarbonate and acrylic elements treated with an anti-reflective coating. Apertures range from ƒ8 to ƒ64 and are now usefully applicable due to the availability of Aperture mode on the camera.

The focusing range goes from a minimum focal distance of 0.8m (1.3 ft) to infinity. Also, with an approximate 38mm equivalent field of view, the Polaroid is extremely versatile and handy for most subject genres.

No longer just ‘spray and pray’, the I-2 offers a total of 6 camera modes going from auto to aperture priority to full manual for the photographer.

No longer just a snapshot instant camera, the Polaroid I-2 allows one to be much more deliberate in the approach now, especially since the camera has now 6 modes: Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Multi-Exposure, and Self Timer.

Autofocus, further enhanced by using the LiDAR AF system, is one of the standout features of the I-2. Throughout the review, the Polaroid I-2’s autofocus was really good in speed and reliability. It is also important to highlight that there is nothing like eye-detect, smile detection, or even a multi-point AF system but I would question you why would you need that for instant photography.

The Polaroid I-2 makes full use of its new viewfinder, displaying useful information such as exposure compensation, metering, even displaying a hand symbol if one hits too slow shutter speeds for a stable shot.

The new viewfinder shows helpful information, such as aperture size, shutter speed, number of shots left, battery life, and exposure compensation. It is well-aligned with the lens, meaning now your final images are quite almost aligned to your framing.

Being a spectacle user, I do have to share that the viewfinder is quite susceptible to flare. Getting in closer helps, but this is something all spectacle wearers will take one or two tries to get used to before settling down.

Among the 6 modes, I find myself using Aperture Priority the most, with the Auto mode tending towards overexposure (which I work with -1/3 EV)

Conclusions (and comparisons)

*All scans are from the original Polaroids scanned at 600 DPI, and have not been edited in anyway except cropped to the corners of the print. I realised there are shots where the WB (film corners) seems a bit off and that is a scanner issue which I prefer to leave un-edited to maintain review neutrality.

The Polaroid is the first and only analog instant camera with on-camera manual controls for integral polaroid films.

*edited 24 Sept 2023

A peeve of mine is I do get quietly irritated when people mistake Polaroids for Instax, though understandably so, given the sheer size of the Instax market.

I am sure there will be users who will say that Polaroids look washed out versus Instax prints, and I will say that this is true. However, this is more of a to-each-his-own, like how some say Sony cameras give beautiful skin tones while some refuse to accept Sony’s rendering. As a user of Instax and Polaroids, I will say the former is punchier and more saturated while the latter goes towards a more nostalgic, de-saturated look.

Capability-wise, the I-2 is the best Polaroid camera in 2023, with Instax’s closest offering probably the EVO, which is hardly comparable if we consider control options and autofocus performance. The fact that the Polaroid I-2 looks so well-built is excellent too.

Of course, the Polaroid, with all its strengths, is undoubtedly a very niche product for a tiny slice of users. However I am sure the Polaroid die-hards will appreciate the Polaroid I-2 for what it can offer in this slice of analog instant photography cameras.

I was so sure that I will like the Polaroid I-2 that I rejected an offer to review it before announcement, preferring to simply pre-order a set to do this review.

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimers:

1. All product photos and samples here were photographed by me. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own product photos.

2. For disclosure, all samples were shot with my personal set of the Polaroid I-2 and my own Polaroid film, which I fully paid for.  All scans were done at 600 DPI, and simply cropped to the corners for sharing.

3. This review is not sponsored.

4. I write as a passion and a hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.

5. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support me by contributing to my fees to WordPress for the domain using the Paypal button at the bottom of the page.