The Creation of the Polaroid Camera
The idea for an instant camera came from a simple yet brilliant question. In 1943, inventor Edwin Land’s three-year-old daughter asked him why she couldn't see the photo he had just taken.
Instead of explaining why it was impossible, Land asked himself the same question—and realized that an instant camera could, in fact, be created.
The name Polaroid comes from the polarizing plastic material used in its technology. Inspired by the idea, Land developed the working principles of what we now know as the Polaroid camera. He first demonstrated his instant camera in February 1947 at a meeting of the American Optical Society, where it amazed the audience. By November 1948, the first commercial Polaroid camera—the Polaroid Land 95—hit the shelves of a Boston department store, selling for $89.75. Despite the high price for that time, the entire first batch sold out on the same day.
By the 1980s, Polaroid cameras had become so popular that almost every American household owned one. In the Soviet Union, however, they were considered a luxury item and a sign of wealth.
In the 2000s, Polaroid faced bankruptcy due to the rapid rise of digital photography. However, in 2012, the company made a comeback with digital instant cameras and pocket-sized printers. Today, the legendary Polaroid brand continues its revival, increasing sales of both cameras and film year after year.
