Pros & Cons
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- Uses classic square instant film
- Reliable four-zone sonar autofocus
- Double exposure, EV compensation, and self-timer in-camera
- Smartphone app for full manual exposure
- Long-lasting battery with USB-C charging
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- Expensive film
- Doesn't work with lens filters
Polaroid Flip Specs
| 35mm Equivalent (Wide) | 35 |
| Battery Type | Internal |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Dimensions | 3.5 by 4.6 by 6.4 inches |
| Memory Card Format | Polaroid I-Type |
| Type | Analog |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical |
| Weight | 1.4 |
Polaroid's Flip ($199.99) instant camera leans into nostalgia headfirst. It marks the return of the flip-up lid from vintage cameras like the Sun 600, and includes a better lens and more reliable autofocus than the Now+ Generation 3 ($139.99). It's hard to make an argument that it's sensible to use the finicky, $2-per-photo film when Fuji's Instax films are more reliable and about half the cost, but it's also hard to deny the Flip's retro appeal. The Flip's features and price strike the right balance to earn our Editors' Choice among cameras that use I-Type film: It's the one to get if you want to try your hand at artsy Polaroid photos. That said, if you're open to other brands, the $199.95 Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 is a better value for fun and family snapshots, and our overall Editors' Choice for instant cameras.
Design: Flip the Lid
The Flip gets its name from its defining physical feature—a flip-up lid that protects the lens and makes the camera easier to stow in a bag when closed. Apart from this change, the Flip is a bit of a mash-up between the Now+ ($139.99) and the I-2 ($599.99). Its features are in line with the Now+, meaning that you need to use a smartphone app for manual control, but its four-zone autofocus lens is closer in performance to the I-2's more advanced, continuously focusing lens.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The I-2 is still the top model in the line, but at $500, it's targeted more squarely at Polaroid devotees than first timers or photogs who only use instant film occasionally. The Flip tries for a larger audience, and is a better starting point for photographers who want to try using its 3.1-inch square film, and are willing to stomach its $2.00-per-frame cost to use.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Flip's aesthetics are a little more grown-up than the Now+ if you get it in black, but the white version I received for review has more playful flair thanks to its orange faceplate. Both editions include the Polaroid rainbow stripe logo, too, a nice vintage touch.
At around 3.5 by 4.6 by 6.4 inches (HWD) with the lid closed, the Flip is larger volumetrically than the Now+ (3.8 by 4.4 by 5.9 inches), but only just so. The Flip is noticeably heavier at 1.4 pounds, versus 15.9 ounces for the Now+. Because of this, the Flip includes a heavy-duty braided neck strap with quick-release connectors.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Flip uses a prime lens with four autofocus zones (0.4-0.77m, 0.77-1.03m, 1.03m-1.68m, 1.68m-infinity). The lenses are arranged on a rotating gear that makes a grinding sound to shift focus—it's disconcerting, but normal. The angle of view shifts slightly between focus zones. At infinity, it's about the same as a full-frame 35mm prime, and it tightens to around 40mm for close-ups.
I took an arm's length selfie and got myself comfortably in frame, so you can sneak a friend into frame with you if you put your heads close together. There's no front mirror, so just keep the lens centered on you for selfies. Polaroid actually lists the ideal focus distance for self-portraits as 2.1 feet (0.65m).
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The camera works with I-Type or 600 film packs—the latter costs a few dollars more because it has a battery to provide power to classic Polaroid cameras, while I-Type only works with newer cameras with a built-in battery. The Flip qualifies; it has a built-in rechargeable battery. Polaroid does not list an expected life per charge, but I got through nearly five packs of film over the course of about a month without recharging. And if you do end up low on power, it's easy to top off via a USB-C power adapter (not included).
Controls: Useful, If Unintuitive
At its heart, the Flip is a mostly automatic camera. Open its lid to turn it on, close it to turn it off, tap the shutter to focus, and press it fully to take a picture. It has an LED screen that shows how many photos are left in a pack, along with flash status, and an icon that reminds you if the camera is set to double exposure mode or if the self-timer is enabled. A corresponding rear button toggles the flash, and a rear bar control cycles through single, double exposure, and self-timer modes, and sets exposure value (EV) on-camera.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The rear bar isn't the most intuitive control surface; it is unmarked, and its function is far from obvious. A short, single click on the bar toggles the self-timer, a double click switches to double exposure, and a long press enables EV compensation. For EV control, you'll use short clicks to set a positive, negative, or neutral position. A single dash on the info display tells you where it is set—it has a top location for +1EV, a middle location for neutral, and a bottom position for -1EV. Like I said, the interface is not intuitive, but it's not hard to learn, either.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Flip's optical viewfinder is good for the price. It shows a clear, bright image with a large enough picture to gauge the frame. The finder is a step up from what I'm used to seeing on Instax cameras like the Mini 99, though not as amazing as the one on the I-2. When I reviewed it, I compared the I-2's viewfinder favorably with that of my Leica M ($6,950).
