Polaroid Now vs Polaroid Go (2021): Instant Camera Comparison

Analog instant cameras let you experience how people took pictures back in the day, when phones didn’t have built-in cameras. The Polaroid Now and the Polaroid Go are two instant cameras from the brand that is known for their instant film and cameras. The Polaroid Now is a full-sized analog instant camera that boasts features such as autofocus, self-timer and more, while the Polaroid Go is one of the smallest and most portable instant cameras available right now. If you are in the market for an instant camera, which one of these two should you pick? We compare the two below.

Polaroid Now vs Polaroid Go Comparison Chart

Design

You get more color options with the Polaroid Now, but the Polaroid Go, with its smaller form factor, is more portable.

The Polaroid Now has that retro look that Polaroid instant cameras are known for. It has a streamlined design that features a digital shot counter at the back, so that you know how many prints are left, an ergonomic viewfinder and an optimally placed USB port for charging. Its physical dimensions are 3.7 x 4.4 x 5.9 inches and it weighs 0.95lbs.

In terms of design, the Polaroid Go is like the miniature version of the Polaroid Now. Measuring 4.13 x 3.3 x 2.42 inches and weighing only 0.53lbs, the Polaroid Go is the more portable camera of the two. While they have similar form factors, their button layouts are different. The Polaroid Go is much easier to use with just one hand due to its size and button layout, while the Polaroid Now will require both hands to operate.

The Polaroid Now is available in various colors, 10 to be exact. You can get it in black, white, blue, yellow, pink and more. Meanwhile, the Polaroid Go is only available in white, so there’s no personalization options with it. As it is the bigger camera, the Polaroid Now comes with a neck strap, while the smaller Polaroid Go comes with a wrist strap. Included with both are micro-USB cables for charging.

Features

The Polaroid Now has autofocus, a feature that is not available on the Polaroid Go.

As far as features go, the two instant cameras come with a timer, double exposure and a vacuum discharge tube storage flash system. The self-timer is helpful for selfies or group photos and their double exposure allows you to express your artistic side by getting two frames in one shot.

One advantage of the Polaroid Now is that it comes with autofocus. With its autofocus, resulting images are clear and detailed, without any blurriness. Unfortunately, the Polaroid Go does not have this feature and it relies on a fixed focus lens.

Ease of Use and Performance

Both the Polaroid Now and Polaroid Go are easy to use.

When it comes to ease of use, these two analog instant cameras are as straightforward as they come. At the back of the Polaroid Now are its power and flash buttons, as well as its digital shot counter. The self timer and shutter buttons are located at the front. At its sides are the USB port for charging and a release button for its film tray. Using the Polaroid Now is easy, but since it is a full-sized instant camera, operating it with just one hand can be tricky. Its autofocus is activated by half-pressing the shutter.

The Polaroid Now has one less button than the Polaroid Go. At the back, there is a power button and a digital counter. Its shutter and flash buttons are at the top of the unit. Its flash button is multi-functional—holding it down enables the timer and double pressing it turns on double exposure. The USB charging port is located at the side and its film tray release switch is at its underside. Since the Polaroid Go is a much smaller unit, it can easily be used with just one hand. Its button placement is also more ergonomic than the button layout of the Polaroid Now.

Image Quality

Polaroid Now and Polaroid Go photos are similar in quality, for the most part.

Photos taken with the Polaroid Now and Polaroid Go are very similar in terms of color reproduction—muted colors with soft details. They also take the same amount of time to develop—around 15 minutes per photo. However, they do differ when it comes to image size since they use different types of film. The Polaroid Now uses an I-Type film while the Polaroid Go is compatible only with Polaroid Go films. I-Type images have an image area of 3.1 x 3 inches while Polaroid Go photos are smaller, with an image area of only 1.9 x 1.8 inches.

When taking pictures outside with natural lighting, exposure is usually very good and not overblown. However, when taking photos indoors, the flash should be enabled since photos without natural lighting tend to be very dark, even if it seems like there is enough lighting in the room.

Verdict

The Polaroid Now is the better overall instant camera, however, if you value portability more, then the Polaroid Go is the wiser choice.

If your choice came down to these two since they are priced the same, choosing one will depend on which factors you value most. The Polaroid Now is the much better overall instant camera since it’s easier to use, it has autofocus and its flash is a bit more effective. It also outputs bigger images. However, it is quite bulky and not really suited for travelling. However, if you want a portable instant camera, the more compact Polaroid Go is the smarter choice. It doesn’t have autofocus and its images are smaller, but it makes up for them by being highly portable.

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