Beginner's Guide to Polaroid: Part I (Integral) by Phil Shen

Phil Shen recently contacted JCH about contributing to the site. And when I asked him what he wanted to share, it was a guide to Polaroid cameras. Well, that is something that I want to read, and I hope you do too.


You saw some cool Polaroid photos online and you're wondering how to start experimenting with the magic of instant film. I got hooked when I saw some amazing raw portraits being taken with Polaroid cameras. Here, I'll break down the quickest and simplest ways to start making your own analog keepsakes.

The Polaroid cameras that are still useable today are divided into two categories: the integral route or the peel-apart route. First, I'll focus on the integral route, because that's most people's gateway to Polaroid addiction.

Integral Film

Most people today are thinking of integral film cameras when they think "Polaroid." They're the classic, varied collection of cameras that eject a photo from the front after taking a picture (you can see these photos taped all over some restaurants still). Integral film integrates the developing and fixing chemicals inside each individual film sheet. From 1972 until 2008, Polaroid manufactured integral film for their cameras. Since then, the amazing folks of the Impossible Project have taken up the mantle and released Polaroid-camera-compatible films of their own.

Essentially three categories of cameras fall under the integral umbrella. The first camera I'll cover is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to start making Polaroid magic.

600 Series Cameras

The 600 series cameras, named after the 600 film they used, mostly consist of plastic-bodied cameras with a fold-up flash. These cameras are everywhere at your local flea market or thrift store, and they're really cheap. We regularly find One Step Polaroid cameras for $5 or less at our flea markets.

The One Step is a great starting point for an old instant camera. The One Step Close Up variants contain built-in close-up lenses – just a plastic lens that slides in front of the main lens – that let you focus as close as two feet, versus most Polaroids' standard three feet.

The Impossible Project film I recommend using with these types of cameras is called PX 680. After many iterations and experimentation, their newest batch of films are much easier to use and produce encouraging results. Make sure to pick up the newest generation Color Protection type film; they have more forgiveness in regards to immediate shielding from light after the film is exposed and ejected (the Impossible Project has great instructions on how to use their films).

Left: Polaroid One Step 600 Flash Close-Up and Polaroid Sun 600.

Right: The One Step close-up lens

Shot with a Polaroid One Step Flash Close-Up with Polaroid 600 film

SX-70 Cameras

If you're looking to get more professional results with integral film, the legendary SX-70 is where it's at (watch this Eames video to really get hooked). Built from 1972 to 1981, Polaroid's original integral camera is a collectible that will cost a lot more than a 600 series camera. They're worth it.

The SX-70 is a folding SLR, so your composition will be spot-on, and with focusing down to 10 inches, you can take much tighter portraits. Polaroid released many variants of the SX-70; later iterations had such modern comforts as auto-focus, and plastic-body variants took the SX-70 or later Time-Zero film as well. But the original brown leather SX-70 is a thing of beauty.

Impossible Project PX 70 film works great with SX-70s and any older plastic Polaroid camera, which have a great vintage look. If you're more into functional shooting than collecting, though, my recommendation is to start with the 600 cameras or my top choice, the Spectra line (keep reading for my thoughts on these). Most models have built-in flashes and more features, and because 600 or Spectra cameras are more plentiful and cheaper than SX-70s, you won't feel too bad if you drop one.

Left to right: Polaroid OneStep, Polaroid SX-70, Polaroid SX-70 Autofocus


Left: SX-70 Autofocus with Impossible Project PX 70 Color Protection film

Right: SX-70 Autofocus with expired Polaroid 600 film

Spectra Cameras

The Polaroid Spectra, the last category of integral cameras, often gets forgotten in the shuffle, and I'm not sure why. Spectra cameras have been my personal go-to Polaroids for the past few years. They're great cameras, much more affordable than SX-70 cameras, and they produce wonderful images. Spectra cameras are my top choice for starting