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.