When comparing Impossible I-1 vs Polaroid Snap Touch, the Slant community recommends Polaroid Snap Touch for most people. In the question“What are the best instant cameras that use Polaroid film?” Polaroid Snap Touch is ranked 1st while Impossible I-1 is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Polaroid Snap Touch is:
Unlike traditional instant cameras, this camera uses a small digital image sensor. This means that the quality will look great on small 3x2 prints, outperforming a lot of analog instant cameras.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Automatic exposure
The I-1 calculates the needed exposure automatically, doing a good job most of the times.
Pro Smart companion app
One of the camera's most interesting features is the app that connects your smartphone to the camera, allowing you to take full manual control of the camera's parameters. You can also use the app to trigger the camera remotely, set a timer or set up a noise trigger to release the shutter.
Pro Color and B&W film available
Impossible Project offers both color and B&W film, which is slightly cheaper than the color one.
Pro Automatic focus
This camera does not have fixed focus settings like most instant cameras, instead it autofocuses when you half-press the shutter button.
Pro Weird, but functional design
The appearance of the camera is neither conventional nor compact, but it serves a purpose. The pyramid-like camera has a ring flash around its lens which produces a more pleasing lighting for portrait shots. The LEDs in the ring are also the only way for the camera to indicate its status (through a sequence of lights), since there is no LCD display.
Pro USB port for charging convenience
The camera has a USB port for charging its built-in battery.
Pro Great picture quality on small prints
Unlike traditional instant cameras, this camera uses a small digital image sensor. This means that the quality will look great on small 3x2 prints, outperforming a lot of analog instant cameras.
Pro Allows you to preview and save the image before you print it
Typically, analog instant cameras will print photos immediately after taking a shot, but this Polaroid has a 3.5” touchscreen on the back for image preview, making it easy to take well-composed shots. Even if there isn't any film loaded into the camera, you can still use the camera and save the shots into a memory card.
Pro You can apply digital filters and effects to photos in camera
Unlike classic instant cameras, the Snap Touch has picture editing features. You can apply filters, change the color temperatures or add borders to the photo before you print them out. These can be used as an overlay before taking the picture, or add them in after the picture has been taken.
Pro Photos can be used as stickers
The back of the photo paper can be peeled off, revealing an adhesive surface, so these photos can be used as stickers.
Pro Lens cap is lose-proof
The lens cap is magnetic, making it harder to lose it.
Pro Affordable film that develops quickly
This Polaroid uses a 3x2 inches photo paper called ZINK. The picture develops in about 15 seconds and the cost per photo is approximately $0.80.
Pro Can be used to print your smartphone's photos
This camera can be used to print your smartphone's photos. Just download the Polaroid app and pair the camera with the phone using Bluetooth. The app can also be used to add effects or edit pictures before sending them out to be printed with the camera.
Cons
Con Developing the film is a hassle
This camera's film takes about 20 minutes to develop and needs to be kept in a dark and warm place.
Con Expensive film
The manufacturer, Impossible Project, uses their own film that is a recreation of the classic Polaroid 600 film. Though nostalgic, at approximately $3 per photo, it costs considerably more than modern alternatives.
Con Bulky and not very easy to carry
This camera's unconventional shape makes it bulky and hard to transport.
Con Automatic functions are unreliable in dark conditions
As with many other cameras, the autofocus and autoexposure functions don't work well in dark conditions.
Con Film quality could be better
This camera's film quality is more than enough for quick, amateur shots, but may leave some people feeling that color accuracy and detail quality is lacking.
Con Image quality problems are noticeable on large prints or computer screens
If this camera's shots are printed on formats larger than 3x2 inches or seen on computer screens, quality problems become very noticeable.
Con USB charger port is inconveniently located
The USB charger port is situated on the bottom of the camera, making it hard to access.