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The Polaroid name will be forever synonymous with the joy of instant cameras. If you’re attracted by instant prints, but put off by having very limited control over camera and exposure settings, the sophisticated Polaroid i2 will definitely change your ideas about what an instant camera is capable of. Read on for more details, and a listing of UK dealers.
The sleek black design of the Polaroid i2 was conjured up entirely in house
What’s special about the Polaroid i2?
While the eye-catching design is an aesthetically pleasing tribute to classic Polaroid cameras from the 1980s, the technology inside the Polaroid i2 is much more up to date.
For a start, you get a much higher quality lens, autofocus and full manual control over your images.
The f/8 lens of the Polaroid i2 has a convenient focal length, and the camera lets you control aperture
Let’s look at these features in more detail. The lens has a useful focal length of 98mm (approximately 38mm in 35mm terms), making it particularly suitable for attractive people shots, with an f/8 aperture.
Unlike other instant cameras, however, you can adjust this aperture to control depth of field and for creative effect, via seven stops down to the equivalent of f/2.8.
In addition, the lens has three elements and was designed with the input of Japanese optical engineers, making it Polaroid’s sharpest-ever. The lens is also able to take filters, via the convenient 49mm filter thread.
The Polaroid i2: shooting modes
The Polaroid i2 is much more than a point-and-click device. There are six camera modes, including auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, self-timer, and multi-exposure – the first time such features have appeared on a Polaroid camera.
A handy dial around the lens of the Polaroid i2 enables you to change settings, with another for exposure compensation. You also get a tripod socket if you need to shoot at much longer exposures.
Note the large, bright optical viewfinder and ergonomic design of the Polaroid i2, which lets you quickly check exposure settings
The Polaroid i2: an instant creativity boost
A large, bright optical viewfinder shows the key settings, which you can also check on the top-plate status display. So you can quickly respond to changing light conditions, and if necessary, take advantage of the built-in flash with a generous 2.5m range. Adding further versatility, there’s also a 2.5mm flash sync socket for studio strobes.
The Polaroid i2: film choice
The Polaroid i2 takes two types of high-quality film.
The Polaroid i2 takes this colour film
Polaroid i-Type colour
This delivers eight, 108mm x 88mm prints in 10-15 minutes, with the convenient ISO rating of 640 coping with a range of lighting conditions.
And fans of black and white are catered for to by the Polaroid i2
Polaroid i-Type black and white
If you prefer the uniquely striking look of black and white, this film pack delivers eight, 108mm x 88mm prints in five to 10 minutes, again with an ISO rating of 640.
The Polaroid i2’s stylish case
There is also a range of attractive accessories for the Polaroid i2, including a premium-quality shoulder strap, camera case (above) and shoulder holster.
The Polaroid i2: where to try and buy
Here is the list of UK retailers are who currently selling the Polaroid i2, and they are also offering a hands-on test:
Bath
London Camera Exchange
13 Cheap Street, BA1 1NB, 01225 462234
Belfast
WEX Photo Video
Unit 2, Boucher Plaza, 4 – 6 Boucher Rd, BT12 6HR
028 9077 7770
Bicester
ImageX
Bure Place, Pioneer Square, OX26 6FA
Tel: 01869 368183
Birmingham
WEX Photo Video
100 Hagley Rd, B16 8LT
0121 326 7636
Bristol
London Camera Exchange
42 Park Street, BS1 5JG
0117 927 6185
Bristol
WEX Photo Video
Unit 7, Montpelier Central, Station Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5EE
0117 942 2000
Burgess Hill
Park Cameras
Victoria Business Park, York Rd, RH15 9TT
01444 237070
Burnley
Wilkinsons Cameras
95 St James’s St, BB11 1PY
01282 424524
Cambridge
Campkins Cameras
12A, King’s Parade, CB2 1SJ
01223 368087
