Retrospekt Unveils the Coolest, Crispest, Most Refreshing Polaroid Camera Yet

Wisconsin-based, camera restorers Retrospekt has teamed up with PepsiCo to launch a reimagined version of the Polaroid 600 instant film camera. This isn’t just a modern camera with a retro look, though. This is made out of old parts and is based on the camera’s original design.

The company says: “Did this just drop out of your mid-’90s Pepsi Stuff catalog? It may as well have. Built using refurbished internal components—sourced directly from vintage Polaroid instant cameras made in the 1980s and ‘90s – and wrapped in a freshly molded blue exterior designed to the exact same specifications as the original Polaroid 600 camera bodies, the Polaroid 600 Pepsi camera features a brand new design that celebrates the joy of Pepsi’s iconic branding from years past. You gotta have it!”

Even this partnership is a throwback. “Believe it or not, this isn’t Pepsi’s first time in the instant film spotlight,” said Michael Kempen, Restrospekt Creative Director, in a statement. “In the 1980s, Polaroid produced a limited number of cameras that made use of the then-current Pepsi branding. As the years go by, they’re becoming increasingly difficult to find — but demand is still high.” That demand is in part responsible for this new old-school version.

Working to revive vintage analog Polaroid cameras, Retrospekt source old components and restore them so they work as new. The revitalized components are then placed inside newly molded housing made to the same specification as the original Polaroid 600. Combining the old with the new, Retrospekt is able to put a fresh take on a retro design while maintaining the integrity and lovability of Polaroid cameras.

Despite the change in exterior, the cameras are pretty much identical to the original models. They sound, work, and feel exactly as you would imagine but benefit from a striking case showcasing Pepsi’s branding from the past.

These reinventions of Polaroid cameras are nothing but good news for Polaroid who relaunched as Polaroid Originals in 2017 thanks to The Impossible Project. Having had many years of success through the 1960s and 1970s, Polaroid struggled with a drop in sales and a loss in market shares when digital cameras became popular in the 1990s.

This latest labor of love from Retrospekt is licensed by both Polaroid and Pepsi and is only available to buy in the US. These quirky cameras would make the perfect present for a camera collector or photography enthusiast who wants to own a redefined piece of history.

The Polaroid 600 Pepsi Instant Film Camera retails for $160.

More info on Retrospekt’s website.


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