Polaroid OneStep2 Manual

Introduction

Inspired by the original OneStep camera from 1977, the Polaroid OneStep 2 is an analog instant camera for the modern era. It takes a moment and turns it into something you can hold, something you can share, something real.

Parts Diagram

Attach the camera neck strap

Box contents

1. OneStep 2 Camera
2. USB Charging Cable
3. User Manual
4. Camera Neck Strap

How to use the OneStep2

Charge the camera

The OneStep 2 will not be fully charged upon purchase — it should be fully charged before first use. To charge the camera, plug the USB charging cable into the Micro-USB slot on the camera's back panel, and the other end of the cable into a charger, such as a smartphone adapter or your computer's USB slot. The red flash charge LED will turn off when the battery is fully charged. A full charge usually takes about 2 hours through a wall socket with a smartphone adapter, or up to 4 hours through a computer's USB slot. A fully-charged OneStep 2 camera will have enough power to shoot 15-20 packs of film, depending on usage. Remember to turn your camera off after every use to conserve battery life.

1. Turn the camera on/off
   To turn the camera on, slide the power switch into the ON position (down). The flash charging LED on the back panel will start blinking to charge the flash, and the remaining film counter on the top of the camera will light up to indicate that the camera is switched on. To turn the camera off again, return the power switch to the OFF position.
2. Load the film
   Slide the film door latch to open the film door. Push the film cassette all the way in, with the film's darkslide facing up. Note Please check individual film packaging for development time, handling and storage details.
3. Close film door
   When you close the film door, the darkslide will eject from the camera automatically, underneath the film shield. The plastic film shield is designed to protect images from light as they develop — it should not be removed. Take the darkslide out from under the film shield and let the film shield roll back up. If the darkslide has not ejected, remove the film pack and re-insert it, making sure it is pushed all the way to the back of the camera.
4. Set the Flash & Lighten/Darken
   Flash
   The camera flash will trigger by default when you shoot with the OneStep 2. To shoot without the flash, press and hold the flash override button on the back panel as you press the shutter button. Warning Shooting without flash will reduce camera performance and picture quality in most lighting situations except brightly-lit, sunny environments. We recommend always shooting with flash.
   Lighten/Darken
   Use the lighten/darken switch on the right side of the lens barrel to adjust the exposure of your shot. To get a brighter photo, move the lighten/darken switch right to the plus/lighten position. For a darker photo, move the lighten/darken switch left to the minus/darken position. These two settings correspond to different Exposure Values (EV). The camera's Exposure Values are +½ EV (when you move the switch to plus/lighten) and -½ EV (when you move the switch to minus/darken).
5. Using the viewfinder
   The OneStep 2 uses a traditional viewfinder located on the right side of the lens barrel. The viewfinder is most accurate when you align your right eye with the space behind the viewfinder, resting your cheek on the slope of the camera body.
   Note
   Remember that the viewfinder sits slightly above and to the right of the camera's lens — above and to the left from your perspective when shooting — so you will need to adjust your aim to compose your shot correctly when shooting at distances of 1.2 meters or less.
6. Compose your photo
   To avoid a blurry photo, make sure you are at least 60cm (2 feet) away from your subject when you take the picture. For the best results, always try to shoot with your light source behind you.
7. Take the photo
   Press the shutter button all the way in to take the photo. The photo will be ejected from the slot at the front of the camera as soon as you let go of the shutter button. It will be shielded from the light by the film shield, and will be held in place until you are ready to remove it.
8. Remove and shield the photo
   Remove the photo from beneath the film shield and let the film shield roll back into the camera. Place the photo face down to continue shielding it from light as it develops.

Further Guidance

Using the self-timer
The OneStep 2 has a self-timer function allowing you to place yourself in your photos or create perfectly-timed photographs. To use the self-timer, press the self-timer button on the left of the lens barrel. The self-timer button will light up to solid orange, indicating that the self-timer is activated. Once you have framed your photo, press the shutter button. The self-timer uses an 8-second interval between pressing the shutter button and taking the photograph. Once triggered, the self-timer's orange LED will blink to indicate the self-timer countdown. In bright or sunny environments, the camera flash will also countdown with short, low-power flashes. Note When using the self-timer to shoot, the flash will trigger automatically. To make self-timed photos without flash, activate the self-timer, then press and hold the flash override button as you press the shutter button.

