Polaroid have really left us impressed lately. While they’re undoubtedly a manufacturer who relies on some degree of nostalgia, in recent times they’ve adapted to the digital age in consistently inventive ways.
A slight price upgrade on the popular OneStep 2, the Polaroid Originals OneStep+ offers a host of new features that are intuitive, useful and very refreshing.
Familiar yet exciting enough to stand out, the OneStep+ effortlessly transports Polaroid’s classic feel into the present day.
The main feature distinguishing the OneStep+ from (most) other Polaroids is Bluetooth connectivity, which means you can use Polaroid’s official app to shoot double exposures and a few other creative angles. If you’ve ever had your hands on an Impossible I-1 camera, you’ll be familiar with what this means.
In simple terms, it opens up the point-and-shoot style and aesthetic with some of the functionality of a modern digital camera (or let’s face it, the phones in our pockets). With the app you can set a self-timer, remotely activate the shutter, and much more.
Part of a Polaroid’s charm was its simplicity, that’s for sure, but what works about the OneStep+ is how seamlessly integrated the new tech is. If you wanted to buy the camera and never touch the app, you could – it would function just the same as any Polaroid you know and love.
So the extras are just that; extra nuggets that feel good to have around if you’re after something special or you’re stuck in a creative rut.
In terms of specs, you are getting a slight upgrade over the OneStep 2. The serious point of difference comes via an extra lens on the OneStep+, which you can switch to and from at any time without the app. The standard fixed focus lens will be what you use most, but the camera also comes with a second portrait lens which allows for better focus on, you guessed it, portraits.
A design touch worth mentioning on the OneStep+ is a rainbow stripe running from below the lens to the camera cartridge, which is a direct throwback to a stripe which appeared on the original 1977 model.
After getting our hands on a OneStep+, I can tell that going back to a OneStep 2 i-Type will be somewhat tough. The difference in photo quality when you’re using the camera without the app or its portrait lens is minimal, but after giving the extra features a whirl for just a short while, it’s clear their potential is far more limitless.
Find out more about the Polaroid Originals OneStep+ here.
