Polaroid Spectra

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Polaroid introduced the Spectra system of cameras in the early 1980s. It was intended to be an all-new line of cameras, and had a corresponding new film. Spectra, or Image, film is different from 600 integral film in that it has a different image format: a rectangular 9.2 x 7.3cm rather than 600 film's square format. The Spectra also sports a better lens and takes higher-quality pictures than a conventional 600 Polaroid camera, due to the camera's higher build quality and larger print area.

Over time, Polaroid has introduced many variants of the Spectra, but most include a glass lens, self-timer, automatic exposure, and sonar autofocus; in many cases the addition or removal of user control is the only distinguishing characterisic between models (eg Spectra 2 has only exposure adjustment; Spectra 'E' only has AF, flash and lighten/darken controls and the original Spectra has these plus LCD display, self-timer and volume controls). The Spectra also has many optional accessories, such as closeup kits and law enforcement kits.

Spectra Variants

Spectra Onyx

Sports a semi-translucent grey body

Spectra 1200FF

Different folding mechanism, including plastic bellows.

ProCam

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Sideways folding mechanism, with folding viewfinder mechanism. 90mm lens - shorter than any other Spectra model made - giving a wider field of view roughly equivalent to 33mm in 35mm film format. Time/date stamp capability, autofocus, lighten/darken control and was sold with a close-up lens attachment.


Macro 5 SLR

Single-lens-reflex designed primarily for medical and forensic work. Five preset magnifications: 0.2×, 0.4×, 1.0×, 2.0×, and 3.0×. Three optional supplementary lenses provide 0.67× and 5.0× (contact and non-contact) magnification. The image can be stamped with the date or time.

The Macro 5 has true SLR viewing (with a grid for alignment). Focus is performed by moving the camera until two light beams overlap on the subject, or until the image is sharp on the focusing screen. Twin electronic flashes can be used together, separately, or shut off. A PC socket permits use of external flash. An optional polarizer reduces glare from non-metallic surfaces. An Intraoral Dental Kit provides attachments for illuminating the teeth and gums.

There are two versions. The Macro 5 SLR, with a red shutter button, takes 10-exposure packs of Spectra film and its picture counter counts down. The Macro 5 SLR 1200, with a yellow shutter button, was designed for both 12- and 10-exposure packs; its picture counter counts up.

Macro 3 SLR

The Macro 3 SLR is similar to the Macro 5 SLR, but offers only three magnifications. (This is a stub entry and needs additional information.)

Spectra Pro

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The camera itself is THE warlock of all Spectra cameras.

This camera was first introduced in the year 1990.

The key features of this camera:

  • Manual Focusing
  • Time Exposures
  • Programmed Time Exposures
  • Manual Time Exposures
  • Back-lighting
  • Sequential pictures
  • Self-timed sequential pictures
  • Variable sequential pictures
  • Multiple exposures

Before Polaroid produced the Spectra pro, Minolta licensed and marketed the same camera under the name of the Minolta Instant Pro.

Links

  • Polaroid.de - Polaroid User Guide for the Spectra Pro (.pdf)
  • Polaroid.de - Polaroid User Guide for the Spectra AF (.pdf)