Polaroid

Polaroid is an American brand and company best known for instant photography. The Polaroid brand originated in the United States, founded in 1937 by Edwin H. Land as a producer of polarizing filters. Land soon developed the concept of an instant camera, and in 1948 introduced the Polaroid Land Camera 95, the first commercially available instant camera, which produced a finished photograph minutes after exposure.

A key innovation in Polaroid’s history was self-developing, integral film. In 1972 the company released the SX-70, a folding camera paired with integral film that developed images automatically in a self-contained chemical process. The consumer film line, including the widely used 600 series, became popular in the 1980s. Polaroid also produced large-format instant cameras, such as the 20x24 system used for art projects and demonstrations.

Polaroid faced significant challenges with the rise of digital photography and changes in consumer electronics. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and underwent restructuring. In 2008 a group of film enthusiasts launched The Impossible Project to keep Polaroid film alive, eventually reviving support for older formats. In 2017 The Impossible Project acquired the Polaroid brand and rights for consumer imaging and rebranded as Polaroid Originals; the brand later returned to simply Polaroid.

Today Polaroid markets instant cameras and film alongside digital and hybrid imaging products. The brand continues to promote the characteristic quick-turnaround prints and continues to release new models, while maintaining a portfolio of consumer instant films and associated accessories. The Polaroid name remains closely associated with the heritage of instant photography.