Customer Reviews

Polaroid i-Zone 200 Mini Instant Camera

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

While this isn't something you want to take "picture" pictures with, it is a unique little device that creates an unconventional product, almost in the same vein as the Pixelvision camera.

You have to put in a little practice to get the hang of capturing clear images with the i-zone. You have to be very still holding the camera, the light has to be right (that is to say: abundant) and even the best pictures are still only 1.5 x 1" in size. In this digital age, most will consider it a pain to take that kind of care for such a small result but those who do will probably be able to use these cameras in an innovative way. I've heard that this has been discontinued and have stashed away several clips of film so I can continue to use this when I want.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: You can actually get a Polaroid double exposure with these things. Take a photograph. Leave the strip inside the camera. Take another photograph. Extract the film and you'll see two images, one on top of the other. The second snapshot you take tends to be the dominant image, while the first one is fainter. I recommend using the flash if you plan to experiment with double exposures.

This is not a camera any adult would enjoy in today's age of electronics, but what a winner with kids! My daughter received this for her 4th birthday and still loves it a year later! She takes pictures of everything "important" to her and has made her own little scrapbook. I now give them as birthday gifts for her friends, and it's always the "favorite gift."

If you need an inexpensive gift for someone age 4-14, this will be a guaranteed hit! Even if they already have a conventional camera, you can't beat the instant gratification of having the picture develop right before your eyes. (Buy extra film to go with it, though; it's difficult to come by and may be discontinued soon.)

I've been a fan of the i-Zone since they first came out. The tiny photos are so much fun and everyone seems to love posing for them.

This i-Zone 200 is a step up from the original. Still as easy to use, still gives the same great little pictures. It just looks a little more "grown up" than the colorful little i-Zone pocket cameras. Feels a bit more durable too (which is good, since I like to carry it around with me to get spur of the moment shots of friends and family).

My only complaint is that the film is sometimes hard to find locally, but it's a good thing it's always available here online!

It can be a bit of a pain to keep pulling the pics out of the camera, and to get just the 2 x 1" pic you have to use scissors (at least on the sticky film), but it is a fun little device. Seems to take great pics in all kinds of light. You can't find anything like it on the market, at least not without a printer and a glue stick. It's not a Leica, but if you have reasonable expectations, you won't be disappointed. I got this for a wedding reception; we snapped pics and put them in the guestbook. It was a big hit.

A tip: Those having trouble may be either using the "outdoor" setting indoors as I did a few times (it makes dark pics), or shooting too far from the flash (you need to shoot within 5-6' to illuminate your subject).

I work at an animal shelter and we like to have a picture of each animal on their cage cards. It used to be a hassle. Someone would e-mail me the pictures, I'd have to shrink them down, print then out, cut them out and tape them to the cards. Now, with my new Polaroid i-Zone 200 with sticky film, I can take the animal's picture and immediately stick it on their cage card, eliminating all those other steps! Unless you have a specific purpose for this camera like I did, it's probably only good for kids and teens. The film is extremely expensive though.

We got this for my 4 year old nephew to learn photography. He understood the mechanism well except that you have to manually remove the film after you take a shot. I kept forgetting this as well! If you do not remove the film, you just take another picture over the other one. This camera design is somewhat flawed, there should be a better fail safe mechanism.
Get a different Polaroid. Don't get me wrong, Polaroids are great for kids though! My nephew is a definitely budding photographer.

The photos from this camera are tiny but legible. Not for albums (unless your album is 2" X 1") but perfect for gatherings with friends & family. When I have a dinner party I take a photo of each person as they come in and use it as a placecard or name tag. Since the camera itself is inexpensive I don't mind if even the little kids want to play around with it and I let them take their own pictures. Watching the film develop is part of the fun.

Bought this thinking it included film. It did not and film is not available. Well I did find some at $85 a pop.

I am extremely disappointed with the packaging. I ordered 5 NEW for Christmas presents and when I received them, they looked as though they were used. The package had been opened and re-taped, it was dirty and I am embarrassed to give them as gifts. I haven't used them yet because I thought that they would come with at least a trial film to get started, but the film is not included. I am praying that they work better than they look.

I bought it for my nephew for his third birthday. I didnt want to spend $80 on a polaroid.
This camera has never worked from day one and the only reason I gave it one star was because he uses
and pretends to take pictures. Spend the extra money if you want real pictures.