Why you should NOT buy the Polaroid Go (in 2022). Watch this first (review and experience)!!!

In this video I share my experience with the new Polaroid Go instant camera. I really wanted to love this mini instant camera and the design is fantastic, but I show you my results with image quality and share my honest opinion about buying the Polaroid Go. I also compare the Polaroid Go vs Instax Mini cameras to show you what your options are for the best instant camera out right now.
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[@kfxxx6024]

I’m only commenting here in case anyone from the future decides to dive into the comments for a second opinion. THIS is the opinion you were looking for. I’ve owned this camera basically since it came out. I’ve shot it in very dark places and I’ve shot it outside. I’ve mostly shot portraits of friends or landscapes. I feel like this review is just based off the opinion of someone who didn’t really know how to approach the type of film, respectfully. Polaroid is known for its quality but also, is more for the people who are passionate about film. I say this because it takes up to 15 min to develop, in this case, for the Polaroid Go. Something to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t shoot from a long distance nor a short one but more so of a arm-length distance. Lighting is very important too. If you’re in a dark space you might want to switch the flash on. This camera is so fun, has a built in timer and can even shoot double exposure! When it comes to Polaroid, you HAVE to be patient. But honestly, if what you’re looking for is a camera to point and shoot and for it to develop super fast, and all you want is a cute instant film picture, then you should consider Fujifilm instead. :)

[@butterfliesinmybrain]

❤ totally agree!

[@Musicwack]

I came across this video cause it screamed clickbait with the picture 😂. I needed to see the cons which basically ended up him complaining about the exposure with sample photos that showed an exposure torture test. Shooting a mirror selfie - flash right back into the camera/meter. And a white dog laying on white sheets - light reflector bouncing the flash back into the camera 🤦‍♂️ He barely showed any other photos, what the hell?! I’ve watched other reviews with good results so definitely user error on this video. I appreciate your comment/mini review!

[@cizko84]

Ty so much ❤

[@mitekat]

Thanks for all the information, I am going to buy it. ❤ and yes, many people don’t explain it's a very nice film effect. And spend some time trying it. I love it, I also have a Lomo camera and a Fuji instant camera.

[@Musicwack]

Never considered this camera but one of my favorite photographers has been posting shots he’s taken with the Go and I was liking the aesthetic. Came across your review since I wanted a deeper look. So let me get this straight, you explain that a camera with auto exposure, that has a f/12 lens and complain about indoor and darkly lit situations? 😂 First picture which is the selfie, not the best but really not the worst. Almost has the same vibe shown in that official Polaroid sample. Second photo, you take a mirror selfie with the flash on. You just shot a huge light source right into the camera/meter, what were you expecting? 3rd photo, you shot a white dog laying on white sheets, which is basically a reflector, so again you are just bouncing light back at you. What were you expecting? 4th photo, looks fine. Lastly the useable shots to you were the ones taken in bright daylight. Uhhh. Yeah cause it’s a f/12 lens…. 🤦‍♂️ And where are those samples? Would have been good for your review. I appreciate the other parts of the review though, but you sort of dropped the ball with the sample size there.

[@harrybiscoe911]

I'm going snowboarding mid February and wanted to get a Polaroid. Is the Polaroid Go a good choice for this. Stationery photos and indoor photos. Not while I'm snowboarding Thanks

[@coachtomas]

Honestly, I think people are missing the point by a long mile with the Go. How does one person take amazing shots with the Go and the other not ? You have to learn every camera's strengths and weaknesses. Every camera has them. Another point is that I just think you are not familiar with the instant film format and using it. I noticed your only other reviews are of Instax instant cameras which are the polar opposite of the Polaroid aesthetic.

[@amnm22]

I agree with you! Before I purchased the Go, I watched many videos of the polaroid go that always show the cons but never more of what it's capable of. I admit, I was skeptical at first thinking the camera was really bad. Now, I use it as my go to camera. You really do have to learn the camera's strength and weaknesses. By doing that, I got great shots using it. They weren't dark or bad quality like people make it out to be. Overall, a great camera to take with you everyday.

[@ofoosy]

I have this camera, and you hit the nail on the head. I love the format and the design. As I don't like the portrait orientation of Instax mini. It underexposes anything. Add to that abysmal dynamic range. I love the good ones I get, but that only happens in the middle of the day outside. Polaroid really needs to get some experienced chemical engineers to redo their formulation overall. But they need to completely relaunch this product. As it is I've disassembled it to see how it functions and if I can improve anything.

