In an age of digital cameras, when photos and videos are instantly available, it’s hard to imagine how exciting Polaroid pictures were. The Polaroid Land Camera was the first to offer self-developed images. Instead of waiting days to pick up your snapshots from the drug store, the image would appear rapidly in your hand.
The pictures emerged from the camera overlaid with developer, which required a minute to bring up the image. Many users waved the pictures in the air in the mistaken belief that this helped the process. It didn’t.
For millions of Americans relying on traditional Instamatic cameras, Polaroid photos would seem like a luxury. The cost of a single Polaroid picture in the 1960s was the equivalent of $5 today. So there weren’t a lot of retakes if people had their eyes shut in the first take.
Polaroid cameras, using analog technology, are still being made. And they’re still doing something your phone can’t do: putting a physical image in your hand.
This article is featured in the November/December 2026 issue of The Saturday Evening Post.
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
