The Polaroid Mio, how could it be otherwise, is an instant camera. It was released by the Polaroid Cooperation in 2001 in time for Christmas. It is believed that the camera was created in cooperation with Fujifilm. Therefore, the Instax Mini films can also be used. This was later followed by the Polaroid 300, another Instax Mini camera under the legendary instant brand.
The Polaroid Mio operates fully automatically, as instant cameras are known to do, and the photographer cannot or does not have to adjust anything. The shutter is automatically controlled and selects the appropriate exposure time between 1/400 second and 1/30 second. The maximum aperture is f12, which is compensated for by the high sensitivity of the film, and is plastic, as is the body of the camera.
The closest focusing distance of the lens is 60 cm. Focusing is manual with a two-stage zone focus system. The Mio has a built-in flash. The camera is powered by two CR2 batteries (eBay / Amazon*).
The Polaroid Mio can still be used with the Instax Mini Film*. There are ten pictures in a film cassette. The size of one picture is approximately the same as a credit card.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Instant camera |
| Film format | Fuji Instax Mini |
| Film transport | Automatic |
| Film transport mechanism | Motor |
| Picture format | 62 mm x 46 mm |
| Focal length | 60 mm |
| Biggest aperture | f/12 |
| Minimum focus distance | 60 cm / 1.968 ft |
| Focus | Manual |
| Exposure times | 1/400 second to 1/30 second |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Exposure modes | Program automatic |
| Manual exposure settings | No |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Flash | Integrated flash |
| Cable release thread | No |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | 2x CR2 batteries |
There has never been an Instax model 1020. The Polaroid 300 was exactly the same as the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7. However, in the whole Instax line up, there has never been a camera that looked like the Polaroid Mio, so unless you have a source to prove that this Instax camera was not designed by Polaroid, the information you have provided is meaningless. On Wikipedia it says the Mio was based on the Fujifilm Instax Mini 10 and 20, but either of those cameras have the same design. It is entirely possible that Polaroid designed this camera in the US, and if they did, this may well be the only genuine Polaroid camera that can be used with good quality film today. The current Polaroid film is dismal (in 2022), so if one wants to use a real Polaroid camera with good quality, stable film (Instax Mini), this may be the only option.
In my previous comment I said “but either of those cameras have the same design.” That was a typo. I actually meant to write “but NEITHER of those cameras have the same design as the Mio.”
Apologies for the typo.