Instant Photography's Comeback Story | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Instant Photography's Comeback Story

The real question is, will Outkast make a comeback as well?

103
Instant Photography's Comeback Story
Pinterest

The death of “instant” photography occurred when Polaroid announced it would stop producing Polaroid cameras in 2007, or so we thought. In recent years instant photography has made a comeback.

The first Polaroid camera made its debut in 1943, according to Polaroid. By 1956 Polaroid had sold it millionth camera and had it’s product distributed throughout 45 countries. The camera itself was new and instant, which meant no more waiting for film to develop. With the Polaroid you click a button, watch the film come out of the camera, wait a couple of minutes and see your picture. It was new and exciting.

In 2007 Polaroid said it would stop producing Polaroid cameras and film, according to The New York Times. The craze was over. Up until a few years ago Polaroid-like cameras made a dramatic comeback.

Fujifilm one of the last companies to still make instant cameras sold five million Instax cameras, which is Fujifilm’s version of a Polaroid. With an expected growth for 2016 with an estimated 6.5 million in Instax camera sales, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Fujifilm is a company that began in 1934 that started in Japan. It was one of the few companies still making instant photography cameras. It shortly dominated the market in instant photography. Now the company has multiple variations of instant cameras, in order to create a wide variety of images to capture. With some cameras offering wider film to shoot from and others providing more camera accessories, such as exposure.

With Snapchat and Instagram it’s hard to imagine why the Polaroid would make such a big comeback. So far there’s little explanation as to why instant photography is coming back with a boom.

Polaroid camera’s are getting large sales in millennial and teen demographics, according to Time. It would seem that there’s a sort of nostalgia for something these generation never fully experienced.

The CEO of Polaroid attributes the comeback of instant photography cameras to the simplicity of the camera. With the teenagers of today use to quality cameras built into their phone and a well functioning computer in the palm of their hand, to find something that has one job is a rare site to see. With photos everywhere on numerous social media platforms the Polaroid cameras makes photos more unique and personal.

Since the spike in sales on Polaroid-like cameras the Polaroid company is attempting to get back in the game, so to speak. They’ve created numerous products centered around the instant photography idea. Zip is an inkless printer that prints images roughly the size of a business card that create that Polaroid feel.

Polaroid also introduced another new product, The Cube. A small and simple entry level action camera that is as Time puts it “About the size of four casino dice staked together.” However, Polaroid has an uphill battle ahead of them. Without their famous cameras to make anymore they face many challenges ahead.

They’re attempting to get reacquainted with their roots by creating products that are Polaroid accessories or have a Polaroid sense to them without actually creating their Polaroid camera. In addition, with the introduction to The Cube Polaroid is attempting to introduce itself in the action camera market run by GoPro.

With little explanation as to why Polaroids made a comeback the Polaroid company itself has found itself at the bottom of a market they used to dominate. With companies like Fujifilm running the market Polaroid might have missed its chance to make a comeback in the instant photography world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

14 Thoughts Every College Student Has During Winter Break

The most common: "Is it time to go back to school yet?"

2134
nothing on to-do list

Winter break is a cherished time for many after enduring a grueling fall semester. It’s a time of relaxation and time spent with loved ones over the holidays. However, once the new year rolls around, we’re all ready to go back to school. Here are thoughts every college student has during winter break.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

4086
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

6173
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

3918
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments