Polaroid 420

[ChristopherCoy]

Ok... I just have to ask. Is the popularity of the Polaroid 420, merely the fact that it says "420" on it?

I bought a 420 on eBay on Friday, because it looked to be in minty condition and it was only $12. Since then I have been researching the specs on it, and found Michael Raso's videos. In the video below he states that it has become "immensely popular by the Film Photography Project followers."

But if the 420 is similar to the 320, which is similar to the 210, which is similar to the 104, which is similar to the 103, which is similar to the 101, which is of course similar to the 100 (according to rwhirled.com)..... What is it about the 420 that makes it special?

Is it because its a reminder of the internationally friendly time to befriend Mary? Or does it truly have a super secret special power?

 

[charlief64]

It has a two element plastic lens and an "iffy" focus system. It's the Diana of Polaroids. If you are looking for soft and dreamy, this is your camera.
charlie

 

[ChristopherCoy]

oh. yay.

 

[pdexposures]

It has a two element plastic lens and an "iffy" focus system. It's the Diana of Polaroids. If you are looking for soft and dreamy, this is your camera.
charlie

It has the middle of the road focusing system. The two window rangefinder. Not as nice as the zeiss finders but worlds better than the scale focus systems.

The popularity Mike talks of is largely fabricated. No it doesn't have to do with that it's 420. FPP co-host Mat Marrash and Canadian photographer April Lee Hutchison both use this camera. That is what sparked more people buying that one from their store. It has the same plastic lens any other plastic lens Land camera has, and is no better/worse.

The one I had ended up being hacked to bits for my manual conversion.