How much film is left in the pack
There are 8 orange LED lights on top of the camera. When the OneStep 2 is switched on and not in sleep mode, the LEDs will constantly display the film count. The number of LEDs which light up corresponds to the number of shots left in the film pack. For example: If 6 LEDs light up, that means there are 6 shots left in the film pack. If you have used up all 8 shots in the film pack, or if there is no film pack inserted in the camera, then the LEDs will blink rapidly when you turn the camera on.

How much battery you have left
The camera has 3 battery states, indicated by the camera's flash charge LED light:

1. Battery charged: Enough charge for at least 2 packs of film. The flash LED will blink green whilst charging between shots, and will be solid green when ready to shoot.
2. Battery low: Enough charge for about 1 pack of film. The flash LED will blink orange whilst charging between shots, and will be solid orange when ready to shoot.
3. Battery empty:
   No charge remaining. The flash led will blink red, and the camera will cease to operate until it is recharged.
   A fully-charged OneStep 2 camera will have enough power to shoot 15-20 packs of film, depending on usage. To check the camera's charge at any time, switch the camera off, then switch it back on whilst holding down the self-timer button. The 8 film counter LEDs on top of the camera will light up, indicating how much battery remains.
   For example: If 6 LEDs light up, that means the camera has 6/8 (75%) charge remaining. Once you release the self-timer button, the LEDs will return to displaying the number of shots remaining in your film pack.

Compatible Film
The OneStep 2 works with all Polaroid Originals i-Type and 600 type film packs. We recommend using i-Type film as it is optimized for use with the OneStep 2.

Power supply
Charge the OneStep 2 before use to ensure it has enough power for the duration of your shoot (see →Charge the Camera). The flash charge LED will be solid red whilst the camera is plugged in and charging, and will turn off once the camera is fully charged.

Attach the camera neck strap
See guide to attaching your neck strap.

Using a Tripod
The OneStep 2 has a tripod socket in its base, which works with most standard tripods. Simply screw your tripod mount into the socket on the base of the OneStep 2.
Note
With most tripods, the tripod mount will need to be unscrewed before you can load or exchange film into the OneStep 2.

Cleaning the rollers
Sometimes excess developer paste from photos may build up on the camera's rollers, affecting the camera's performance and causing photos to show unwanted imperfections. The OneStep 2 has a built-in roller cleaning mode to help with this issue. Just follow these steps:

1. Turn the camera off.
2. Open the film door.
3. Hold the flash override button and press the shutter button.
4. The camera is now in roller cleaning mode.
5. Using a damp cloth or cotton swab, gently clean the rollers.
6. Press shutter button to incrementally advance roller positions.
7. Once both rollers are clean on all sides, close the film door.
8. Rollers will automatically return to their correct position.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

My OneStep 2 won't eject my photo/darkslide

Make sure that your OneStep 2 camera is charged: The camera's flash charge LED will blink red if it doesn't have enough charge to operate. If this is the case, you should recharge your camera before using the camera again.
Make sure you still have film in your camera: to check, slide the power switch off and on. The remaining film counter LEDs will indicate how many shots you have left in the film pack. If the LEDs flash rapidly when the the camera turns on again, this means that there are no shots left in the film pack, or that no film pack is inserted.

The flash doesn't fire when I take a photo

When taking photos make sure you aren't accidentally pressing the flash override button, located on the camera's back panel.

My photo turned out slightly too dark

We strongly recommend that you always shoot with flash when shooting indoors, as well as outside at night-time, at dusk and on cloudy days with low light conditions.
Make sure you are not shooting towards the sun; the OneStep 2 meters the average light level it sees. When shooting toward sunlight, the excessive light may cause the camera to over-compensate when exposing the image, creating an image that is too dark to expose your subject properly.
Move the lighten/darken switch on the right side of the lens barrel to the plus/lighten position for a brighter image.

My photo turned out blurry or fuzzy

When shooting, make sure to hold the camera steady, especially in low light conditions, and make sure you have a strong light source to illuminate your shot.
We strongly recommend that you always shoot with flash when shooting indoors, as well as outside at nighttime, at dusk and on cloudy days with low light conditions. You can also use a tripod to give your camera a stable base.
Make sure you are not too close to your subject when taking photos. In order to avoid blurry or out-of-focus photos, you should shoot from at least 60cm (2 ft) away from your subject.

Tips for Making Great Photos

Make photos indoors
Always use the flash when shooting indoors, even if you don't think you need it.
Indoor light appears yellow on analog film — the OneStep 2's flash is designed to compensate for this.

Make photos at night
When shooting at a party (or any indoor night-time environment), you should always use the flash.
You can also try moving the lighten/darken switch to the plus/lighten position to get a brighter shot.

