Polaroid have today taken the wraps off a new instant camera, a new generation Polaroid Snap camera, imaginatively called the Polaroid Snap+, which is due towards the end of the year. Polaroid have designed the Snap+ to “add even more fun and versatility to the instant print photography experience.” Much of the point of the Polaroid instant camera is that not only do customers have the ability to take a picture but can also print the same pictures using an on-camera printer. In the case of the Snap+, Polaroid have given the camera an integrated in this case a ZINK (Zero Ink Printing Technology) camera, which is capable of printing color, monochrome or sepia 2×3 inch images. The printer can process a queue of up to ten images, which means customers can carry on taking pictures as the printer processes the rest of the queue. The ZINK printer is a thermal design, using heat to activate cyan, yellow and magenta dye crystals built into the paper loaded into the device. Each photograph prints out in a little under a minute and is described as full color, high quality, long lasting and smudge-proof. Official ZINK Paper is also backed with adhesive: the photograph may be used as a sticker too! There is a selfie-mirror included in the device and a self timer, too. Prints may be produced with or without the Polaroid Classic Border Logo. Polaroid designed the Snap+ camera in conjunction with design firm Ammunition (the same company behind the Polaroid Zip printer, Polaroid Cube and Polaroid Cube+ action cameras).
As far as the photography elements go, the Snap+ is based around a 13MP CMOS sensor, which is also capable of recording video at up to 1080p HD resolution. There’s an onboard microSD slot that supports cards of up to 128 GB capacity and a 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD viewfinder built into the device. The software on the device can also turn the camera into a wireless portable printer via the Bluetooth radio and the Polaroid application. This app is available in both Android and iOS flavors for smartphones and tablets and allows customers to wirelessly print to the camera. Furthermore, the Polaroid application also allows image editing and includes a number of filters, digital stickers and tools for manipulation.
Scott W Hardy, Polaroid’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said this on the new Snap+ camera: “Our brand’s renewed focus on product design has allowed us to bring new and exciting products – such as the Polaroid Snap+ – to market that evoke an emotional connection with our consumers. Above all things, our brand is known for being fun and for the nostalgic instant photography experience which is our legacy. Now that we’ve reinvigorated that experience with digital technologies, it’s allowing Polaroid to reintroduce the idea of ‘click and print’ photography to a new generation of consumers.”