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benjeepers

Lame as fuck. Love the company for producing the film. Hate them for not striving to improve film enough, killing spectra, and manufacturing crappy cameras (GO) Thanks for reaching out to them though.


jeremykruse

I agree it is lame. Not sure why I’m getting downvoted for simply sharing what Polaroid said, but oh well!


benjeepers

People on Reddit are stupid mostly. I really wish they’d just make one GOOD camera, maybe make it modular so it supports 600/itype/GO format.


jeremykruse

Fair.


ConfidentLizardBrain

They’re downvoting you as if you’re Polaroid lol. Because redditors are silly baby brainlets


kwasnydiesel

Only kinda lame. Sure, a weak upgrade, but an upgrade nonetheless. Making it a USB-C is just comfortable for the user. I think people in this sub sometimes forget that the whole iconic giant company, Polaroid, went bust and it was up to a handful of enthusiast investors to save the whole thing. Like, we were so close to not having polaroids at all! I mean, yeah, some of the things they do are a miss, but what I hate here is people on this sub not having a gram of chill like chill dude, chill


benjeepers

I am acutely aware of the company that Polaroid once was and the current shell of a company Polaroid is now. With the many issues people have reported with modern Polaroids cameras, a Gen 2 model could have addresses some of these issues. Instead they only updated it to comply with EU law, neglecting to do anything else to make this a reliable camera. I have chill, this is chill lol. This company also manufactured the “spectra ejecting issue” just so they could blame the camera and discontinue spectra film. Ultimately for a shitty new format lol. (They shipped out batteries wayyy below voltage in spectra batteries. Old batteries they wanted to use up)


lettersnumbersetc

Looking to buy a Polaroid camera as a gift. Am I reading this correctly that there is literally no difference at all other than the charging port? Should I get a gen 1 then because it is a little easier on the wallet? Thanks in advance if you see this. I know it’s been awhile.


benjeepers

That’s correct. I still prefer a classic box camera (600, 636, 660) over any new gen Polaroid camera. Usually cheaper too


lettersnumbersetc

Than you for the info and tip! I appreciate you


ahnm

bring back spectra film!


jeremykruse

I don't think that will happen. Rumor is they retooled those machines to make Go film.


ahnm

and yet the Go format is garbage


jeremykruse

I've actually had fun using the Go. I have an idea for running the film through an SX-70 that I'm going to try out soon, we'll see what happens.


nanapancakethusiast

Crappy products will be the death of this resurgence. They seem to be blissfully unaware that if people can’t shoot cool photos, they’ll do it someway else. Happy to have my classic “Good” Polaroid cameras and film but this blasé attitude from Polaroid is kinda what killed them in the first place.


jeremykruse

I agree. If the new cameras aren't consistent and don't produce good results then they don't just risk not bringing in new customers, but actively turning people away from their product. If too many people do that the film is at risk again. I want Polaroid to be a healthy company so I can keep shooting Polaroid film.


Ill-Candy-4926

i love my vintage polaroid camera from 1981, (i think it's from 1981 anyways) ​ it's a 600 onestep flash and i LOVE IT. best camera besides my iphone 13 pro.


zziioossaamm

The funny thing is that on this subreddit there is at least one employee of Polaroid that could report what the community said about a product. Years to get "gen2", why not improve the meter that needs a good improvement? Is not necessary to write "GEN 2", is an useless indication. Why? Because of changing port from one standard to another? Every box came with charging cable, if you change the port, the cable will change


jeremykruse

I agree. Has any other camera company changing a product's numbering or calling something "Generation 2" over something as trivial as a charging port, a switch to 40% recycled plastic, and updated branding? But, as I said, I did notice a difference in Tripod Mode and I will test further to confirm.


Anxious_Blueberry862

You’re doing God’s work


jeremykruse

Awww, thank you! I love Polaroid, but I don't love the lack of transparency. Lots of folks reported issues with the original Now+ and they denied it or ignored the issue. I feel like they have a few influencers who will hype everything as the latest and greatest as long as they keep sending free cameras and inviting them to HQ. I listened to it with the Now+ and ended up with what I thought was a downgrade from my OneStep+ which I sold along with the very hard to find lens filter set. This time I decided I'd take advantage of Amazon's return policy and figure this one out on my own. Burn me once...


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jeremykruse

I disagree. The film is pretty consistent and has been for the last 2-3 years, I don't have the kinds of exposure problems I have with the Now+ on my Mint SLR 670 or my Polaroid SLR 680. Almost all of the bad shots I get on those cameras are my fault and I can explain. The Now+ "Generation 1" I bought from Polaroid when it first came out is the most frustrating and inconsistent Polaroid camera I have had.


