Polaroid introduced the Spectra at Jordan Marsh in Boston, 1986. It features a different format than the SX-70 or 600 camera: being a bit wider, the cinematic format is able to capture brighter exposures. Many variations of the Spectra followed this first release. The original model includes a 'Quintic' 125mm f/10 3-element plastic lens, self-timer, automatic exposure, sonar autofocus, AF, flash and lighten/darken controls, LCD display, and volume controls; later models had more or fewer controls.

The release of the Spectra camera was accompanied by the release of a correspondingly new Spectra film, called "Image" outside of North America, and sometimes called 1200 film. Spectra film is identical to 600 film - ISO speed, development method and operation remain identical - except if has a different image format: a rectangular 9.2 x 7.3cm rather than 600 film's square format.

Item is a white plastic box cameras for instant photographs on Polaroid type 20 film. The inexpensive model includes a telesopic viewfinder, AG-1 flash-bulb socket and flash range scale with red knob.

Item is a Polaroid Land Camera Super Colorpack instant film camera. Similar to the Polaroid Super Shooter, the Super Colorpack has a rigid plastic body and a manual finder on the lens and uses peel-apart Land Pack Films.

Item is a Kodak Pleaser. It is an instant 'handle' camera with a 100mm f/12.8 lens, a shutter with speeds of 2-1/300s, and electronic exposure. It used film type HS144 for a picture size of 67 x 91mm. Picture ejection is by the crank on the right hand of the camera. The concept behind this unique-looking camera was to make instant photography as inexpensive and accessible as possible so that consumers might switch from Polaroid to Kodak. It is the second of the Pleaser models and has a two-tone brown plastic body.

Item is a Kodak Colorburst 250. It is an instant camera with a f/1:12.8 100mm lens, electronic flash, and a 2-1/300 secound shutter with motorized picture output. It used Kodak PR-10 instant film. It was first sold in July 1979.

Item is a Kodak Pleaser. It is an instant camera with a 100mm f/12.7 lens, a shutter with speeds of 1/15-1/300s, and electronic exposure. It used film type PR 10 (PR144) for a picture size of 67 x 91mm. Picture ejection is by the crank on the right hand of the camera. The concept behind this unique-looking camera was to make instant photography as inexpensive and accessible as possible so that consumers might switch from Polaroid to Kodak.

Item is a Kodak Trimprint 940. It is an instant camera that used film format HS 144-10 and cost $44.95 when released. Anyone who owned this camera was offered a rebate if the camera's nameplate was returned to Kodak, when Kodak lost a case against Polaroid and was forced to withdraw its instant cameras from the market for infringement of Polaroid's patent. Hence, many of this model of camera will be found without the 940 Kodak Trimprint nameplate. It was the successor to the Kodamatic 940.

Item is a Polaroid Land Camera Model 150 with hard leather case, Polaroid flash model 281, 3 developing vials, leather strap, manual, and 7 loose papers. It used 40 series Polaroid Picture Roll Land film.

Item is a Polaroid Land Camera Automatic 104 outfit case. It is in a black hard leather case lined with red curduroy also containing the Polaroid flash model 268, 2 packs of Polaroid print mounts and 3 Polaroid envelopes for ordering prints, enlargements, and accessories. The camera is a folding bellows instand camera with automatic exposure that used 100-series Packfilm. It has a 2 element plastic lens and a non-folding zone focusing system. It retailed for $60 when it was first released.

Item is a Polaroid Highlander Land Camera, model 80A. It is a folding instant camera with a 100mm f8.8 3-element glass lens a 2-speed rotary leaf shutter design with speeds of 1/23s and 1/100s, a Polaroid hot shoe flash, rigid viewfinder, painted steel body, chrome plated trim, exposure set by Polaroid Light Value scale, and a rotating lens front-element for distance focus. It is in a leather case also containing the manual.

Item is a snapshot camera for instant photographs using Kodak PR10 instant film. It was originally sold for $75.00 .

This model was part of a series that was Kodak's response to the successful instant cameras produced by Polaroid. A patent infringement case was brought against Kodak by Polaroid in 1977 and was finally settled in 1986, in Polaroid's favour. Kodak recalled all their instant cameras, offering customers a new camera or a rebate in exchange. A further, class action, lawsuit by consumers followed, resulting in Kodak further offering cash or credit for the return of the Kodak nameplate.