[@DominicPhillip]

They really dropped the ball. Hopefully version 2 is much better!

[@Wii505]

They are redoing the formula already. Do you can't them start over again and have the film look worst, instead of getting better and better!?

[@BeansIgnacio]

At first, I don't like this camera and how the photos turn out. I bought a mini 90 for more accurate photos but later on, I like how the photos are more on polaroid go it gives me a vibe of magic. Unpredictable yet amazing.

[@fridawer7362]

Hi, I wanted to know something: is it normal that the little light on the side, where the USB charging port is, is always on? I mean even when it should be off. It turns off by touching the little black button, but then as soon as it moves I hear like a "clack" and it turns on again, without having clicked the button. I ask, because if not I have to return it 😂

[@knoptop]

Great overview! I'd be curious to hear your thoughts if you get a chance to try out the new '2nd gen' Go camera that has just been released!

[@Musicwack]

I think it’s literally the same camera but with a USB-C port.

[@DominicPhillip]

I really want to love this camera but just can't do it.

[@katyuha555]

You compare a polaroid to instax. What did you expect lol. It's a whole different mechanic You can't expose the pic to light to make the best results. Plus it's not camera that is designed for flash or indoors. It's supposed to give the nostalgic, beautiful feeling of old polaroid, and it does that. If you want a camera that just prints selfies at home, that ain't the one, and you can't compare it to one.

[@DominicPhillip]

Fair points.

[@RamoArt]

The people I'm surrounded with don't really know much about photography but everyone loves instant cameras. They call everything Polaroid - most people actually have Instax cameras though. It's the same thing to them. So I thought it's kind of silly that you claim the two can't even be compared.

[@jorgeperezsoto3853]

I just bought it, I liked it

[@jend9092]

I agree with everything… but, it’s very nostalgic back in the 80’s/90’s they were like this and taking 5-10 min for the pic to show is normal if going for old school. Gotta either love it or hate it, there is no in between

[@mystdragon8530]

I have both Polaroid Go and an Fuji Instimax. The Fuji is good and overall I think it is more versatile for taking pictures. The pictures are Pretty clear and you can pretty mush just start shooting. The Polaroid Go does have a bit of a learning curve, but once you understand when an and wear you can take pictures it is pretty fun and online the old style effect. A lot of my pictures are not sharp if taken from too far away. Up close they are very clear. I think this guys review is mostly right, but he needs to spend more time with the camera to actually point out how good it is when you know what your doing.

[@voldemorthasrisen7758]

my boyfriend got me this camera for Christmas and I've taken around 10 pictures with it and only 2 of them actually developed well. I made sure to put the pics in a dark place after I took them as well... Most of the pictures came out just dark or dark with brown splotches and it was just really disappointing and not worth the money at all.

[@DominicPhillip]

Return if you can. It's def not good enough to justify the price.

[@White_Recluse]

Got it at a pawn shop for $40, indoors it sucks unless you’re close to white walls for the light to bounce around they come out dark even in well lit areas.

[@DominicPhillip]

How's yours shooting outside in good light though?

[@White_Recluse]

@@DominicPhillip Outdoors it’s great! Wouldn’t recommend for landscapes but some of my best Polaroids are from this camera. But for a camera that has the same issues as the Polaroid Now if not worse I can’t recommend buying it full price.

[@areallyrealisticguyd4333]

Polaroid clearly didn't test this enough before putting this out in the market. Such a massive middle finger to those who enjoyed spectra and saw it get axed for this. spectra was already a niche in the community but I don't see anyone using this anytime soon unless they made a better camera for the format

[@DominicPhillip]

You said it perfectly!

[@captainmakai]

I had a Spectra, was my late Grandads. I miss them both so much 😢

[@Sammyisinmytoilet]

He was dissing the instax mini and praising the go. But now he hates the go? What? This is confusing.

[@zebare726]

I see this model as nothing more than opening the market to people who have never owned an instax or polaroid camera before. That is, people see this camera and buy it because it stands out so much. Of which they buy a better model after a while. However i would never view this one as an main polaroid/Instax to bring with.