Make photos outdoors
Natural light is your best friend when it comes to instant photography. On a sunny day outdoors, you don't need to use your flash at all. Make sure not to shoot towards the sun; shoot with the sun behind you, facing your subject directly or side-on. If your environment is very bright, you can try moving the lighten/darken switch to the minus/darken position to let less light into the shot and prevent it from being "blown out".
In any situation where you are not shooting in bright, direct sunlight, we recommend still using the flash to achieve the best shots.

Make landscape photos
When trying to capture a landscape shot, make sure that the sun or main light source is behind you to prevent the image from being "blown out" by excess light.
On a cloudy or overcast day with low light, you may wish to place the camera on a tripod or steady surface which will make it easier for the entire scene to remain in focus.

Customer Support

The Polaroid Originals Customer Support Team is always more than happy to hear from you. Get in touch using the contact details provided. For more detailed and up-to-date information, visit polaroidoriginals.com/help
USA/Canada usa@polaroidoriginals.com +212 219 3254
Europe/Rest of World service@polaroidoriginals.com 00 800 577 01500
Impossible B.V.
P.O. Box 242
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands

Technical Specifications

General
Dimensions
150mm (L) ×111mm (W) ×97mm (H)
Weight
460 grams (without film pack)
Operating Temperature
40–108°F / 4–42°C, 5–90% relative humidity
Compatible Film
Polaroid Originals i-Type and 600 type film in both Color and Black & White, including Special Editions.
Battery
High performance lithium-ion battery, 1100mAh, 3.7V nominal voltage, 4.07Wh

Materials
Outer shells
Lens
Polycarbonate + ABS plastics
Optical grade polycarbonate lens, coated
Shutter system
Custom design using precision step motor

Optical System
Lens Focal length Field of view
Fixed focus lens
106mm
41 degrees vertical,
40 degrees horizontal

Flash System
Vacuum discharge tube strobe

Safety Information

risk of electric shock — do not open/ disassemble the motorized roller system

• Do not disassemble the device. Incorrect reassembly can cause electrical shock if the device is used again.
• Do not immerse the device in water or other fluids.
• Do not operate the device in a high humidity environment or very dusty environments.
• Do not attempt to tamper with, adjust or remove the battery and/or the electronics located below the rollers behind the device's film door.
• Do not attempt to remove the door itself as it is connected electronically to the body of the device. Doing so is unsafe, will likely damage your device, and will void your warranty.
• Do not insert metal objects into the device.
• Do not insert any objects into the rollers or gears.
• Keep small children and infants away from device to avoid them being injured by the device's moving parts.
• Do not use or store the device near any heat source or any type of equipment that generates heat, including stereo amplifiers.
• Do not use the device near flammable or explosive gases.
• Do not charge the device if you notice any unusual odors, noise or smoke.
• Do not attempt to disassemble the film's battery or modify it in any way (if using 600-type film). If battery fluid gets in your eyes, immediately rinse your eyes with fresh, cold running water and seek medical attention immediately.

Battery and Charger

• This device uses a custom lithium-ion battery that is non-removable and mounted inside the camera body. No other type of battery can be used. Battery replacement can only be done by authorized service centers. The battery will provide many years of service if properly used.
• Power consumption varies depending on the environment the device is used in and how the device has been stored. Used immediately after full charge, the battery will power the processing of up to 20 film packs with flash exposures. Due to the high energy requirements of the flash, we recommend charging the camera fully before every session for best results.
• Once the battery energy level falls below a certain level, the device will no longer process film. The LED will blink and signal when it needs to be recharged. This is to avoid a photo getting stuck as it is being processed through the roller system.
• The rechargeable battery is not fully charged at the time of purchase. Charge the battery fully with the USB charging cable (provided). This usually takes 1-2 hours (can vary depending on usage).
• The supplied battery charging cable has been tested to work with the Apple iPhone power adaptors. While it can be used in other USB ports e.g. computer, USB power adaptors, TVs, cars etc., correct operation cannot be guaranteed.
• When the device is no longer in use, please recycle it properly.

Usage Environment

• To protect the high-precision technology contained in this device, never leave the camera in the following environments for extended periods of time: high temperature (+42°C/108°F), high humidity, places with extreme changes in temperature (hot and cold), direct sunlight, sandy or dusty environments such as beaches, damp places, or places with strong vibrations.
• Do not drop the device or subject it to severe shocks or vibrations.
• Do not push, pull or press on the lens.

For updated information, video tutorials and more, please visit polaroidoriginals.com/help