The video "Retro Tech: Polaroid" by Marques Brownlee explores the history and impact of Polaroid cameras, specifically the SX-70 model. The video begins with Marques unboxing and testing the SX-70, marveling at its ability to produce instant photos. He then delves into the history of Polaroid, founded by Edwin Land, and how the company revolutionized photography with its instant film technology.
The video features interviews with experts and enthusiasts, including photographers and historians, who share their experiences and insights about Polaroid cameras. Marques also takes the camera out for a spin, shooting photos of people in New York City and experimenting with different techniques.
The video also features a segment where Marques and model Karlie Kloss experiment with homemade filters using heat, acid, and bleach to create unique effects on their Polaroid photos. The video concludes by highlighting the legacy of Polaroid cameras and their impact on the way we capture and share memories.
Throughout the video, Marques showcases various Polaroid cameras and models, including the iconic SX-70, and demonstrates their unique features and capabilities. The video is a nostalgic tribute to the Polaroid brand and its contribution to the world of photography.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Polaroid SX-70 camera was released 20 years before the narrator was born.
2. The Polaroid SX-70 camera is collapsible and made of real metal.
3. The camera has a glass lens, which allows for sharp images.
4. The Polaroid SX-70 camera uses integral film, which contains the positive and negative layers and developing chemistry.
5. The camera has three chemical pods that contain the developing chemistry.
6. The rollers in the camera "shmush" the chemistry and coat the layers of film.
7. A number of reactions take place in the film to develop the photo.
8. The Polaroid SX-70 camera was a huge leap in photographic technology.
9. Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid, was a chemist who invented the polarizing filter.
10. Land was inspired to create the instant camera after his daughter asked why she couldn't see the picture he took of her.
11. The first generation SX-70 camera was expensive, with a price equivalent to around $1,000 today.
12. The film for the SX-70 camera cost around $40, or $4-6 per photo.
13. Polaroid was destroyed by the digital revolution.
14. The OutKast song "Hey Ya!" brought attention to Polaroid in 2003.
15. The song's lyrics, "Shake it like a Polaroid picture," were misleading, as shaking a Polaroid can damage the photo.
16. Polaroid's innovation inspired both amateur and professional photographers.
17. The instant image afforded by Polaroid carries over into our daily use of smartphones.
18. Every digital image is instant, and Polaroid was the first creator of that concept.
19. Instant photographs have a unique quality that allows them to be shared as a gift.
20. The social exchange of taking someone's picture and watching it develop together is a hallmark of Polaroid photography.