Cambridge
WEX Photo Video
11 Green St, CB2 3JU
01223 650287
Cardiff
Camera Centre UK
14-16 Morgan Arcade, CF10 1AF
029 2039 4182
Carlisle
Wilkinsons Cameras
14-16 English St, CA3 8HX
01228 538583
Carmarthen
Carmarthen Camera Centre
Zion Chapel, Mansel St, SA31 1QX
01267 222300
Chelmsford
CameraWorld
High Chelmer Shopping Centre, CM1 1XB
01245 255510
Chester
London Camera Exchange
9 Bridge Street Row, CH1 1NW
01244 326531
Chester
Wilkinsons Cameras
18 Frodsham St, CH1 3JL
01244 403540
Chichester
London Camera Exchange
17 E Gate Square, PO19 1JL
01243 531536
Colchester
London Camera Exchange
12 Eld Lane, CO1 1LS
01206 573444
Derby
London Camera Exchange
17 Sadler Gate, DE1 3NH
01332 348644
Edinburgh
WEX Photo Video
Bonnington Business Centre, 3 Tennant St
0131 553 9979
Exeter
London Camera Exchange
174 Fore Street, EX4 3AX
01392 279024
Glasgow
WEX Photo Video
240a Bath St, G2 4JW
0141 353 0875
Gloucester
London Camera Exchange
12 Southgate Street, GL1 2DH
01452 304513
Guildford
London Camera Exchange
8-9 Tunsgate, GU1 3QT
01483 504040
Hereford
London Camera Exchange
16 Widemarsh Street, HR4 9EW
01432 272655
Kendal
Wilkinsons Cameras
19A, The Westmorland Centre, Stricklandgate, LA9 4LR
01539 735055
Leeds
WEX Photo Video
Moor Allerton District Centre, Units F&G, LS17 5NY
0113 521 0025
Lincoln
London Camera Exchange
6 Silver Street, LN2 1DY
01522 514131
Liverpool
Wilkinsons Cameras
4 Bold St, L1 4DS
0151 255 0345
London W1A
Tekzone within Selfridges
400 Oxford St, W1A 1AB
020 7160 6222
London W1T
CameraWorld
72 Wells Street, W1T 3QF
020 7636 5005
London W1T
Park Cameras
53-54 Rathbone Pl, W1T 1JR
01444 237070
London WC2
London Camera Exchange
98 Strand, WC2R 0EW
0207 379 0200
London W1F
The Photographers Gallery
16-18 Ramillies St, W1F 7LW
020 7087 9300
London SW1
Tekzone within Harrods
87-135 Brompton Rd, SW1X 7XL
020 7730 1234
London SW15
WEX Photo Video
Unit 2, Tileman House, 133 Upper Richmond Rd, SW15 2TR
020 7582 9050
London E1
WEX Photo Video
37-39 Commercial Rd, E1 1LF
020 7380 1144
London SE11
WEX Photo Video
Unit C, 250 Kennington Lane, SE11 5RD
020 7383 5127
Manchester
WEX Photo Video
Downing Street Industrial Estate, Charlton Pl, Ardwick, M12 6HH
0161 274 4455
Manchester
London Camera Exchange
16 Cross Street, M2 7AE
0161 834 7500
Milton Keynes
WEX Photo Video
Unit 14, Lloyds Court, Silbury Blvd, MK9 3EH
01908 843000
Newcastle upon Tyne
WEX Photo Video
Unit 1, Mill House, Haddricks Mill Rd, South Gosforth, NE3 1QL
0191 814 1617
Newcastle upon Tyne
London Camera Exchange
76 High Street, Gosforth, NE3 1HB
0191 213 0060
Norwich
London Camera Exchange
12 Timber Hill, NR1 3LB
01603 612537
Norwich
WEX Photo Video
Unit B, Frenbury Estate, Drayton High Rd, NR6 5DP
01603 481933
Nottingham
WEX Photo Video
103-107 Carrington St. NG1 7FE
0115 773 3647
Nottingham
London Camera Exchange
7 Pelham Street, NG1 2EH
0115 941 7486
Oxford
London Camera Exchange
3 New Inn Hall Street, OX1 2DH
01865 410456
Plymouth
London Camera Exchange
56 Cornwall Street, PL1 1LR
01752 664894
Portsmouth
London Camera Exchange
Kingswell Path, Cascades Shopping Centre, PO1 4RR
023 9283 9933
Preston
Wilkinsons Cameras
St Georges Shopping Centre, 27 Friargate, PR1 2NQ
01772 556250
Reading
London Camera Exchange
7 Station Road, RG1 1LG
0118 9592149
Royal Leamington Spa
London Camera Exchange
4c Lunn Poly House, Clarendon Avenue, CV32 5PP
01926 886166
Southampton
London Camera Exchange
11 Civic Centre Road, SO14 7FJ
0118 9592149
Southampton
London Camera Exchange
10 High St, SO14 2DH
023 8022 1597
Southport
Wilkinsons Cameras
38 Eastbank St, PR8 1ET
01704 534534
Stevenage
CameraWorld
The Old Post Office, 13 High Street, SG1 3BG
01438 367619
Taunton
London Camera Exchange
6 North Street, TA1 1LH
01823 259955
Teddington
Teddington Photographic
17 Broad St, TW11 8QZ
020 8977 1064
Warrington
Wilkinsons Cameras
10 The Mall, WA1 1QE
01925 638290
Watford
SRS Microsystems
90-92 The Parade, High St, WD17 1AW
01923 226602
Winchester
London Camera Exchange
15 The Square, SO23 9ES
01962 866203
Worcester
London Camera Exchange
8 Pump Street, WR1 2QT
01905 22314
