Spice Cam

Polaroid 600 Spice Cam Instant Film Camera
Overview
MakerPolaroid Corporation
TypeInstant camera
Released
  • November 1997 (Europe)[1]
  • 1998 (US)[2]
Intro price$39.99[2]
Sensor/medium
Film formatPolaroid 600
Film size
  • 3.1 x 3.1 in (no border)
  • 4.2 x 3.5 in (with border)
Recording mediumInstant film
Chronology
PredecessorPolaroid OneStep
References
[3][4]

The Polaroid 600 Spice Cam Instant Film Camera is an instant camera made by the Polaroid Corporation in association with British girl group the Spice Girls, as part of Polaroid's 600 series.[3][4]

History

In 1997, Polaroid signed a deal with the Spice Girls to develop the Spice Cam, a variation on the company's OneStep instant camera with brighter colours (purple, pink, orange, and silver[5]) and a new design.[1][6] The association with the pop group was Polaroid's attempt to appeal to a younger demographic,[1][6] and the camera came with customizable Spice Girls stickers and labels.[5][7] The Spice Cam was sold in record stores in addition to traditional camera outlets.[1][6] Polaroid used the Spice Cam to promote its new 'Extreme 600' film format.[8]

The Spice Cam was Polaroid's first camera to be named after a group or person.[9] The Spice Girls filmed television adverts and conducted a number of promotional photoshoots for the camera.[10][11] The camera was also exhibited at the 1998 Photo Marketing Association Show.[5]

The Spice Cam was sold in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.[2] Cox News Service said of the camera, "like the fun-loving quintet, SpiceCam has more style than substance."[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wallack, Todd (5 November 1997). "Polaroid spices up camera models". Boston Herald. p. 38.
  2. ^ a b c "Spice Girls snap up camera deal, Posh Spice pied by anti-fur protesters". MTV News. 6 May 1998. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Polaroid 600 Spice Girls Instant Camera". Polaroid. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Polaroid 600 Spice Cam Instant Film Camera". Retrospekt. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Spicy doings at Polaroid". Popular Photography. Vol. 62, no. 5. May 1998. p. 34. ProQuest 215763586. Retrieved 28 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ a b c Rosenberg, Ronald (5 November 1997). "Polaroid plans faster instant film, camera aimed at youth market. To be advertised by pop group Spice Girls". The Boston Globe. p. C, 2:5. ProQuest 403905020. Retrieved 28 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ a b Cox News Service (8 June 1998). "FYI: Camera salutes the Spice Girls". Star Tribune. p. 47. Retrieved 28 March 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Pollard, Lewis (26 May 2017). "HIDDEN TREASURES OF OUR COLLECTION: SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!". National Science and Media Museum. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  9. ^ "The Spice Girls' most memorable fashion moments in pictures". The Daily Telegraph. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Breaking: Polaroid: Camera Developed for Spice Girls". Ad Age. 6 October 1997. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  11. ^ Knight, Ciara (2020). "Remembering a simpler time when the Spice Girls convinced us to buy Polaroid cameras". Joe. Retrieved 28 March 2021.