Home > Consumer Reviews > Polaroid Spectra 1200SI Instant Camera Kit

If you want better quality pictures with instant cameras, this is the one. There are professional instant cameras, but we want affordable ones. All instant cameras are easy to use and this one has a better lens, so picture will be almost clear, but not perfect.

If you can afford this one, buy it and don't look at the other instant film cameras that are cheaper. Quality is what you'll find instead of fun toys with fuzzy pictures.

The era of Polaroid Photography seems to be nearing an end. With one-hour developing for conventional fold available right around the corner from most people, and the amazing advances in digital photography, it would seem that there's very little need for Polaroid's expensive system.

And yet the cameras hand on, and with good reason. Even the most automated of the digital systems still require you to connect your camera to a printer, while Polaroids just pop out beautiful photos as quickly as you can press the button.

I own a sack full of Nikons, a couple of digital cameras and a few point-and-shoot 35s, and yet I still find myself reaching occasionally for the Spectra. There are times when you need the ability to quickly produce an archival-quality color snapshot that digital or standard photography can't deliver. Selling something by mail? Take a snap and pop it in an envelope. Building or remodeling a house? Take snaps of the plumbing and wiring before you seal up a wall, and put them in an album. I did this in my home remodeling, and it was a lifesaver when I had to go back and drill into walls a week later. When it came time to install towel racks in the bath, there was no question as to where the studs were.

Sure, you can do a lot of those things with other camera, but nothing else gives you that immediate feedback AND and immediate archival copy. Shot not right? Do it again. No doubt in a few years we'll have digital systems that can pop out archival-quality hard copies right from the camera, but until then the Spectra is still the only choice.

The Polaroid Spectra 1200si, using the bright Spectra film, produces superb photos in almost any circumstance. The camera focuses automatically, beeping if you are too close to your subject, and adjusts to various lighting conditions.

The timer feature is simple to use, giving off a very helpful insistent beeping as the picture is about to be taken - rather than taking a photo of you telling your family the camera's about to take a picture, it takes a photo of everyone paying attention to the beeping Spectra.

If all of this beeping is too much to bear, you can set the camera to a silent mode.

I use a variety of Polaroid and Minolta APS cameras for art and family photos. When I need a reliably good picture right away, I reach for the Spectra and am rarely disappointed. Polaroid, by the way, is an extremely responsive company with great technical assistance and customer service.

I love the Polaroid Spectra 1200SI instant film camera because it develops so quickly with sharp professional results. The camera is very easy to use.

A lever on the right pops open the film cartridge door. Simply slip the cartridge with the two silver contacts pointing down and close the door. The black cover which prevents light from entering the film comes out immediately.

A lever on the left pops up the camera lens, sonar Autofocus sensor and flash very conveniently. Simply pull the lever and push the top down to protect the lens.

This is a very advanced camera where the viewfinder has a digital distance reading and a warning when not to take a picutre.

The control panel has all the controls of a dream Polaroid camera. This camera has a timer, AF caneler, exposure compensation, flash on/off and a film counter.

I am very happy that I bought this camera because it is so affordable and is feature packed and delivers perfect pictures.

Got this gem of a camera last week (gift). Ease of operation and quality of photos excellent. Camera design superb. Film seems costly, but time is $, and for the impatient...POLAROID is gold. Minor glitch: finding film "on sale."