The Polaroid Now+ Hands-On Review

This stunning camera invigorates a nostalgic feel, but strikes strong with modern flexibility. For an additional cost, Polaroid’s Now+ includes app-based manual control and a set of colorful filters designed to widen the creative spectrum. Polaroid still offers the same film used by previous models, making your upgrade even easier. Still, this bad boy is an enchanting powerhorse for niche photographers wanting to step out-of-the-box.

Available in 3 colors, the Polaroid Now+ fosters the same functions as the vintage all-stars. The system made to capture and eject the film implies the camera's familiar shape and size. Sleek and shiny, the bodies are as beautiful as ever, while being compact enough to travel with you on the fly. Just shy of a pound built by plastic, the Now+ is also light and breezy for daily use.

Although it skips out on the front selfie mirror, I don’t find that to be an important take-away. Simply center the camera’s direction and fire away! Its 35mm angle makes it easy for single-person portraits, so stand close with another friend if you plan to capture an image arm’s-length away.

The set of filters is a sweet catch, and I was stoked to give them a twirl. They slip right onto the lens, which is a breeze compared to other filters that require a screw thread. There's yellow, red, green, and blue colors made useful for brightening various parts of the photos with black-and-white film, or to cast vibrant hues for creative shots.

But perhaps the greatest feature I’ve fallen in love with is its excessively awesome exposure techniques, including manual control, light play, and aperture priority. Working in tandem with a remote shutter release button, you have access to unlimited potential. It even boasts a portrait assistant to help you get the camera close enough for a blurred bokeh background. Best part? Working with the mobile app is completely optional, so if you’re not into additional steps you don’t have to partake. Though, using it will open the door to fun avenues you wouldn’t otherwise partake in with other point-and-shoots.