Film-Camera Reviews

When Polaroid introduced the SX-70 in 1972, its self-processing "integral" film represented a major backwards step for instant color-print materials. The need for the dyes to migrate through a titanium dioxide layer before reaching the receptor sheet caused a significant loss of sharpness, as well as a creamy "bloom" in areas of fine detail against a light background (eg, bare branches against the sky).

Polaroid has not been able to make an integral film that matches the overall quality of their peel-apart materials. The latter have detail and a vivid edge sharpness the integral films will probably never achieve. But the current Platinum film is unquestionably the best of its type.

Color rendition is noticeably improved. Platinum film can tolerate direct comparison with the Macbeth color chart without suffering acute embarrasment. The tonal scale has been lengthened without a loss of saturation. (The 150-speed Time-Zero material has a noticeably shorter scale, often producing excessively contrasty prints.) Sharpness is better than any previous integral film (including the 150-speed), and the "bloom" is lower than ever.

Nevertheless, Polaroid's integral materials do not match the overall quality of modern color-negative films. The latter have multiple layers and complex chemical interactions among the layers that allow both a wide tonal scale and high saturation. It's unlikely Polaroid films will ever be able to perform these chemical feats, so the gap between conventional and instant-picture quality will continue to widen.

On the other hand, Polacolor (both peel-apart and integral) has a quality rarely seen in negative films -- it looks almost three-dimensional. There's depth -- an almost-palpable "roundness" -- you don't get from Kodacolor or Fujicolor. The latter look flat by comparison.

A note about processing... Although Polaroid integral films give good results over a wide temperature range, the highest saturation and cleanest colors occur in the high 70s or low 80s. (I discovered this when I threw several developing prints on top of a warm amplifier in a cool room. The pattern of the amplifier's vent holes appeared in the print, with the areas over the holes noticeably more vivid.) A warm Spring or not-too-hot Summer day gives the brightest colors.

If you haven't taken Polaroid pictures in a long time, try the Platinum film. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

The Polaroid Spectra Platinum is the best Instant Film I've ever used.

I use this film for my Polaroid Colorshot USB Digital Printer. What I see on the screen is what I get on the film. It is the most perfect transfer of digital imaging I have ever seen.

Printing digitally on this film has it's advantages. No need to worry about running out of ink. The film is instant. The film is resistant to water because of it's built-in protective coating of plastic. The image reproduces very quickly. Whereas a ink jet printer would take minutes...

I also use the film for my Polaroid Spectra 1200si which I love as well. The photo is just as sharp as on regular film. The color is perfectly balanced and the image quality is extremely sharp.

This is a great film by the great company Polaroid for either instant traditional of instant digital photography. I would recommend it to anyone on the planet.

This film is really good quality, you get crisp and colorful photos in an instant.

However, As many other people have stated, it isn't really worth the extra money for the "sticky" aspect of this film. Save some money and use it to buy more of the regular i-Zone film.

The pictures are just mini polaroids with a sticky part on the back. They're stiff, but they're no thicker than a polaroid picture. If you have the regular film, you can put double sided tape on the back and accomplish the same thing. I am happy with the picture quality. I'm always forgetting to get my film developed, so this is really convienient for me.

I'm a serious fan of the i-zone and have been since it was invented, despite it being aimed at people at least fifteen years younger than me, and one of the great things about the pictures it takes is that you can stick them to things. Letters. Postcards. Journals. Foreheads. The sticky film makes this so much easier.

Note that you'll need scissors or a pocket knife to cut off the sides of the film - tearing it by hand is not that easy.

I have found this to be a quality product. It is very cheap and efficient. I enjoy using this film everyday in my Joy Camera. I would recommend this to anyone who is an avid photographer.

Worked fine with my camera and easy to load.

i'm a photographer that has just discovered Polaroids. I love my Joycam camera and the film-- the prints you get are small but detailed and colorful. They're like small works of art. Avoid shades of gray as the film works better with sunlight even though the flash unit works really well. I like my Joycam and prints so much I've created a Polaroid journal and I use the Polaroids to illustrate my journal with daily events and the special people in my life. The problem is, when you start shooting these little pictures at parties everyone will want a copy and, at a buck a piece, it can get expensive and you'll always be out of film so stock up.

This is an awesome price for this film, a 2 pack can run this much or more from any retail store. and I am getting a 4 pack!, plus a 12.01 rebate. so im paying under 13.00 for 4 packs of film. amazing :)

You can say "cheese" to this deal,(GREAT-BUY) Cheaper price than I could find on eBay Auctions + I received Film (2) Days after ordering.

This is an exceptional deal for Polaroid film, which usually goes for about $15-18 per pack of 10 pictures around where I live. Be advised that these will not be the BEST pictures you have ever seen, but they are not bad for instant pictures, especially with my Polaroid Express one-step, which you can also get for a really really great price on amazon...