Polaroid's 1999 Gift For Kids: The Instant Fun Camera

The Polaroid i-Zone, introduced in 1999, was a type of instant film camera manufactured for the Polaroid Corporation by Japanese toy manufacturer Tomy. Marketed mainly at children, the camera took 1.5x1 pictures that came on a pull-out strip of paper. The camera was the world's best-selling camera in 1999 and 2000. In 2018, Polaroid re-released a special edition of its traditional 600 Polaroid camera, called the 96 Cam, which featured a delightful 90s nostalgia design.

The Polaroid i-Zone was the world's best-selling camera in 1999 and 2000

The i-Zone was not the first instant camera created by Polaroid. The company had been pioneering instant cameras since its inception, with the first commercial instant camera, the model 95 Land Camera, being unveiled in 1948. However, the i-Zone's unique features and mass appeal made it a stand-out product in the camera market. Its ease of use was a significant selling point, with only three aperture settings selected by a lever that displayed a picture representing each setting's appropriate use. The camera was also designed with a unique shutter system, with the shutter perpendicular to the lens, hovering just above the film.

The success of the i-Zone can be attributed to its combination of simplicity and innovation. While it built on Polaroid's history of instant camera technology, it offered new features that made it accessible and fun for its target audience of children. The camera's compact size and colourful design also likely contributed to its popularity, making it a sought-after item for both children and adults.

The i-Zone's impact extended beyond its two years as the world's best-selling camera. It left a lasting impression on the camera industry, influencing the design and functionality of future instant cameras. The i-Zone's legacy is a testament to Polaroid's innovation and ability to create products that capture the imagination of people of all ages.

The i-Zone was manufactured for Polaroid by Japanese toy company Tomy

The i-Zone was a type of instant film camera manufactured for the Polaroid Corporation. It was designed for children, with its simple functionality, low cost, and oblong shape. The camera was introduced in 1999 and became the world's best-selling camera in 1999 and 2000.

The i-Zone was manufactured for Polaroid by the Japanese toy company Tomy. Tomy is a well-known toy manufacturer, and their collaboration with Polaroid brought the i-Zone to life. The camera was designed with a unique feature where the shutter was mounted perpendicular to the lens, hovering just above the film. This design included a mirror behind the lens that projected the picture through the shutter onto the film.

The i-Zone took pictures that were 1.5"x1" in size and came on a pull-out strip of paper. This strip could be decorated and then cut to the size of the photo once the image was finished developing. The camera offered three aperture settings, selected by a lever that indicated whether the photo was being taken indoors or outdoors. This lever would automatically revert to the off position after taking a photo to save power.

The i-Zone was a popular camera for children, and its ease of use was a significant selling point. It ran on 2 AA batteries and had a focus range of 2 to infinity. The auto-flash range was 2 to 8 feet, with a charge time of approximately 5 seconds. The film for the i-Zone was discontinued in 2006, and all unused film has now expired.

The i-Zone's simple functionality, low cost, and oblong shape made it appealing to children

The Polaroid i-Zone was a type of instant film camera manufactured for the Polaroid Corporation by Japanese toy manufacturer Tomy. Introduced in 1999, the i-Zone was the world's best-selling camera in 1999 and 2000.

The i-Zone was designed with a simple functionality, featuring only three aperture settings selected by a lever that automatically reverted to the off position after taking a photo to save power. Its low cost and oblong shape also made it appealing to children, who were its primary target market. The camera took pictures that were 1.5"x1" and came on a pull-out strip of paper that could be decorated and cut to size. The film also had an adhesive back for mounting the prints. The i-Zone's shutter was not mounted behind the lens but perpendicular to it, with a mirror behind the lens projecting the picture through the shutter onto the film.

The i-Zone's pull-out film strips were decorated and could be cut to size once the image was developed

The Polaroid i-Zone, introduced in 1999, was the world's best-selling camera in 1999 and 2000. This camera took pictures that were 1.5"x1" and came on a pull-out strip of paper. The i-Zone's unique feature was that the film strip was decorated and could be cut to the size of the photo once the image was finished developing. The strip had a decorative border, and the photos could be easily separated from the strip by cutting along a perforated line. This allowed users to create fun and unique images that could be easily shared and displayed.

The pull-out film strips had a variety of designs and colours, making the i-Zone camera appealing to children and adults alike. The decorative borders added a playful touch to the photos, making them stand out from traditional Polaroid pictures. Users could also get creative by cutting the photos into different shapes or sizes, further customising their images.

In addition to the pull-out film strips, the i-Zone camera offered other unique features. Its oblong shape and simple functionality made it easy for children to use. It had only three aperture settings, selected by a lever that indicated whether the camera was being used indoors or outdoors. The camera was also low-cost, making it accessible to a wide range of consumers.

The i-Zone camera used special film, known as the Polaroid izone200 instant film. This film had 12 frames per pack and was available with an adhesive back for mounting the prints. The camera was powered by 2 AA batteries and had an auto flash range of 2 to 8 feet, with a charge time of approximately 5 seconds.

Overall, the i-Zone camera's pull-out film strips and customisation options made it a fun and creative choice for photographers of all ages. The ability to cut the photos to size and decorate them with different borders added a unique touch to the instant photography experience.

The i-Zone's unusual shutter design featured a mirror that projected the picture through the shutter and onto the film

The Polaroid i-Zone, introduced in 1999, was the world's best-selling camera in 1999 and 2000. This camera took pictures that were 1.5"x1" and came on a pull-out strip of paper. The i-Zone's shutter design was unusual in that it was not mounted behind the lens, but rather perpendicular to the lens, hovering just above the film. A mirror behind the lens projected the picture through the shutter and onto the film below. This design feature was unique to the i-Zone and set it apart from other cameras on the market at the time.

The i-Zone's shutter design was just one aspect of its innovative construction. The camera was also notable for its simple functionality, low cost, and oblong shape. It was primarily marketed to children, and its ease of use was a major selling point. The camera had only three aperture settings, selected by a lever that corresponded to different lighting conditions, such as indoors or outdoors on a sunny or cloudy day. This made the camera user-friendly for kids, who could easily adjust the settings to get the best results for their photos.

The i-Zone's shutter design, with its mirror projection system, was a key part of what made this camera unique and appealing to its target audience. By projecting the image through the shutter onto the film, Polaroid created a fun and easy-to-use instant camera that became a best-seller. The i-Zone's combination of innovative features and low price made it a popular choice for children and adults alike, and its impact on the camera market can still be felt today.

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