Portraits with the Polaroid I-2 & Nicole – 'instant'ly fun.

Keith Wee

Oct 1

After a full review of the just-released Polaroid I-2 two weeks ago, I received a few requests for more samples, primarily of portraiture given now that we have the Polaroid I-2's improved capability with full PASM modes and with a redesigned optical formula using LiDAR to guide auto-focus.

I consider this Part II and my final review of the Polaroid I-2, with Part I published here.

Nicole with the Polaroid I-2, shot with Leica M10-R, 50 Summicron Rigid.

One essential improvement I really like and use almost every single time on the Polaroid I-2 is its Aperture mode. Of course, you can go with Shutter priority or even Full Manual if you wish to, with only ISO fixed because we are photographing on film medium.

Not being high and mightly, but with PASM modes available, it is frankly a waste to use the Polaroid I-2 on Auto mode.

Moreover, the auto mode does seem to have the tendency to over-expose in my experience.

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Aperture mode.

A reader asked me whether setting ISO values on the Polaroid I-2 is possible, which took me a deep breath to process. Thinking positively, I understand that the film medium is still new to many and that Polaroid instant photography provides easier access to film photography than going full-blown darkroom.

PASM modes and settings on the Polaroid I-2

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Aperture mode.

Regardless of how one tries to argue the point across, Polaroid instant films like Instax films are not anywhere near cheap, going to around SGD2.50 upwards per shot for the basic white framed i-Type Polaroids hence unlike digital photography when one can spam thousands of shots and later screen for the ones you like, every single shot does count for Polaroids.

It would be a tragedy for honesty if I tell people you will get 100% great shots with the Polaroid I-2; not even the Sony Alpha 1, Canon R3 or Nikon Z9 can give you that.

Fun Fact; The Polaroid I-2 only has 1 auto-focus point, dead right at center.

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Auto mode.

An example of a misfire would be the one above, the shot was done in Auto mode, and the result was the accumulation of two errors, one in that the auto-focus missed and that the shot was totally over-exposed.

In the portraiture shoot with Nicole here, the number of duds was 2 shots out of 2 packs, giving me an 88% keeper rate. "Keeper" means the autofocus and exposure were proper with a well-developed sharp print.

I made my point that Polaroids aren't cheap and that a mistake means a wasted shot, but then why do I still stick to using them?

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Aperture mode.

I think probably the best answer is two-pronged. Nothing still comes close to the output of film medium, even in our current world of countless digital filters that aim to simulate film output.

Secondly, of course, would be the spontaneity of photographing with film, with the instant film being the 'lazier' way out versus using 135 or even 120 films (which I do with my Leica MP and Nikon 35Ti). Of course, I can shoot digitally with post-processing possibilities for my clients to deliver the shots to their specifications. Still, with film, nothing really brings a smile as fast as taking a shot and handing the person the hard copy almost immediately.

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Aperture mode.

There are many choices of printers and other instant cameras too. Still, I argue that they all have moved towards being the modern accepted definition of a 'correct print,' being all sharp, clear, and saturated. They have evolved toward being "boring" to me, which, unlike Polaroid films, still very much retain similar characteristics of what they were from many decades ago.

*it is argued that the current modern Polaroid films are not the same as they were after the Impossible Project took over from the nearly-dead Polaroid years ago, and I agree.

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Aperture mode.

That said, I know while using the digital camera almost daily, there will be days when I get tired of the format and gladfully take up the Polaroid I-2 for a wee bit of enjoyment.

To me, shooting a Polaroid camera (a good one at that) is enjoying a process that digital cameras can't emulate, and in that itself is precious.

i-Type film on Polaroid I-2, Aperture mode

Thank you for reading.

Nicole with the Polaroid I-2, shot with Leica M10-R, 50 Summicron Rigid.

Disclaimers:

All product photos and samples here were photographed by me. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own product photos.

2. For disclosure, all samples were shot with my personal set of the Polaroid I-2 and my own Polaroid film, which I fully paid for. All scans were done at 600 DPI, and simply cropped to the corners for sharing.

3. This review is not sponsored.

4. I write as a passion and a hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.

5. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support me by contributing to my fees to WordPress for the domain using the Paypal button at the bottom of the page.