Wanted to do an update. After several more packs I’ve determined that this camera is still quite hit and miss when it comes to auto exposure. Especially with the b&w film. I’ve had as many correctly exposed images as I’ve had 1-2 stop over exposed images. I’ve determined that the b&w film is more sensitive to overexposure than the color film is. You lose highlight detail very quickly. Problem is the I-2 meter appears to expose for the shadows. If you primarily shoot color film then the I-2 will treat you very well. I’ve had the best, most consistent, results when shooting with the onboard flash activated, especially with the b&w film. I still love the camera, primarily for the lens and off camera flash. If I had to buy this camera again i’d buy it with the intention of almost exclusively shooting color film. Again I do not recommend buying this camera at the moment for b&w photography unless you're going to use an external meter. Maybe the new b&w chemistry is better. I have not had the opportunity to try the new stuff yet. Thank you for watching!
I actually had the thought "that's kind of a cool camera, I should get one just for the nostalgia of using one". I also thought it would be funny to take some normal family photos with it and then hide in a secret creepy photo and to bury it in the walls of your house for the next person to find.
Great video, I love the I-2, and especially now since the firmware update. I bounce between using the I-2 and my SX-70 Alpha 1 that has been modified to take 600 film. Love them both for such different reasons. The dependability of the I-2 to get a great looking shot in almost any scenario and the compatibility for 70, 600 and i-Type film makes is something I really enjoy. The experience of the SX-70 is unmatched in the nostalgia. There is something so satisfying about that manual focus and the slowing down required. They both feel like perfect bookends to the Polaroid story - though I'm really hoping for an I-3 with removable battery and manual focus :)
Yes! I feel the same way about the I-2 and the sx70. Both are phenomenal cameras and both have things they are better for than the other. I’m also hoping that the next high end Polaroid camera has manual focus as an option, although if they stick with the box camera design I’m not sure we’ll get it. As far as the replaceable battery yes. I think Polaroid might not have a choice in that matter. I’ve heard that the laws surrounding things like non replaceable batteries could be changing in the EU. Thank you for the wonderful thoughtful comment.
Great video, very informative. With the new firmware update is the meter now reliable also when shooting in manual mode or is only effective in auto mode?
From what I understand the issue only affected auto mode. The meter itself seems like it was always good. It was the auto exposure algorithm and not the meter that was over exposing shots. Of course that’s just what I’ve heard. When I shot in manual before the update the built in meter usually gave me results I’m happy with.
@@sethpotterphoto I felt like even when I would shoot in manual I would constantly have to mess with the exposure compensation dial often which was extremely frustrating and produced unpredictable results. I updated yesterday and shot a pack relying strictly on the meter without moving exposure compensation and my results were finally properly exposed. But that could be user error as the I-2 is first and only Polaroid camera… Also would you mind sharing where you purchased that headphone jack for flash connectivity?
@@imgoodalvino2749 ah I see. I used manual mode mainly for long exposures and at night. Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice any issues. Good to hear that the update seems to have helped the problem. Polaroid really should’ve gotten this right at launch but I’m glad they’ve finally released an update. As for the flash sync cable, I bought them on Amazon. It’s currently $8 for a 2 pack. Type “seadream 2.5mm mono” into the Amazon search and you should find them.
Wanted to do an update.
After several more packs I’ve determined that this camera is still quite hit and miss when it comes to auto exposure. Especially with the b&w film. I’ve had as many correctly exposed images as I’ve had 1-2 stop over exposed images.
I’ve determined that the b&w film is more sensitive to overexposure than the color film is. You lose highlight detail very quickly. Problem is the I-2 meter appears to expose for the shadows.
If you primarily shoot color film then the I-2 will treat you very well.
I’ve had the best, most consistent, results when shooting with the onboard flash activated, especially with the b&w film.
I still love the camera, primarily for the lens and off camera flash. If I had to buy this camera again i’d buy it with the intention of almost exclusively shooting color film.
Again I do not recommend buying this camera at the moment for b&w photography unless you're going to use an external meter.
Maybe the new b&w chemistry is better. I have not had the opportunity to try the new stuff yet.
Thank you for watching!
Great video! My dad loved using Polaroid cameras in the 70,s. It was so cool to have the photo magically appear before my eyes
Man, I know Polaroid is working on it but it’s hard not to wish the modern film developed as fast as the old stuff.
I actually had the thought "that's kind of a cool camera, I should get one just for the nostalgia of using one". I also thought it would be funny to take some normal family photos with it and then hide in a secret creepy photo and to bury it in the walls of your house for the next person to find.
Well that comment went from 0 to 100 real quick 😆
Keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do!
Good to see you again, Seth! Hope you all are doing well.
Thank you, yes we’re all doing great. 👍
Great video, I love the I-2, and especially now since the firmware update. I bounce between using the I-2 and my SX-70 Alpha 1 that has been modified to take 600 film. Love them both for such different reasons. The dependability of the I-2 to get a great looking shot in almost any scenario and the compatibility for 70, 600 and i-Type film makes is something I really enjoy. The experience of the SX-70 is unmatched in the nostalgia. There is something so satisfying about that manual focus and the slowing down required. They both feel like perfect bookends to the Polaroid story - though I'm really hoping for an I-3 with removable battery and manual focus :)
Yes! I feel the same way about the I-2 and the sx70. Both are phenomenal cameras and both have things they are better for than the other.
I’m also hoping that the next high end Polaroid camera has manual focus as an option, although if they stick with the box camera design I’m not sure we’ll get it. As far as the replaceable battery yes. I think Polaroid might not have a choice in that matter. I’ve heard that the laws surrounding things like non replaceable batteries could be changing in the EU.
Thank you for the wonderful thoughtful comment.
Great video, very informative. With the new firmware update is the meter now reliable also when shooting in manual mode or is only effective in auto mode?
From what I understand the issue only affected auto mode.
The meter itself seems like it was always good. It was the auto exposure algorithm and not the meter that was over exposing shots.
Of course that’s just what I’ve heard. When I shot in manual before the update the built in meter usually gave me results I’m happy with.
@@sethpotterphoto I felt like even when I would shoot in manual I would constantly have to mess with the exposure compensation dial often which was extremely frustrating and produced unpredictable results. I updated yesterday and shot a pack relying strictly on the meter without moving exposure compensation and my results were finally properly exposed. But that could be user error as the I-2 is first and only Polaroid camera…
Also would you mind sharing where you purchased that headphone jack for flash connectivity?
@@imgoodalvino2749 ah I see. I used manual mode mainly for long exposures and at night. Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice any issues.
Good to hear that the update seems to have helped the problem. Polaroid really should’ve gotten this right at launch but I’m glad they’ve finally released an update.
As for the flash sync cable, I bought them on Amazon. It’s currently $8 for a 2 pack.
Type “seadream 2.5mm mono” into the Amazon search and you should find them.
It may not look or feel as sick as the SX-70 (my personal fave) but it does a heck of a good job. Excited to see studio portraits from it.
I agree with all of that. You just can’t best the design of the sx70.
Will look what bring new firmware, but it’s sad that such expensive Polaroids give such poor reliability. Thanks for nice video
Thank you for watching. I agree. If not for the built in battery and iffy meter this would be such a wonderful camera.
Can you link us to the flash and the viewfinder adapter piece please 🙏🏾?
You can find it at Brooklyn film camera. brooklynfilmcamera.com/products/i2-cold-shoe-mount?_pos=4&_sid=934929e14&_ss=r
Hopefully that link works.
Good review but I will stick to my SX 70 🙃
I completely get that. I love my sx70 too.