Photo answers review
Photo answers rating 
In the days of analogue photography the only way to review a photo instantaneously was to shoot with a Polaroid camera. Digital photography has changed all that but it hasn’t halted demand for instant printing. Polaroid’s latest digital instant camera, the Z340, has a distinctly retro look and feel that’s belied by the presence of the LCD screen on the top of the camera. Take that away and you’re almost looking at a Polaroid Spectra from the 1980s. The advantage of the Z340 over old instant cameras is that you can save images to an SD card and decide which shots you’d like to print, saving paper and ultimately money. You can even shoot HD video, so this is where the camera gives you the best of both worlds – instant printing and the ability to pick and choose images. You can, of course, turn on instant printing and print every shot taken, but the new habit of reviewing everything on screen first dies hard.
Rather like its older counterparts, the Z340 is slightly awkward to hold and is slow and clunky to use. The camera takes a few moments to start up after it has been turned on, and focusing is equally slow. However, the digital image quality isn’t bad at all and the files are huge, allowing for larger prints than the 3x4in Zink paper the camera uses. JPEG processing can be heavy, even at ISO 100, and is particularly noticeable in skin tones, but results are acceptable. Whatever the Z340 lacks in performance it certainly makes up for in retro charm – there’s no denying that there’s something special about instant prints, even in the age of high resolution LCD screens.
Effects
Like most compact cameras the Z340 is equipped with a range of automated features, including 29 scene modes to make shooting different subjects easier. There are also a number of special effect modes including Vintage Color 1, Vintage B&W 1, Vintage Color 2, Vintage B&W 2, Sepia and Negative–B&W to add something different to photos.
ISO/image quality
Digital image quality is much better than the print quality from the camera, but this isn’t really the point. However, you do have the option of instant prints and/or recording digital files to save to an SD card. The Z340 only produces JPEGs, which are subject to fairly heavy-handed processing as you increase ISO. ISO 100 and 200 provide the best results but go as high as 6400 and images lose colour and sharpness.
Printing
Polaroid is all about instant printing, so with a product like this any other features are almost secondary to this functionality. The Z340 doesn’t use Polaroid film as you know it, instead it uses Zink Paper that looks and feels more like standard inkjet paper. This paper is embedded with cyan, magenta and yellow crystals that are activated by heat during the printing process. As the photo comes out of the camera the image is already there, so no further waiting is necessary. Perhaps for some people that might be some of the magic of Polaroid gone, but getting instant prints is as impressive now as it always was. The camera can be set to print every shot taken or photos can be selected from the SD card or internal memory for printing.
Like traditional Polaroid cameras the Z340 and Zink Paper produce images that are unique. No two are ever the same and all photos have an overall colour cast that varies from print to print. Some also suffer from horizontal lines while others have none whatsoever, so you never really know what the end result will be. There are ten borders that can be added to prints, including one that mimics the rebate of a traditional Polaroid print. A 30-pack of Polaroid Zink media 3x4in photo paper costs £14.99 and the Z340 can be loaded with ten sheets of Zink Paper at a time. Cost per print is 50p.
PA verdict
The Polaroid Z340 is basic compared to other digital cameras on the market, but it does have a range of fun features like special photo effects and print borders to spice up prints. The thing is, you wouldn’t buy this camera for amazing image quality because it’s all about instant printing. The Z340 maintains some of the charm and uniqueness that's always been associated with Polaroid, and this is what will make it attractive to a niche market.
Key spec
Street price: £229
Effective resolution: 14MP
Sensor type: 1/2.3in CCD
Image format: 4:3
ISO range: 100-6400 LCD: 2.7in 230k
Shooting speed: Single shot only
Video: 720P Connectivity: USB
Image stabilisation: No
Internal memory: Yes
Printing: In-camera on Zink Paper
Prints per battery charge: 25
Body weight/size (wxhxd): 619g/122x59x151mm
www.polaroid.com
AS FEATURED IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY