Is Polaroid's Now 3rd Gen camera worth the $99.99 price drop?

For at least a decade there has been a nostalgic feeling gripping people in response to the digitization of everything. We’ve seen this mainly in products like vinyl, and even apps like Slowly that make you wait before your friends receive your “letter”. Another such product trying to capitalize on nostalgia is the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation camera. For a limited time, you can pick it up for just $99.99, instead of $119.99.

If you are still searching for a gift for Father’s Day, taking advantage of this limited-time deal would be our suggestion. The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is available in several colors but only four - Black, Coral, Purple, and Yellow - are available for $99.99, and they all look great.

While there is certainly nothing wrong with snapping photos on your phone and storing them in the cloud, you do lose out on the tactileness of a photograph that you get with the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation. Additionally, in recent years, Google has been nagging everyone that their Google Photos storage is about to run out, urging you to delete photos or pay to upgrade, in future clean ups, you might accidentally delete a photo you really wanted to keep, you can’t do that as easily with hard-copy photograph.

What it does (and doesn’t)

With the 3rd generation of Polaroid Now, you get several improvements over the predecessor. There is a better light meter, upgraded two-lens autofocus, a built-in tripod mount, photo filter compatibility, a self-timer to take snaps with yourself included, and double-exposure modes.

This camera remains faithful to the iconic Polaroid design but comes with new colors, four of which are now $99.99 for a limited time. Environmentalism has become all the rage in recent years and consumers want stuff that’s produced more responsibly; to this end, Polaroid has used 40% recycled materials to reduce waste and improve the product’s carbon footprint.

The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation uses Polaroid i-Type Film and 600 Film, both of which are sold separately. The cost of the film is probably the biggest issue with this product, it’s priced at $17.99 per 8-pack, so you’re definitely going to want to be mindful about the shots you take. You can cut the cost by buying in bulk.

Some of the reviewers were also disappointed with the low-light shots they took indoors. If you are planning to take indoor shots, then be mindful about what other people have said. Outdoors, everything seems in order.

The two-lens autofocus system mentioned earlier is a key new feature of this camera. The system combines two fixed focus zones with one lens covering distances from 0.40 meters to 1.3 meters, and the other covering from 1.0 meter to infinity. The camera then automatically switches lenses depending on the best one for the shot.

With the self-timer, you can now set up the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation on a tripod and join in with a group photo, or just take a shot of yourself. The double exposure feature lets you layer two images on one piece of film to bring out your creativity to create visually striking and unexpected results.

How it compares

At this discounted price, the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is the same price as the 2nd Generation model, but gets newer features. It should also be stated that there’s a Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation which you can connect to your phone to control with an app, but it’s priced higher.

If you’re just looking for a camera that doesn’t complicate things, then the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is the ideal model. You get the new hardware features, but don’t need to worry about extra connectivity.

Who it’s right for

The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is ideal for casual photographers, those looking to snap memories to tangible film, gift-givers looking to buy a parent a Father’s Day gift, or those who love the classic Polaroid aesthetic and want it on a shelf somewhere for decorative purposes.

While the camera is now priced well at $99.99, buyers need to consider the on-going cost of the film, which can add up. For anyone who hasn’t used a film camera before, it’s also important for me to point out that prints take a bit of time to develop, some users have also complained about the low-light performance when indoors.

If you’re looking for snapping retro outdoor shots, the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is definitely worth your consideration!

• Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Black): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off
• Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Coral): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off
• Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Purple): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off
• Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Yellow): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off

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