Polaroid Impulse AF

Impulse AF image by phillisca (Image rights)

Designed for Polaroid's 600-series integral film, the Impulse AF models are similar in body design to the autofocus models released for SX-70 film (usually known as OneStep AF models) in that they feature a non-folding plastic body, plastic lens and sonar focusing. The Impulse autofocus models feature higher quality 3-element lenses than the fixed-focus Impulse models. A identical model distributed for Sears department stores was also available as the Polaroid Impulse SE AutoFocus System.

The Impulse AF is usually found in a mid grey colour, but there were a variety of different colours of Impulse released including yellow, blue and purple. The body is a hard-wearing plastic, and features rubber grips around the rear, a tripod-socket, flash-ready light, film counter and timer LED. The flash is raised by pressing down onto the top of the unit; this also turns the camera on and retracts the lens cover.

Features common to all Impulse autofocus models are:

• Three element plastic lens with fixed aperture (116mm, f9)
• 3 ft minimum focus distance.
• Exposure compensation controls below lens.
• Self-timer function
• Flash fires for every shot; cannot be user controlled.

Polaroid Impulse AF (blue) image by Tim Williams (Image rights)

SE model image by Calum Wright (Image rights)

Links

• The Land List's article on the Impulse AF
• Impulse AF on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand (in French)