The camera got its name from camera obscura, the predecessor of the modern day camera. It is a Latin term which means “dark chamber,” and it refers to the early mechanism of projecting images and using an entire room as a real-time imaging system. Camera obscura consisted of a darkened chamber or a box that allowed light into the box through a convex lens. The image of the object was then formed on a surface of paper or glass, which was placed at the focus of the lens. The credit of inventing this gadget goes to an Iraqi scientist, Ibn al-Haytham. He described it as early as the 11th century in his Book of Optics (1015-1021).

But the first camera that was both portable as well as practical for photography was built by Johann Zahn in 1685. It included more advanced technology and features like sliding boxes for focusing and the placement of a sensitized plate in front of the viewing screen to capture an image. The process for capturing an image underwent a lot of development and so did the plate. From copper plates and paper to finally the glass plate, which was used in the popular wet plate process.

Modern day cameras capture light on a photographic film or photographic plate, whereas digital cameras use a charge coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) to capture images, which can then be transferred and stored in the camera’s internal memory for later playback or processing.

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Technology: Instant cameras come with self-developing film. Initially, it started off with a self-developing film roll, and later, it was replaced by pack films. All the chemicals required to develop and print the photo are contained within the film itself. When you click a snap or when the photo is drawn out of the camera through rollers, the pod containing the chemicals breaks open to print the images. Typically, during development the picture should not be shaken.

Use: Instant cameras are very useful for those people who require seeing the captured images immediately. For instance fashion photographers regularly use it to review photo shoots. It has been used by dermatologists, archeologists, and architects alike. Some photographers have also exhibited instant photographs at art galleries.

Latest Innovation: The arrival of digital cameras rose as a stiff competition to instant cameras. In fact, earlier Polaroid Corporation had announced that they no longer produce instant films beyond 2008. But to overcome this obstacle, Polaroid has come up with a recent innovation. Their recent addition to the family of instant cameras is the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera. In Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 8th, 2009, Polaroid announced the launch of the Polaroid PoGo. This is the first digital camera and instant printer combination available. To print out the pictures, it uses ZINK Paper and Zero InkPrinting Technology from ZINK Imaging. With this superior technology there is no need for messy ribbons and cartridges. Instead this has been replaced by the ZINK paper with embedded and heat-activated dye crystals. So your photos can be printed within a minute and they are dry, smudge resistant and water resistant. It is even possible to print photos taken by another camera, just by inserting its SD memory card. The Polaroid PoGo is slated to begin sales in March.

So, if like me you also love the old-world charm of Polaroid prints, then we can together look forward to the Polaroid PoGo.

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