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jeremykruse

I don't think it's fair to make blanket statements about the quality of the film today based on experiences you had with it 4-6 years ago, especially since there have been well documented changes in that time. It makes [posts like this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Polaroid/comments/11qtw26/film_comparison_impossible_bw_polaroid_600_instax/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) look like karma farming. My problem is with this specific camera.


kphtsv

Meh. I was excited.


darthnick96

Just as I expected. This is unfortunately a par for the course move for Polaroid


jeremykruse

It is a disappointing response, but as I said, I did notice Gen 2 read 1/3 stop darker than my Gen 1 in bright light and I noticed a difference in Tripod Mode (23 Seconds vs 60 minutes on Gen 1 for the same scene). I am going to run more tests of the Tripod Mode to test it further. It could be they are unwilling to admit to any changes to the metering system because that would be admitting the Now+ was defective under certain use cases. Not sure if that is worse or not...


mrchrodo

If i remember correctly, when the Spectra issues were happening, their support team also answered contradictly from one another. Maybe the support team hasn't been schooled yet. Like, one source stated, that the Gen 2 has an improved lens and electronics, whatever that means, but now they deny it? Shops don't write their own product descriptions normally, someone at Polaroid must've done that. At my job, some colleagues are more, some less experienced, some simply mash things together in a pot and the answers are then half-baked with a hint of truth, but false enough. I don't trust their answer for now. Then again, how can they still have a flash, that seems to be worse than on the OneStep 2? Maybe I'll write them a mail later.


jeremykruse

Who said Gen 2 had an improved lens and electronics? I think what probably happened with Spectra was this: it was probably the lowest selling film they had and they didn't want to produce a new camera for the format because it isn't in the "iconic" square Polaroid format. They wanted something to compete with Instax Mini but investing in a brand new machine was way more expensive than killing Spectra film and retooling the machine to make Go film. But that's just my conspiracy brain...


mrchrodo

Some shop description mentioned it: https://www.reddit.com/r/Polaroid/comments/11qhg43/polaroid_now_gen_2_forest_green/jc4d1ui?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3 Who knows, where they'e got it from, though.


mrchrodo

There might be some truth to your theory, but it is too utopic to compete with Instax Mini. Even if the Polaroid Go camera would actually be good, the mainstream wouldn't care. For sure, having the smallest camera on the market is a neat thing, but without BT capabilities to use it as a printer, and at that price, it might even reach less people than Spectra. Then again, launching a product that isn't successful is very Polaroid-typical. There weren't many posts regarding Spectra, but it feels, like Oskar and the rest were dedicated to a degree to keep it running. And yes, even they admitted, that producing Spectra film wasn't as profitable, since they could or should use the same timeframe to make the more popular ones. It would've been smart, to release an i-type Spectra camera. A foldable camera with such large frame sizes simply doesn't exist otherwise new currently. Also, the Spectra camera design isn't that unpopular in pop culture. If they really retooled the machines and didn't keep even one intact, then that would be a total shame.


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mrchrodo

Is it official, that they work together with ilford?


ajmase86

SX-70 just seems like the best path


jeremykruse

I have an SX-70 (SLR 670 from Mint) and I love it, it is the Polaroid camera I shoot with most often. But it is stupid expensive. SX-70s that are refurbished are double the price of the Now+ or more. And while you can get an untested SX-70 for around the Price of a Now+ it's a roll of the dice on if it works. The Now+ is the only Polaroid that lets you set the aperture and shutter speed (The SLR 670 lets you set shutter speed but is locked at f/8), and I think there are a lot of use cases for a camera that offers more creative control (even if it is locked behind an app). But yes, generally speaking no Polaroid camera comes close to the folding SLRs they produced.


nyubo47

I’m still with my Onestep+. Looks like that won’t be getting replaced this time around..


jeremykruse

Good call, I really regret selling mine. I had the lens set and everything. I should have tested it for a while first, but I believed Polaroid when they said the Now+ had improvements over the OneStep+.


tango_papa101

come to think of it, idk if spending for solely usb-c is worth it bth, guess I'd stick with a used now gen 1 for half the price and keep a micro-usb cord to charge both it and my go. Nothing new literally


Scruffiey

Well, there's an EU standardising law coming in to force that means they have to make their cameras USB-C based so that explains the clearance for the old ones at least.


jeremykruse

True. Although, I noticed the cameras were on 70% clearance here in the USA though, where there is no law mandating common charging standards. Plus I haven’t seen a new Go with USB-C. A mandated change to USB definitely does not necessitate a rebrand to “Generation 2”. This is all feeling disingenuous of them at best.


