Polaroid Impulse

The Polaroid Impulse is an instant camera.

The design of this Polaroid 600 camera is quite different from the other cameras. It is somewhat reminiscent of the non-foldable Polaroid SX-70 cameras. The base model came in a variety of colors.

The Polaroid Impulse is an instant camera equipped with a practical automatic exposure system. However, the photographer can influence the brightness settings with the light/dark control to adapt the final result to his or her wishes. The integrated flash provides sufficient illumination in low light conditions.

The camera’s fixed focal length is fixed and it is not possible to zoom. The focus is also fixed and must be adjusted manually. This requires a little practice and patience to get the best possible result. However, it is also a great way to learn photography from scratch and improve your understanding of the basics of photography.

A tripod connection is unfortunately not available on the Polaroid Impulse, which limits the camera somewhat for long exposures or in difficult lighting conditions.

The Polaroid Impulse in closed condition. The flash is in the housing and the lens is protected. Pressing the flash lightly puts the camera back into operational readiness.

The side of the camera

The camera from the back with the shutter release and the frame counter

Films for the instant camera

In the Polaroid Impulse, the 600 films from The Impossible Project can be used. They are also sold since 2020 again with the legendary brand on the packaging. For color images, for example, the Polaroid Color Film for 600* or the Polaroid B&W Film for 600* for black and white images.

The Polaroid instant camera is powered by a battery that comes with the film pack. This means that a new battery is inserted into the camera each time the film is changed. However, if the film has already expired, the battery may no longer be functional. In such cases, the user has two options – either buy a new film cassette with a fully charged battery or transfer the unexposed images to a film cassette with a working battery, working in a dark environment to prevent light from damaging the film.

A variant of the Impulse is the Polaroid Impulse AF with autofocus.

Other editions and variants

• Polaroid Impulse Close-up (with close-up lens)
• Polaroid Impulse CL (with close-up lens)
• Polaroid Impulse Portrait (with close-up lens)
• Polaroid Impulse QPS (with and without close-up lens; also as “Kylie Minogue” edition)
• Polaroid Impulse SE (like the normal version; with and without close-up lens)