In an historic move, Amateur Photographer (AP) readers have been given license to help design a new Polaroid digital camera that will include an on-board printer focused on ?professional and business users?.
The camera will be the first Polaroid consumer digital camera to print photographs targeted at this market, producing larger (4x3in) prints than that of the newly introduced PoGo printer, which delivers 2x3in pictures.
The 4x3in print size could be significant because it is the same format Polaroid used on its famous consumer instant film cameras before it discontinued traditional film.
Polaroid tells us the target market may include, for example, police forces and the construction industry.
Polaroid has launched a survey ? exclusively for AP readers ? to help determine which other features should be included on the new camera.
Polaroid wants readers? opinions on potential features such as pixel count, print quality and the battery?s print capacity.
The best suggestion, as judged by Polaroid, will win a trip to New York and VIP tickets to the Museum of Modern Art.
The firm hopes the new camera, which is due out in 2009, will appeal to consumers lamenting the death of Polaroid?s instant film models.
It will use the firm?s built-in ZINK digital printing technology, first used on Polaroid?s pocket-sized PoGo, a standalone printer delivering 2x3in prints, launched in July.
We expect Polaroid to launch a lower-end ZINK-enabled camera, also producing 2x3in prints, this winter (though Polaroid has yet to announce this officially).
In an exclusive interview with AP, Polaroid bosses said they want readers to ?define the next generation Polaroid PoGo ProSeries? cameras.
All those taking part will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win one of 100 Polaroid PoGo printers or one of 50 Polaroid Digital Frames (black gloss 8in models).
Answers can be entered via the AP website at www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/competitions/4778 from 9 August.
Polaroid will also accept answers by letter. These should be sent to Polaroid Survey, Amateur Photographer magazine, Room 8-56, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU.
The closing date is 31 August 2008 and the winners will be announced on the AP website.
For full details visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/competitions/4778
Pictures: The move comes 61 years after Edwin Land unveiled his ?one-step process? for producing finished photos in 60 seconds
