Back to the Future with Polaroid Z340

I first heard of the Polaroid Z340 from a friend, who posted about it on her Twitter feed. When I followed the link and saw its photo, I was struck with a wave of nostalgia. It reminded me very much of the Polaroid camera I had in college, which I used to take reference photos for art classes. This was the early 90s, and therefore, way pre-digital. Which begs the question: does a camera like this have a place anymore in our almost entirely digital photography world? Judging from my artsy-craftsy's friend's enthusiasm, I'd say yes, albeit a very small place.

While a vast majority of people prefer to share their photos digitally--for reasons of speed and economy--there are definitely times when you'd like to be able to print photos on the fly. Say, at a kids' birthday party, a wedding reception, and other such occasions to produce instant keepsakes. I think that's why photo booths have become such popular fixtures at special events these days. If you consider that a photo booth rental costs about $300 for 4 hours, spending that much for a camera that can provide similar capabilities seems like it could be a worthwhile investment. And the best part is that you get to keep a digital original of the photo that you can use to reproduce other prints in the future.

As the case was with the old Polaroid cameras, instant gratification doesn't come cheap: 30 sheets of the printing paper will set you back $20, and there are other issues with the camera, which you can find out about in an an excellent clear-eyed review of the product from arstechnica.com. After having read the review I determined that it wasn't a product I'd want to invest $300 in, but I can certainly see its appeal for others. I think Polaroid was smart to take advantage of their heritage to stake a place in this niche market, and I hope they continue to improve on it to convert more users and ensure the longevity of that market. As someone who was once a devotée of Polaroid products, I'd sure hate to see them go the way of Kodak.

- Stephanie Han

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