Polaroid Christmas Gift Guide 2021

Whether you’re shopping for that person who has everything or your niece or nephew or grandchild and you want to get them something to inspire them, you should definitely consider getting them a Polaroid as a Christmas gift.

Do Polaroid Cameras Make Good Gifts?

The short answer is absolutely! Well, absolutely for almost everyone. They are a one size fits all kind of gift and creates a wow and ooooh factor that yet another sweater or gift card just don’t have. From pre-teens to 80 year olds, polaroid cameras are easy to use and fun to use! All you have to do is point and shoot and you’re creating great images and memories to last a life time. Giving a Polaroid camera as a gift can inspire the creativity of the recipient, especially with some of the newer cameras with bluetooth connectivity! It’s a creative gift and a tech gift, all wrapped up into one great present!

Which Polaroid Camera Should I Buy?

It depends. There are a few great models out there this holiday season for you to consider. When shopping, you need to take into account the following:

• What features does the Polaroid camera have?

• How much does it cost?

• What type of Polaroid film does it use?

• Is this type of Polaroid film available at a local store or does it have to be ordered online?

• How much does the film cost?

Let’s take a look at some of the holiday offerings from Polaroid and find the answers to each!

Polaroid Now+ Starter Set

The Polaroid Now+ Starter Kit in Black

The Polaroid Now+ is one of the newest and most feature rich instant cameras out there! It comes with basic features like autofocus and a rechargeable battery, but also includes Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated app to help you control your device! The app affords you the ability to use the camera to do a wide variety of creative shots. You can also choose between colors! You can get a Polaroid Now+ in white, black, and blue-grey. Getting the starter set is a great idea for a Christmas gift because it includes three packs of Polaroid I-Type film (2 color packs and 1 black and white).

Here are the Tech Specs:

The Polaroid Now+ Starter Set contents:
1 x Polaroid Now+ camera
+ 2 packs of Polaroid Color i-Type Film
+ 1 pack of Polaroid B&W i-Type Film

Camera:
Dimensions: 5.9 in / 150.16 mm (L) x 4.4 in / 112.2 mm (W) x 3.8 in / 95.48 mm (H)
Weight: 457 grams (without film pack)

Battery: lithium-ion battery (UN3481)

Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics
Lenses: Polycarbonate resin

Shutter system:
1/200 - 1sec. (Camera only)
1/200 - 30 sec. and Bulb mode (App Mode)

Focal length:
Standard Lens: 102.35 mm (40mm/35 equivalent)
Close-up Lens: 94.96 mm (35mm/35 equivalent)

Field of view:
Horizontal 40°, vertical 41°

Flash system:
Auto-Adjust Output Vacuum discharge tube strobe system

Lens filter kit, USB charging cable and Neck strap included
Tripod mount on base of camera

Polaroid Now Starter Set

The Polaroid Now Starter Set in White

The Polaroid Now instant camera has a very similar form factor when compared to the Now+, it has the same basic layout and even uses the same Polaroid I-Type film. It’s even got a similar autofocus system and a rechargeable battery like the Now+. But what it doesn’t have is Bluetooth connectivity and app control from your phone. This is still a really solid camera and many people don’t actually need or will use the creative features included in the Bluetooth Now+. It does have a timer and will take double exposures so there are still some creative features included. But overall the Polaroid Now is a solid instant camera with basic features that will work great for most of the people you might be buying for. And again, buying the starter kit is a great idea because it comes with 3 packs of Polaroid I-Type film (2 color and 1 b&w) so that when the recipient opens the box they can immediately charge their camera and get to shooting!

Here are the tech specs for the Polaroid Now:

The Polaroid Now Starter Set contents:
1 x Polaroid Now camera
+ 2 packs of Polaroid Color i-Type Film
+ 1 pack of Polaroid B&W i-Type Film

Camera:
Dimensions: 3.7 × 4.4 × 5.9 in (94 x 112.2 x 150.2 mm)
Weight: 0.95 lbs (434 grams) (without film pack)
Battery: High performance lithium-ion battery (750mAh), rechargeable via USB
Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics
Lenses: Optical grade Polycarbonate and Acrylic lenses, coated
Shutter system: Custom design, using precision step motor for shutter
Autofocus system via 2 fixed focus zones 0.55m-1.3m, 0.6m-infinity
Focal length
Close-up (lens 1) 94.96 mm
Distance (lens 2) 102.35 mm
Field of view
41 degrees vertical, 40 degrees horizontal
Flash system
Vacuum discharge tube storage
Neck Strap and USB charging cable included

Polaroid Go Starter Set

The New Polaroid Go Starter Kit

The Polaroid format has been around for years and is very familiar to everyone. We’ve all seen the classic square image with the white boarders in person and depicted in movies and graphics. The Polaroid Go departs from that very classic Polaroid format and gives us an entirely new format in a smaller size and is perfect for kids and teens looking to get into instant photography. Besides being smaller, the Polaroid Go and the film it uses are also much cheaper! The price alone might be enough to make you choose this starter set. The camera has similar double exposure and timer features as the Polaroid Now, but lacks the dual lens autofocus. This simpler camera is aimed at a market where portability and fun on the go are important. The size of the image it produces is closer to a Fuji Instax than a Polaroid, but its unmistakably Polaroid!