Series consists of cameras that combine exposure and development in one step to create photographs instantaneously.
While Polaroid is by far the most well known of these cameras, the first patent for instant photography was for the Dubroni, a French wet plate camera, designed so that the glass plate could be sensitized and developed by pouring the chemicals over the plate through a tube in the camera. Later cameras were developed so small tintypes (1895) and direct paper positives (1913) could be made quickly for tourists on busy streets.
But it was the Polaroid Corporation that made instant photography a household item, beginning in 1937 when Edwin Land's young daughter's desire to see her photograph immediately, inspired him to develop the Polaroid's first instant camera: the Land Camera.

The Heritage Collection also contains Kodak Instant Cameras; produced in the late 1970's, they spawned a patent infringement lawsuit from the Polaroid corporation that resulted in the recall all of instant Kodak models sold and the discontinuation of their production.

To browse the individual items in this series, click on the "View the list" link under the "File and item records are available for this series" title (to the right of the page).

Source: <a href="http://www.shutterbug.com/content/it%E2%80%99s-instant%E2%80%94-it%E2%80%99s-not-polaroid-pre-and-post-polaroids-1864-1976">Wade, John. "It's Instant - But It's Not Polaroid: Pre- And-PostPolaroids, From 1864 to 1976." Shutterbug : Published May 1, 2012.</a>

Item is an inexpensive plastic "3-D" stereo camera made by the Coronet Camera Company. The camera has a binocular viewfinder for 4 stereo pairs or 8 single exposures and uses 127 film for 4.5 x 5 cm exposures, featuring a single speed shutter, 1/50, and a twin f11 meniscus fixed-focus lenses.

Item is a brown Kodak Stereo Camera for two 23 x 24 mm exposures on standard 35mm cartridge film. The camera had a built in sprit level to ensure ideal stereo effect was achieved. Kodak produced a corresponding Kodaslide Stereo Viewer and proprietary stereo slide holders for images shot with this camera. Lenses are Kodak Anaston F3.5/35mm with a Kodak Flash 200 shutter. The viewfinder is between the two lenses.

Item is a four-lens, three-dimensional camera, originally developed by the Nimslo company, the Nishika copies were created after Nimslo was taken over by Nishika in 1989. The camera has a plastic body and 4 identical lenses, a fixed 1/60th shutter that exposes the four square images in synch. When exposed, the 35mm film had to be sent to specialty labs equipped for autostereo (lenticular) colour printing, which produced a true stereo image without the use of glasses. This process was also developed by Nims and Lo, of the original company.

Item is a four-lens, three-dimensional camera developed by Jerry Curtis Nims and Allen Kwok Wah Lo and manufactured in the UK. The camera has a plastic body and 4 identical lenses, coupled with a shutter that exposes the four square images in synch. When exposed, 35mm film was sent to the Nimslo Co. in England and a few other specialty labs. The customer received developed, autostereo (lenticular) colour prints, which allow a true stereo image without the use of glasses. This process was also developed by Nims and Lo.

Item is a stereo camera for creating two 24 x 24 mm exposures on standard 35mm cartridge film. The camera has a built in sprit level to ensure that ideal stereo effect is achieved. Kodak produced a corresponding Kodaslide Stereo Viewer and proprietary stereo slide holders for viewing images shot with the camera. Lenses are Kodak Anaston F3.5/35mm with a Kodak Flash 200 shutter.

Item is a stereo camera produced in the early 1950's when the format became widely popular with amateur photographers. The camera uses 35mm film, has 2 anastigmat lenses, 3.5/35mm with a shutter speed of 1-1/150. The camera has a flash synch on the top.

Item is a 35mm stereo camera with CdS metering. Manual or automatic exposure. 24 x 29mm images. Industar-81 F2.8/38mm lenses. Comes with leather pouch, sun shades, small parts, and hard plastic case.

Item is a typical handheld camera using 5.7 inch roll film. The transport is by a built-in clockwork (one shot at a time) to be wound by a large lever at the left of the body to generate a flat film plane. Some suction is generated during exposure. Shutter is made by Ilex (Rochester NY) 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 sec.The lens is also by Ilex Optical Co - Paragon Anasigmat f6.3. Accessories include 1 38mm Yellow Filter and 2 Metal Slides.