Full manual exposure control is not available from the Flip's body, but it is available via the Polaroid smartphone app. The camera connects to your phone via Bluetooth in an instant and allows for full manual aperture, shutter, exposure compensation, and focus control.
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Photographers who crave more control from a Polaroid camera should consider the I-2 as a modern option, or seek out a restored classic like the Retrospekt SX-70 I test drove a few years ago. Also, look at other film formats: The Nons SL660 ($599) is an Instax Square SLR that works with M42 lenses, and Mint makes the RF70 ($899) rangefinder for the spacious Instax Wide format.
I think the Flip has enough on-camera to forgo spending big on those alternatives. You can set EV, enable the self-timer, and turn on double exposure mode from the camera body, and those are the things you'll want to do most often. The app is there for those times when you want to break out the tripod for long exposure images, for instance.
Image Quality: Impactful Instant Snaps From Finicky Film Materials
Polaroid's (3.1-inch square) picture format is the reason to choose its cameras over Fujifilm Instax. And while it's a logical paradox, Polaroid's film is also the reason to avoid the brand and go with a Fuji instant camera instead. Fujifilm's materials tend to produce accurate, consistent color from image to image, while Polaroid's color I-Type film shows browner tones, is prone to color shift when used in cold or hot environments, and must be shielded from light as it starts to develop. The Flip and other new Polaroid cameras include an opaque plastic film that covers pictures as they eject.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)You may remember having to take special care with Polaroid film back in the day. For instance, the film should be stored in a fridge to preserve its developing chemicals, but never frozen as that can damage them. For more on proper film use and storage, check out Polaroid's tips.
Blocking film from light is a newer development, but a fact of life with color I-Type film. Polaroid had to completely reinvent the chemistry when it restarted production under the Impossible Project banner more than a decade ago (for more, read my report from Photokina 2014). To be fair, Polaroid's color film is far better today than when the Impossible Project began its efforts to bring the film back from the dead, but I'll still qualify color I-Type as tricky to use. Romantics embrace its je ne sais quoi, while pragmatists can stick with ever-reliable Instax.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)Photogs who lean into the artistic side of the craft may be willing to forgive, or perhaps even embrace, the film's technical flaws. There's always a chance for serendipity to strike and create a beautiful image. And while I've been consistent in my criticism of color I-Type over the years, Polaroid's black-and-white film is by far my favorite instant stock around. My eye is drawn to its strong contrast and rich, deep black tones more than the grayer mid-tones captured by Fujifilm Instax Monochrome film, though I'll admit that it's a matter of taste.
Black-and-white I-Type film costs the same as color: $17.99 per pack of eight pictures, with discounted rates available for bulk purchases. At around $2 per exposure, the film is the most expensive of modern formats; Instax Mini costs around $0.80 per frame, Instax Square comes in around $1.25, and Instax Wide is around $1. Fujifilm charges a slight premium for monochrome film, between $1 to $1.50 per frame, depending on format.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)None are available at press time, but Polaroid makes one more appeal to the art school crowd: limited edition films. Over the years, it has released several duochromes (tinted editions of black-and-white), films with round or decorative plastic borders, and most recently, a line of Reclaimed film in blue or green tint that was born out of an accident. I didn't get a chance to try any Reclaimed Blue, but I got great results when I tried the limited edition Black and Green duochrome film a few years ago.
I was out of Black and Green film by the time the Flip arrived for review, but I found a pack of long-expired (2015) Black and Orange film in my fridge. I know it had not been stored properly for a long time, so most of the frames didn't turn out at all, but I got two or three good images out of the pack. To be fair, I wasn't expecting anything out of such an old, poorly stored pack of film, but it was still fun to try.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Flip uses sonar for autofocus, a technology it brings back from '80s cameras. Sonar uses sound to focus, so it works with any sort of light and always finds the nearest subject. The sonar device is right next to the lens, and delivered mostly accurate results in testing. You do need to be careful with glass; while most autofocus systems can see through transparent surfaces, sonar does not and will focus on the surface of a window. Even with that restriction, autofocus proves more reliable than the Now+, especially at closer distances. Just remember that it can't focus any closer than 15.8 inches (0.4m).
I mentioned the four-zone focus system earlier. It provides more precise focus than the two-zone system used by the Now+, which translates to sharper, better-focused pictures in practice. The camera also takes the focus distance into account when deciding how brightly to fire its flash, so it's not prone to overexposing pictures. Together, this makes for a better keeper rate than the Now+. Given the $2 per image cost, the Flip's better imaging tech pays for itself over time.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)One note: At press time, there are no lens filters available for the Flip. The Now+ works with a set of slip-on creative filters, and the I-2 has a 49mm accessory thread around the lens. The I-2 also works with external flashes, while you are restricted to using the built-in flash with the Flip.