Like the other starter sets, the Polaroid Go Starter Set comes with film, 16 exposures of Polaroid Go Film. Unlike the other sets, the 16 pictures are part of just one pack of film and the only option you have is color.

Here are the specs for the Polaroid Go:

Technical Specifications

The Polaroid Go Starter Set contents:
1 x Polaroid Go camera
+ 1 Polaroid Go Color Film Double Pack


Camera:
Pocket-sized Analog Instant Camera
Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.3 x 2.4 in (105 mm x 83.9 mm x 61.5 mm)
Weight: 0.53 lbs (242 grams) (without film pack)
Color: White

Battery: High performance lithium-ion battery, 750mAh, 3.7V nominal Voltage, 2.7Wh, rechargeable via USB.
15-pack battery life

Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics

Lenses: Polycarbonate resin
Shutter speed: 1/125-1sec
Aperture: f/12 and f/52
Focal length: 34 mm (35 mm equivalent)

Field of view: Diagonal 65.1°, Horizontal 48.1°, Vertical 49.1 degrees

Automatic flash (with override)
Flash system: Vacuum discharge tube storage

Packaging contents:
Polaroid Go camera
USB charging cable
Wrist strap
Quick Start Guide
Safety & Compliance Booklet

Compatible only with Polaroid Go film

Polaroid Film as a Gift

When you’re having fun and snapping photos, it takes literally no time at all to shoot up a pack of 8 Polaroid pictures. If you know someone that already has a Polaroid camera, getting them some Polaroid film is a great idea! Packs cost around $15 each and you can purchase them directly from Polaroid by CLICKING HERE or you can find other places to buy Polaroid film by checking out our earlier blog post HERE.

Make sure you know what film to buy, or at least which camera you are buying for. New Polaroid cameras, vintage Polaroid cameras, and the Polaroid Go all take different types of film. Polaroid’s I-Type film is similar to their 600 film but it does not have a battery pack like the 600 film does. So you can use I-Type film and 600 film in a newer camera, (Impossible I-1, Polaroid Now, Polaroid Now+, Polaroid OneStep2, etc). But if you’re buying for a vintage camera, you can only use Polaroid 600 film. If the person your are buying for has an SX-70, you can only buy SX-70 type film.

The best place to check compatibility is to go right to the source! CLICK HERE to go directly to Polaroid’s guide on camera and film compatibility.

Polaroid Starter Packs are a Great Place to Start Holiday Gift Shopping

If you’d like to browse Polaroid’s catalog and you’d like to SAVE 15% - CLICK HERE to sign up to get an exclusive coupon code offered only through Shutter Junkies! With shortages and supply chain issues, it would be best to order your starter sets early so you can get them in time for the Holidays/Christmas Season.

Where Can I Buy Peel-Apart Film?

The minute Fuji announced they would be discontinuing FP-100C peel-apart film for older polaroid cameras, then film began to fly off of the shelves. The Fuji made film which sold for around $20 per pack was often sold out at the normal places and prices began to increase as people were trying to buy up as much as they could to use or horde and sell later at a ridiculous profit. But because so many people purchased and held on to sell later, even years down the road it is still possible to find the Fuji film in color and black and white. You can even still occasionally find some very expired Polaroid peel-apart film. You also currently have then option to purchase some of the new One Instant pack film from Supersense.

If you’re looking for some film to shoot, here’s a break down of where you can still find Peel-Apart film for Polaroid cameras and what you can expect to pay as well as what you need to watch out for.

Where Can I Buy Peel-Apart Film for my Polaroid Camera?

ONE INSTANT by Supersense

Supersense is a great little group of creative individuals working hard to keep peel-apart film alive. I love their passion and ingenuity, but product isn’t quite the peel-apart film that we are used to. It requires a lot more care and concern when loading and the results are not as uniform as the mass produced FP-100C or even expired Polaroid film packs. With only one shot per paper pack, you have to be a little more careful when loading and you get less of a run and shoot experience. And at almost $40 for three exposures, ONE INSTANT is not the most affordable option for taking instant photos, but it is at least fresh chemistry and it works! And the guys are Supersense are a really great group of creative individuals, so you should definitely go support their efforts.

You can head on over to Supersense’s website to buy a few packs today if you want to give ONE INSTANT a try. CLICK HERE to go to their site.

You can actually purchase Fuji pack film from Supersense as well. They have the best and most consistent stock. The price is also reasonable considering that the film packs are in good shape. You can shop their store HERE.

