Editing Instant camera (section)

{{Short description|Type of camera whose film self-develops a short time after the picture is taken}}
{{for|digital cameras with built-in printers|Instant-print camera}}
[[File:0464 Fuji Instax 210 Polaroid 600 Spirit Fuji Cheki (7159344382).jpg|thumb|right|One [[Polaroid Corporation|Polaroid]] and two [[Fujifilm]] instant cameras with film]]
[[File:Polaroid SX-70 (4462345243).jpg|thumb|right|[[Polaroid SX-70]] ]]
[[File:Instax! (8205624761).jpg|thumb|right|[[Fujifilm]] [[Instax]] 210 with instant photograph]]
[[File:Picture of Polaroid image.jpg|thumb|right|Image of a developed analog Polaroid Film depicting [[Preikestolen]]]]
An '''instant camera''' is a [[camera]] which uses [[instant film|self-developing film]] to create a chemically [[Photographic processing|developed print]] shortly after taking the picture. [[Polaroid Corporation]] pioneered (and [[Patent|patented]]) consumer-friendly instant cameras and film, and were followed by various other manufacturers.

The invention of commercially viable instant cameras which were easy to use is generally credited to [[Edwin Land]], the inventor of  the model 95 [[Land Camera]], widely considered the first commercial instant camera, in 1948,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/polaroid-wins-patent-suit-against-kodak.html|title=Polaroid Wins Patent Suit Against Kodak|date=13 September 2006 |publisher=Mass Humanities|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204130420/https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/polaroid-wins-patent-suit-against-kodak.html|archive-date=2019-02-04|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> a year after he unveiled instant film in New York City.

In February 2008, Polaroid filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]] for the second time and announced it would discontinue production of its instant films and cameras, shut down three manufacturing facilities, and lay off 450 workers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/living/article/409180 |title=Developing into a thing of the past |publisher=Toronto Star |first=David |last=Graham |date=April 3, 2008 |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=March 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309054238/http://www.thestar.com/living/article/409180 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sales of analog film by all makers dropped by at least 25% per year in the first decade of the 21st century. In 2009, Polaroid was acquired by PLR IP Holdings LLC, which uses the Polaroid brand to market various products often relating to instant cameras. Among the products it markets are a Polaroid branded Fuji Instax instant camera, and various [[digital camera]]s and portable printers.

{{As of|2017}}, film continues to be made by [[Polaroid B.V.]] (previously the Impossible Project) for several models of Polaroid camera, and for the 8×10 inch format.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://us.polaroid.com/ |title=Home |website=us.polaroid.com |access-date=2022-06-24 |archive-date=2022-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625105858/https://us.polaroid.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other brands such as Lomography, Leica, Fujifilm, and others have designed new models and features in their own takes on instant cameras.