Do you remember the magic of instant photography back in the days when it was film not digital? The thrill of waiting for an image to materialise before your eyes? Well, it all started on this day in 1948 with the release of the first commercial instant camera – the Polaroid Land Camera Model 95.
It was a chilly November day in Boston. Shoppers at the Jordan Marsh department store were buzzing around, hunting for perfect Christmas gifts. Suddenly, a new item caught their eyes – a sleek, portable camera that promised sepia-toned photographs in just about a minute. No more waiting for film development, no more guessing if the shot turned out right. Instant gratification in the palm of your hand.
Polaroid thought they had enough stock to last through the holiday season, but guess what? All 57 units and all the film sold out on the very first day.
The genius behind this game-changer was none other than Edwin H. Land, the company’s founder, whose name the camera proudly bore. The Model 95 set the stage for Polaroid’s flagship product line, making the name ‘Polaroid’ synonymous with instant film and the cameras that used them.
In 1950, true black-and-white instant film came along, and by 1963, we finally had colour film. Polaroid continued to produce their instant film cameras until 2008, leaving a legacy of instant memories captured and cherished.
Have you ever owned a Polaroid camera? Do you prefer this old-school way of capturing a memory to today’s digital alternative?
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