C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Polaroid Land Camera 220, introduced in 1968, sat in the middle of Polaroid's pack-film lineup: more capable than the entry-level 104 and 150 models, but without the coupled rangefinder of the 250 and 350. Like all cameras in the second-generation 100-series pack-film family, it used Polaroid's Type 100 drop-in pack (eight peel-apart frames per cartridge) and an automatic CdS-metered electronic shutter. The 220 was distinguished from its rangefinder siblings by its use of zone focus rather than a coupled rangefinder, making it simpler to operate and manufacture. It was aimed at consumers who wanted reliable automatic exposure without paying the premium for rangefinder accuracy, and was a mainstream seller through the late 1960s before being phased out as the 230/240 generation took over.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the pack-film format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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About this camera
Mid-tier pack-film folder with automatic exposure and zone focus - the everyman's 1968 Land Camera.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | Polaroid Type 100 pack film (peel-apart; 8 frames; ~3.25 x 4.25 in print) |
| Lens | ~114mm f/8.8, 3 elements |
| Focus | Zone focus (symbols: portrait, small group, landscape) |
| Shutter | Electronic auto; ~10s - ~1/600s |
| Meter | CdS cell; auto with darken/lighten override wheel |
| Flash | M and X sync; AG-1 bulb flashgun or electronic |
| ISO range | 75 - 3000 (manual ISO dial) |
| Battery | 3V (Eveready 531 or 2x LR44 adapter) |
| Weight | ~1,100 g (unverified) |
| Years | 1968 - ~1971 |
The 220 belongs to the second wave of Polaroid's pack-film cameras, introduced in 1968 alongside a broader refresh of the 200-series line. Polaroid had established the pack-film system with the original 100-series in 1963 and used the subsequent years to differentiate the lineup by price and capability. By 1968 the hierarchy was well defined: entry models (104) used a simple fixed-focus or zone-focus arrangement and a basic automatic shutter; mid-tier models (220, 230) added a more refined zone-focus system; and the top-tier 250 and 350 provided a coupled rangefinder for accurate focus at any distance.
The 220 slotted into this hierarchy as a practical, affordable folder. Its plastic construction was lighter than the aluminum-chassis 100, 250, and 350, contributing to the cost reduction. The CdS automatic exposure system was identical in principle to the rangefinder models, giving users confident automatic exposure from portrait distance out to infinity without the additional optical complexity of rangefinder coupling.
The 200-series was progressively replaced by the 230 and 240, which updated the external styling and minor mechanical details while remaining functionally similar. The 220 itself was discontinued around 1971 as the lineup consolidated. The entire pack-film camera line eventually wound down in the mid-1970s as Polaroid shifted marketing emphasis to the integral SX-70 system, though pack-film cameras remained available and used in professional contexts for years afterward.
The 220 is not a landmark camera in the way the Model 100 (first pack-film camera) or the 180 (professional manual control) are. Its significance is that it represents the mainstream of the pack-film era: a practical, accessible tool that brought Polaroid's automatic-exposure technology to ordinary consumers at a reasonable price.
For photographers working with pack film today, the 220 is a functional shooter. Zone focus is less precise than a coupled rangefinder, but at portrait distances and with the small apertures typical of the 220's lens, depth of field is forgiving enough that results are consistent. The camera's lower collectible status compared to rangefinder models means it can be found in working condition at lower cost - a practical entry point to pack-film photography.
The 220 also illustrates Polaroid's deliberate product segmentation strategy in the late 1960s: the company offered a tightly differentiated lineup at multiple price points, all using the same film, with the goal of capturing every tier of the consumer camera market.
Polaroid 220
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