Polaroid JoyCam Film Camera
- Zoom Lens: Without Zoom Lens
- Zoom Range: 92 mm
- Camera Type: Point and Shoot
- Overview
-
Reviews
- Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
What inanimate object would you pose?
Pros
An instant photo - who needs more than that?
Cons
The cost of film and the fact that not every picture will develop properly.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
While the camera is by no means an amazing electronic advance the instant gratification factor is a delight. I'd recommend it to film conservationists for the occasional usage.
The joycam. A piece of technology bringing the occasional joy, yet a simultaneous pain in its cost of maintenance. If you can be entrusted to not waste film exposures on exotic barbie poses, then this just may be the toy for you!
I purchased my camera and several rolls of film at a relatively decent price engaging in the commonplace fun of scamming the system. Which system is irrelevant, as any type of Internet purchasing deals can be considered good times. The camera retails at around $25 and a roll of ten exposures retails anywhere from $9-12. For the longest time there was a rebate of $12.01 off a camera or off of a three pack of film. My scamming came into place by having several friends receive the rebate in their names at their addresses after I had mailed in my own, so that I could stock up on the outrageously priced film while simultaneously getting around that entire business of one rebate per customer. I highly recommend this method
One rebate is simply not enough. The price of the camera is certainly a plus, however the film price is what drains the wallet. The $10 per exposure cost equals one dollar per photo. This is an absolutely ridiculous price unless you plan to rip off a Polaroid company. And ahhhh, what a surprise, the photos don't always come out! In reality out of those ten exposures, eight will develop properly.
TIP: Try seeking out film on ebay - there are usually auctions for lower prices than you'll find in stores. If you have sketchy inclinations towards the hassle of shipping prices the lowest prices I've seen in stores have been at Walmart, also I've frequently seen price reduction coupons in CVS fliers knocking a dollar or two off the cost.
Ok, the cost has been established. If you aren't scared off yet, I'll proceed with my description. The photos are the most bizarre size, unlike that of any other instant camera I have seen. They are about half the size and rectanglish, as opposed to the ever popular squarish. Good luck in any attempt to find a photo frame to fit these pictures...I've placed the majority of mine on the fridge and have included some in collages. Many people complain that the quality of the photos isn't that wonderful. I've had my share of screwups, the occasional photo comes out blank - once two photos overlapped, with the second image looking like an apparition. For the most part I can't complain about the quality. You don't even need to wear makeup for a session with this camera, it's as if concealer and lipstick are built into the flash! My vainest of friends adore the results.
There is a downside to producing an amazing picture with this camera - there are no negatives. On the upside, as the photo arrives instantly, if you like it enough, you can just snap another photo. However, as the cost of film is high - who wants to do this with every enjoyable photo? Plus, what if your enjoyment of the photo is a delayed reaction?
TIP: There are now stores, such as CVS that have these Kodak picture maker machines. You can take your joycam shot, place it in and make an entire sheet of the photo in all different sizes. Voila - an entire sheet of reprints! Or you can always just use a scanner.
The camera mechanism is as simplistic as its photos. Turn it on, press the red button then pull the photo out manually. I've accidentally pressed the red button when not meaning to, therefore getting a blank photo. While it seems simple enough to use, it is absolute hell trying to show someone else how to operate the camera. "I have to pull what?" "I have to push what?" "You mean I really have to pull the photo out myself?" "This is too much, here someone else take the photo." Sometimes it can be tricky pulling on the lever that removes the photo, but it's really not as much of an emotional issue as others make of it.
The camera is quite simple to load and for the longest time I was unaware that the camera also counts how many photos there are. I was trying to keep track in my head, a failure, naturally. As it turns out there is a tiny circle on the top of the camera that counts the exposures in a descending manner. This number is not always accurate. It still said I had five exposures reaming when I in fact had none, most likely due to my repetitively trying to take a photo when out of film (some of life's realizations come hard) - that manual counting factor gone wrong once again.
TIP: For an accurate countdown. Before loading new film, press the red button repetitively to get the count back to where it should be.
A note about the camera - it is vital to remember to shut it off. The film also contains the battery - if the battery runs out then the film is wasted and ten plus dollars are down the drain. While there is a flash, pictures should be taken in lighting, preferably daylight or else the quality is poor. Also, you must be close, within a few feet when taking pictures or, similar to taking photos in poor lighting, the result will be negative. Here's some more miscellaneous information to squeeze into this paragraph. The size of the camera is not very practical, I can't manage to fit it in a purse and I'm not about to carry it due to its odd size. I usually keep it home and limit my photos to that.
This camera is excellent for those in need of instant gratification. It's also fun for surprises. It's best when used as proof. Once when I was away for the weekend and gave a friend my key, I arrived back to a photo of what went on while I was away - it was definitely good for a laugh. I've known groups to use the joycam for charitable purposes - for example taking photos of couples on Valentine's Day. I've also used it for a more personal touch to thank you cards after a weekend visit with friends. I'm fond of making photo collages and the unique joycam size helps create a more eye invigorating collage
I don't know if I recommend this camera, it worked for me as I purchased three, three packs of film for a discounted price with the rebates, however the price reduction is no longer available. It's certainly a fun camera and it can also be convenient, if you know to conserve the film. I wouldn't recommend this camera for young children. Two of my cousins received their cameras for Christmas, and they each went through their film within ten minutes - one by taking miscellaneous shots of furniture and the other by placing her barbies in seductive model poses and having a photo shoot. Good luck to their father restocking their film! The quality of the camera and its film truly is in the hands of it's beholder.