[@Sabundy]

But if the photo quality is shit and it gives people poor results then it could just as easily turn people off to instant cameras/photography

[@DominicPhillip]

It’s true, and this video won’t change much, but hopefully the ones out there like me will do a quick research and see that this camera just isn’t it.

[@Sabundy]

@@DominicPhillip right 👍👍👍

[@zebare726]

@@Sabundy I think many people want the so-called retro analog vibe when buying a Polaroid camera, aka you don't know what you're getting. Also this seems to be Polaroid's answer to Instax mini, a camera series which offers lower picture quality, of which the more expensive one is for those who want more. However go need an price drop to ateast 60$

[@sandrinojohnsun9949]

I love the small size but the photos are so dark. I'll stick with my 600 supercolor

[@DominicPhillip]

The design is so good! But they really screwed up the actual execution. Hopefully a new version will drop and it’s fixed

[@Sabundy]

And Polaroid has still not improved their chemical mix with their instant film while it's still expensive. Whereas Instax film is just more stable, has better colours, and it's cheaper.

[@DominicPhillip]

And so much faster!

[@Wii505]

They had to reinvent their film and Fuji didn't have to do that any point. And Polaroid is constantly trying to improve their film

[@Sabundy]

@@Wii505 excuses excuses and more excuses. Plus, they largely stopped improving it. It has not changed in ages now. Hence why you constantly hear so many people complaining about the consistency and quality of the film not improving for the last few years. And....they are still only giving 8....8! shots of film while charging more money. Despite their customers complaining about this. Instead Polaroid is off wasting money making speakers no one asked for.

[@lilms.deafpastrychef7249]

I love polaroid I know it's not instant that's the fun of it polaroid is ment take pictures in the moment I'd it was instant like the instax I will be wasting film trying to get the photo right that's no fun. I got the polaroid lab to take photos off my phone for photo books ect. Instax I will get for party wedding something that need to be instant quickly.

[@zebare726]

I use my instax Evo when I want good quality pictures immediately or to save for later...Travel camera.. While my polaroid go is for outdoor summer parties with friends...Cheap party tech.. And my polaroid 660 is for moments when every picture matters.

[@waynekinder]

I wish Fujifilm would make a super mini version as this Polaroid is so cute but the film chemistry is nowhere near as good as Instax. I really love the look of this camera though. Such a shame it's basically unusable for its purpose.

[@DominicPhillip]

A real mini would be awesome.

[@waynekinder]

@@DominicPhillip Instax Micro 😀😀

[@butterfliesinmybrain]

Polaroid isn’t supposed to look like instax. Polaroid’s pictures are beautiful the way they are and they have character. Anyway, if you want sharp images, shoot digital.

[@finnallen453]

Im looking to get one do you think i should get one

[@DominicPhillip]

Nope. I’d stay away.

[@ianmcintosh9945]

Don’t get it

[@coachtomas]

I'd say try it. Don't take one reviewers opinion for anything. Watch multiple reviews, then form your own opinion.

[@Attropi]

I got one for 35euros I mean its worth it

[@vp_musik]

Polaroid is not amazing but will be special forever.

[@Otokichi786]

It underexposes indoor/no flash scenes. Automatic exposure only. Film takes 5-10 minutes to fully develop. (It's even more of a Toy camera than the Fuji Instax cameras!?) Oh well, the company will make money from film, since you will have more duds than keepers. (Which is why I stayed away from instant picture cameras in favor or regular or electronic digital cameras that have exposure controls.;) Mad magazine was right about Polaroid all those years ago...and today.

[@DominicPhillip]

You’re right on! Hopefully they fix it in a version 2.

[@polatronic8139]

I can't understand why they pushing the camera manufacturing during they don't have competitive film... Slow film + s**ty, cheap camera = dissatisfied customers, who turn to Instax if this was their first experience with Polaroid...

[@Sabundy]

Exactly

[@SageGilbert191]

I got it in 2023, so your rules don’t apply to me! I’m watching this video through the viewfinder

[@voldemorthasrisen7758]

i got one in 2024 and ive had a bad expierience with it :(

[@dixienormis6836]

eco friendly products make me avoid them.. making something that lasts and for a good price would actually benefit the environment lol

[@a8632286322]

I have the same issue, poor indoor performance…