Introduction
Nothing is quite like a classic Polaroid instant camera. Yeah, the photos are murky and the film costs as much as some standalone cameras, but for decades, it was the most magical format in all of photography. Point and shoot, shake the photo for a few minutes, and you’ve got an instant memory preserved in silver and celluloid.
Digital photography has reduced film into a niche artistic endeavor, and even the cheapest of the cheap pocket digicams are incredibly convenient compared to the old way of doing things. But instant prints are still charming, and something that digicams—convenient as they are—don’t offer.
Enter the Polaroid Instant Z340. It’s a Polaroid instant camera for the digital age. Like its ancestors, it’s a point-and-shoot camera crammed into a big, ugly brick of a printer. Warts and all, it exists because it can spit out a real photo in short order, but it doesn’t give up any of the advantages of digital photography. Read on to see how it stacks up.
The Polaroid Instant Z340 is available now at an MSRP of $299.
| This review is organized into 16 pages | ||
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Page 1
Product Tour
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Page 2
Color
Mediocre color reproduction, especially for skin tones, but vintage color modes try to appeal to nostalgia. Read More... |
Page 3
Noise
Fine for outdoor and bright indoor settings, but things start to get hairy when the lights get dim. Read More... |
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Page 4
Resolution
Fantastic resolution scores across the board, thanks in part to the fixed focal-length lens. More than ample sharpness for the native 4×3″ prints. Read More... |
Page 5
Video
High-def video capture, but with poor sharpness and inaccurate color. Read More... |
Page 6
Sample Photos
A gallery of photos taken with the Polaroid Z340 Read More... |
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Page 7
Playback
Familiar playback and in-camera editing options, plus truly “direct” printing. Read More... |
Page 8
Hardware
It’s all about the built-in printer, which outshines the otherwise mediocre lens, LCD, and connectivity options. Read More... |
Page 9
Controls
Geared for automatic operation, with a familiar mix of automatic and scene presets—but it’s one of the overall slowest cameras we’ve tested. Read More... |
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Page 10
Design & Handling
This is a printer that takes pictures—nothing comfortable or ergonomic about it. Read More... |
Page 11
Canon ELPH 100 HS Comparison
 We compare the Z340 to the ELPH 100 HS. Read More... |
Page 12
Panasonic FZ47 Comparison
 We compare the Z340 to the Lumix DMC-FZ47. Read More... |
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Page 13
Kodak Easyshare Sport Comparison
 We compare the Z340 to the Sport. Read More... |
Page 14
Conclusion
Read our final conclusion of the Polaroid Z340. Read More... |
Page 15
Photo Gallery
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Part 16
Comments
Read what people are saying about the Polaroid Z340. Add your comments... |
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Shop for the Polaroid Z340
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