I purchased my camera and several rolls of film at a relatively decent price engaging in the commonplace fun of scamming the system. Which system is irrelevant, as any type of Internet purchasing deals can be considered good times. The camera retails at around $25 and a roll of ten exposures retails anywhere from $9-12. For the longest time there was a rebate of $12.01 off a camera or off of a three pack of film. My scamming came into place by having several friends receive the rebate in their names at their addresses after I had mailed in my own, so that I could stock up on the outrageously priced film while simultaneously getting around that entire business of one rebate per customer. I highly recommend this method
One rebate is simply not enough. The price of the camera is certainly a plus, however the film price is what drains the wallet. The $10 per exposure cost equals one dollar per photo. This is an absolutely ridiculous price unless you plan to rip off a Polaroid company. And ahhhh, what a surprise, the photos don't always come out! In reality out of those ten exposures, eight will develop properly.
TIP: Try seeking out film on ebay - there are usually auctions for lower prices than you'll find in stores. If you have sketchy inclinations towards the hassle of shipping prices the lowest prices I've seen in stores have been at Walmart, also I've frequently seen price reduction coupons in CVS fliers knocking a dollar or two off the cost.
Ok, the cost has been established. If you aren't scared off yet, I'll proceed with my description. The photos are the most bizarre size, unlike that of any other instant camera I have seen. They are about half the size and rectanglish, as opposed to the ever popular squarish. Good luck in any attempt to find a photo frame to fit these pictures...I've placed the majority of mine on the fridge and have included some in collages. Many people complain that the quality of the photos isn't that wonderful. I've had my share of screwups, the occasional photo comes out blank - once two photos overlapped, with the second image looking like an apparition. For the most part I can't complain about the quality. You don't even need to wear makeup for a session with this camera, it's as if concealer and lipstick are built into the flash! My vainest of friends adore the results.
There is a downside to producing an amazing picture with this camera - there are no negatives. On the upside, as the photo arrives instantly, if you like it enough, you can just snap another photo. However, as the cost of film is high - who wants to do this with every enjoyable photo? Plus, what if your enjoyment of the photo is a delayed reaction?
TIP: There are now stores, such as CVS that have these Kodak picture maker machines. You can take your joycam shot, place it in and make an entire sheet of the photo in all different sizes. Voila - an entire sheet of reprints! Or you can always just use a scanner.
The camera mechanism is as simplistic as its photos. Turn it on, press the red button then pull the photo out manually. I've accidentally pressed the red button when not meaning to, therefore getting a blank photo. While it seems simple enough to use, it is absolute hell trying to show someone else how to operate the camera. "I have to pull what?" "I have to push what?" "You mean I really have to pull the photo out myself?" "This is too much, here someone else take the photo." Sometimes it can be tricky pulling on the lever that removes the photo, but it's really not as much of an emotional issue as others make of it.
The camera is quite simple to load and for the longest time I was unaware that the camera also counts how many photos there are. I was trying to keep track in my head, a failure, naturally. As it turns out there is a tiny circle on the top of the camera that counts the exposures in a descending manner. This number is not always accurate. It still said I had five exposures reaming when I in fact had none, most likely due to my repetitively trying to take a photo when out of film (some of life's realizations come hard) - that manual counting factor gone wrong once again.
TIP: For an accurate countdown. Before loading new film, press the red button repetitively to get the count back to where it should be.
A note about the camera - it is vital to remember to shut it off. The film also contains the battery - if the battery runs out then the film is wasted and ten plus dollars are down the drain. While there is a flash, pictures should be taken in lighting, preferably daylight or else the quality is poor. Also, you must be close, within a few feet when taking pictures or, similar to taking photos in poor lighting, the result will be negative. Here's some more miscellaneous information to squeeze into this paragraph. The size of the camera is not very practical, I can't manage to fit it in a purse and I'm not about to carry it due to its odd size. I usually keep it home and limit my photos to that.
This camera is excellent for those in need of instant gratification. It's also fun for surprises. It's best when used as proof. Once when I was away for the weekend and gave a friend my key, I arrived back to a photo of what went on while I was away - it was definitely good for a laugh. I've known groups to use the joycam for charitable purposes - for example taking photos of couples on Valentine's Day. I've also used it for a more personal touch to thank you cards after a weekend visit with friends. I'm fond of making photo collages and the unique joycam size helps create a more eye invigorating collage
I don't know if I recommend this camera, it worked for me as I purchased three, three packs of film for a discounted price with the rebates, however the price reduction is no longer available. It's certainly a fun camera and it can also be convenient, if you know to conserve the film. I wouldn't recommend this camera for young children. Two of my cousins received their cameras for Christmas, and they each went through their film within ten minutes - one by taking miscellaneous shots of furniture and the other by placing her barbies in seductive model poses and having a photo shoot. Good luck to their father restocking their film! The quality of the camera and its film truly is in the hands of it's beholder.
