Instant Cameras

Prior to the invention of instant cameras you either spent a lot of time learning how to use your box camera or you took bad pictures. It was about that simple. You also had to be prepared to lay out some big money for that box camera as well as the cost for developing film. Lastly, you had to wait for the photos to come back from the developer.

With the introduction of the Polaroid instant camera all of that changed. For just a few dollars you could have an easy to use camera that developed the photos as you watched. For those of us old enough to remember the introduction of the instant camera this seemed like magic.

There were of course non-Polaroid instant cameras and there still are other brands such as the Konica instant press camera but the Polaroid instant cameras were the ones that most of us remember best and with the most admiration.

The Kodak instant camera was also well received and had a huge and loyal fan base for years and years. As with the Polaroid some of the reasons for this huge following were cost, ease of use, and immediate developing of the film.

As instant cameras became more popular with the general pubic the price of even the best ones soon decreased to a level that just about anyone could afford to buy one. Some people even went so far as to use them for making money. Polaroid instant camera booths sprang up all over the place. For a buck or two you could have your photo taken on the spot and get the print in a matter of minutes. These were great draws at country fairs and carnivals.

Next to hit the scene was the disposable instant camera that would allow you to use it and then toss it. These were even lower in price than their big brothers and they, too, found a huge market. Again, the low price and the ease of use were two of the main benefits that many people found attractive. The idea that you could use it and then throw it away was a novel idea and many people fell in love with these very handy devices.

As technology advanced in this area the major players were able to reduce the amount of knowledge needed to operate the instant camera to the level that they were able to make an instant camera for kids. These are perhaps the easiest cameras to use and most children can quickly figure out the process as there are only a couple of steps to take before the photo is taken and finished. Kids love them and so do adults.