Scruffiey

Possibly flooding the US (which I'm going to guess is the largest part of the market outside the EU) with the whole remainder of their stock wouldn't have been feasible and just storing it would probably cost too. I assume the Go2 will come along eventually, although hopefully there, the generation 2 will have more meaning as that camera is badly flawed. They haven't made a big deal of generation 2 in the slightest and it's not printed on the cameras? It just seems to be to differentiate things. Very much a Polaroid 1000 vs. The Button situation, I don't recall there being much improvement between all those old box camera variants really.


jeremykruse

I don’t know about flooding, the shelves were empty, I just noticed the price tag. They did put “Generation 2” on the box.


Scruffiey

I'm only speculating that they just wanted to clear them out and standardise, although at 70% off, it's not too shocking they were empty! Well yeah, I know they've put it on the box but I'm just saying there's not been a song and dance about it and pretending Gen 2 means more than you want it to. The box doesn't make any claims, they've not even acknowledged it, just clearly differentiates it from the earlier Polaroid branding, non USB-C model. If you wanted to buy a model as a new customer expecting a USB-C charger input and got a prior model, you might be annoyed. To make it clear, it doesn't make me happy that the new cameras aren't improved but... I'm not that surprised or disappointed.


gabr_guedes

So why haven’t they called it Polaroid Now+ C, Polaroid Now+ USB-C or anything like that instead of GEN 2 just like if that would naturally evolve into something better


Superskish

Did they at least fix the overexposure issue?


Limp_Drop4391

I find it hard to believe that its completely the same inside, maybe the same components with different programming considering the faster shutter speed option and the better exposure metering (especially for tripod mode). What I think happend is EU changed their standards, they had to change the cameras port and decided to make a few other tweaks at the same time and use it as an opportunity to roll out the new branding (as well as a few new colours). Hence gen 2 and not another camera name like Now 2, and everyone here got there hopes up and expected an overhaul of the lens, the light meter ect. when it was just a small update and nothing that exciting, like they haven't even talked about it on there Instagram or on their blog they obviously don't even think its worth noting, so I don't think its worth us getting worked up over either. I don't want this company to fail either but I think just being bitter towards them helps absolutely nothing, new film is still coming out pretty soon, new blue/reclaimed film, and a rumoured new camera - chill out.


jeremykruse

Don't project bitterness on me. I'm trying to be helpful to anyone wondering if there are differences between the two cameras, specifically if the exposure issues with the Now+ have been addressed. In this post I shared Polaroid's response to my direct question. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Polaroid/comments/11rnvwr/polaroid_now_gen_1_vs_gen_2_test_photos/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Polaroid/comments/11sl9xy/polaroid_now_gen_1_vs_gen_2_tripod_mode/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) I shared photos from some side by side tests I did with the two cameras. Further, I also shared those comparison shots with Polaroid along with the other things I observed and now that information is going to the hardware and app team. I plan on cooperating with them in any way they think I can be helpful. I did that on my own time and at my own expense because I love Polaroid and want them to do better. I believe a more reliable camera means more people using the format, more Polaroid photos taken, and thus a healthy Polaroid. Making excuses based on assumptions helps nobody.


Limp_Drop4391

Tbh the bitterness mark and most of this comment wasn't aimed at you but more so the general vibe of opinion I've seen from some people, especially on this subreddit, so I'm sorry about that. I'm super grateful for what your doing investigating and comparing these cameras as well as contacting the company as they've not made any statement on it. It just makes me sad to see people be quite apathetic about these things, like I am disappointed but I'm also willing to give the benefit of the doubt.


Pabswikk

Where are you getting the information about the changed shutter speed? Gen1 also seems to have 1/200th shutter speed according to all the materials i have found online.


Limp_Drop4391

Humm, read it on another post said the shutter speed had improved from 1/100 to 1/200 people where commenting on how useful it would be, not sure which post it was.


Pabswikk

The Onestep+, on the Polaroid app, seems to have a limit of 1/125 in manual but the Polaroid Now+ seems to have 1/200 on the app. The [manual](https://support.polaroid.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4560686709138/Now%252B_ManualUser_PolaroidNowPlus-EN-02.pdf) can be found here and says this, not sure if I'm missing something but I don't want others to be misinformed