Which film belongs in which Polaroid? Is there a difference between the vintage models and the Polaroid generation? And can new film be used in old cameras? We explain! Get straight to the comparison here (looking for Instax Films? This way!).
Old or new Polaroid?
For beginners, the names Polaroid gives to its film types are a mystery at first. What does 600 stand for and does i-Type have something to do with Apple?
The most important difference is the age of the camera. After the official end of the Polaroid brand, the instant camera was revived by the so-called Impossible Project. The Dutch company, now known as Polaroid Originals, has developed a modern version of the classic instant camera. Models like the Polaroid Now or the Onestep + rely on the specially developed i-Type film.
Polaroid cameras: matching films at a glance
In the following table you can find Polaroid cameras and the matching films. For more details about the films, the individual film types are explained later in the article.
| Kamera | i-Type Film | 600 Type Film | SX-70 Type | 8 x 10 Film (large format) | Image/Spectra Film | Go Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polaroid Now Plus | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid Now | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid Go | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Polaroid OneStep 2 Viewfinder | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid OneStep Plus | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid 600 Camera - Square | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid Lab | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid 600 Camera - Impulse | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid Fragment SLR 680 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid 600 Camera- One Step Close Up | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid 600 Camera - Impulse Autofocus | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid 600 Camera - Sun 660 Autofocus | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid SX-70 Camera (with and without flash) | ❌ | ✅ (with aditional grey filter) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid SX-70 Camera Autofocus (with and without flash) | ❌ | ✅ (with aditional grey filter) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Polaroid Image/Spectra Camera (Full Switch or One Switch) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| 8 x 10 Large format cameras | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
i-Type Film
- Format: 1:1
- Image size without border: 3.1 x 3.1 inches
- Image size with border: 4.2 x 3.5 inches
- ISO: 640
The i-Type film has been specially developed for the latest generation of instant cameras from Polaroid Originals. The big difference to other films is the absence of a battery in the film. The new models have a built-in battery, so there is no need for an additional energy source in the film. This makes the use of the i-Type much more environmentally friendly than other films. The use of i-Type films is not possible with older models like those of the 600 series due to the lack of battery. The i-Type is available in colour and black and white.
600 Type Film
- Format: 1:1
- Image size without border: 3.1 x 3.1 inches
- Image size with border: 4.2 x 3.5 inches
- ISO: 640
The 600 series from Polaroid came onto the market in the early 80s and still has a loyal fan base today. The film is basically no different from the i-Type film, ISO and dimensions are identical. However, the 600 film has a battery built into the film for operation. The 600 models like the SLR680 or the LM630 don’t have a built-in power source. The 600 film can easily be used in the new models like the OneStep 2. However, the integrated battery is not used and the higher price makes it unattractive to use.
SX-70 Type
- Format: 1:1
- Image size without border: 3.1 x 3.1 inches
- Image size with border: 4.2 x 3.5 inches
- ISO: 160
The SX-70 camera that gave its name to this film was the predecessor of the 600 series, and is now being sold again by Polaroid Originals for enthusiasts. Format and size are the same as the i-Type and 600 series, only the ISO value is much lower at 160. Thanks to the Impossible Project (the predecessor company of Polaroid Originals), there is now enough SX-70 type film available again. For friends of Special Edition Filmpacks of the 600 series, there’s also good news: 600 Type films can also be used in SX-70 models thanks to a special grey filter! The SX-70 film itself is available in colour and black and white.
8 x 10 Film (Large format)
- Format: 8:10
- Image size without border : 9.5 x 7.5 inches
- lmage size with border : 12.8 x 8.5 inches
- ISO: 640
8 x 10 Film is a special instant film for classic large format cameras. Due to the complex handling this kind of instant film photography is only practiced by a small circle of instant film enthusiasts. However, the quality of the photos is unique due to the density of detail and quality. Available in color and black and white.
Image/Spectra Film
Spectra Film is a wide-format instant film for the Polaroid Image/Spectra cameras developed in the 1980s. However, due to the low quality of the cameras compared to other Polaroid models, Polaroid Originals has decided to discontinue the production of Image/Spectra film.
- Format: approx. 2:3
- Image size without border : 2.9 x 3.6 inches
- Image size with border : 4 x 4 inches
- ISO: 640
Type 100 / Peel-Apart / Pack-Film
Type 100 film, also known as peel-apart or packfilm, is a film for a range of Polaroid instant cameras. Among them legendary models such as the Polaroid Automatic Land Camera or the “Big Shot”. With this type of film, the negative and positive are separated by hand after the development time. After 2016 with Fujifilm the last manufacturer of this film stopped production, Type 100 films were only available on the second-hand market. It wasn’t until a Kickstarter project by Viennese Florian “Doc” Kaps, known for the legendary Impossible Project, that packfilm production could be resumed. Available under the name ONE INSTANT Packfilm Type 100 P7 Color, the film is suitable for all classic Type 100 packfilm cameras, and is handmade using an environmentally friendly process.
Click here to visit the Type 100 Packfilm Supersense Webshop!
- Format: approx. 2:3
- Image size without border: 2.9 x 3.7 inches
- Image size with border: 3.3 x 4.7 inches
- ISO: 100
Go Film
- Format: 1:1
- Image size without border: 1.8 x 1.8 inches
- Image size with border: 2.6 x 2.1 inches
Polaroid Go film is the latest addition to Polaroid’s film range. Specially developed for the “world’s smallest instant camera”, the eponymous Go, it offers the classic square image format, only in “pocket format”.
The Go format is perfect for you if you like smaller photos but are not really a fan of the credit card format.
Polaroid film alternative: is there such a thing?
The short answer: No. To those films currently distributed by Polaroid, i.e. i-Type, 600 film, SX-70, etc., there is unfortunately no cheap alternative. The production of the films is expensive, and there are also trademark rights to consider. Accordingly, the original films remain the only choice.
Polaroid Film FAQs
VIDEO: Tom takes a look at i-Type, 600 Film and SX-70!