Buy Fuji FP-100C on Ebay

eBay has been a good place to find Fuji FP-100C for years. The prices have fluctuated but have mostly settled. You can expect to pay at least $66.00 for a single pack of expired Fuji FP-100C. The newer (aka the later the expiration date) the film, the high the cost. You can also purchase bundles of film packs. When purchasing film from eBay, you want to make sure and find some that has been stored in a refrigerator. The liquid chemicals will dry out over time but keeping them cool keeps them from drying out. Most packs of FP-100C sell in the range of $75-$100 per pack.

Buy Polaroid Peel-Apart Film on eBay

Finding actually usable Polaroid pack film on eBay is quite a challenge. Most of the film out there has expiration dates in the 80’s or 90’s. Pricing starts in the low $20’s but that’s in unknown condition. Polaroid film, even when its expired is amazing as long as the chemicals aren’t dried up. I love it even more than the Fuji pack film.

At this point in time, buying Polaroid film is a gamble, but if you can find some that works, its an amazing experience! I’ve bought several packs on eBay, only to have a few work. But the results were well worth it.

Buy Fuji Peel-Apart Film on Amazon

While there used to be a large selection of Fuji FP-100C film on Amazon, it seems that the supply has mostly dried up. At the time of posting only one listing remains at a cost of $828.00 for 5 packs. Listings only appear occasionally so if you’re interested in picking up some real Fuji FP100C, this is your chance! CLICK HERE to go to the listing and place your order!

Buy Peel-Apart Film on Craigslist

Several people have had some luck finding Fuji film on Craigslist. The chances of finding it on your first look are slim, but if you check consistently you have a better chance of finding some for sale. The film used to be listed quite frequently but again, as supplies are being exhausted, they listings are disappearing.

Looking for Peel-Apart Film at Garage Sales

This is even a longer shot than Craigslist, but some people have found some really major scores. This is literally as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack, but if you find some, its usually cheap!

You Can Still Buy Pull-Apart Film, But…

Your options are definitely limited and what options do exist out there are expensive. If you have the opportunity to pick up a pack of film, its definitely an experience like nothing else polaroid. The manual process of shooting, pulling, waiting, and then peeling, dealing with the sticky chemicals and discovering the beautiful image you’ve capture, its something every instant photographer needs to experience at least once before all of the film is gone!

If you own a Polaroid Land Camera and want to still find a way to use it, New Land Camera is working on an integral film back for Land Cameras. CLICK HERE to read more about the work they are doing!

Don’t forget to check out our other article discussing if Polaroid would be bringing pull-apart film back by clicking HERE!

Polaroid Go

The rumors have been flying for weeks now, but its finally here! Polaroid has release the Polaroid Go for pre-order on their website - Polaroid.com. Let’s take a quick look at this new camera and see what the hype is all about!

What is the Polaroid Go?

The Polaroid Go is an instant camera, made to be much more portable than other Polaroid instant cameras. Copy on their page calls the camera “portable, wearable, and take-anywhere-able” which definitely gives us an idea of Polaroid is going for here. This much smaller camera is 5.9” x 3.3” x 2.4” and weighs-in at a little over a half pound (.53lbs). Here’s a quick glance at the technical specifications:

Polaroid Go Tech Specs

Camera:
Pocket-sized Analog Instant Camera
Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.3 x 2.4 in (105 mm x 83.9 mm x 61.5 mm)
Weight: 0.53 lbs (242 grams) (without film pack)
Color: White

Battery: High performance lithium-ion battery, 750mAh, 3.7V nominal Voltage, 2.7Wh, rechargeable via USB.
15-pack battery life

Outer shell: Polycarbonate + ABS plastics

Lenses: Polycarbonate resin
Shutter speed: 1/125-30sec
Aperture: f/12 and f/52
Focal length: 34 mm (35 mm equivalent)

Field of view: Diagonal 65.1°, Horizontal 48.1°, Vertical 49.1 degrees

Automatic flash (with override)
Flash system: Vacuum discharge tube storage

This camera is plastic with a plastic lens so its definitely designed more for the consumer and younger crowd. The pre-order price, which includes film is only $114 so the lower price point will definitely be attractive for many.

What Kind of Film does the Polaroid Go Use?

It obviously uses a much smaller film, designed to compete with the Fuji Instax line with its smaller camera and smaller film. Polaroid Go film is 2.632” x 2.122”, including the frame. The image size is 1.851” x 1.811”, producing an almost square image. The sensitivity of the film is ASA 640 and takes 10 to 15 minutes to develop, just like its much larger, older sibling Polaroid film. Also like the larger Polaroid instant film, it comes in an 8-pack.

Can the Polaroid Go compete with the Fuji Instax?

That’s a good question and I guess only time will tell. Instax is already very well established brand and format and is beloved by many. The film develops much faster and comes with 10 photos per pack. While the new Polard Go is competitively priced, it is going up against an almost immovable force with the instax brand.

If you’re interested in learning more about instant photographer, go check out some of my previous posts, like this one on Where to Buy Polaroid Film, or this post exploring Polaroid Instant Photography all together.