Polaroid Introduces Android Camera

By Cynthia Herbert :: 1:23 AM

While Android cameras aren’t new to the digital photography world – Samsung has the Galaxy Camera, and Nikon debuted the world’s first Android camera CoolPix S800c last fall – all of the offerings have been, up to this point, just point and shoots. Polaroid is changing all that with its announcement at CES today of the first Android-OS camera with an interchangeable lens.

Polaroid’s new iM1836 camera runs Android’s  4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system, the same OS version in Samsung’s Galaxy Camera. It is packaged with a 10-30mm zoom lens, but since the lens is interchangeable, Polaroid states that it is compatible with any Micro Four Thirds lens, although an adapter for this not included. Polaroid showcased this camera on Monday at CES.

Samsung’s Galaxy camera does have one advantage over Polaroid – the option for a data plan. With the iM1836, users will have to rely on Wi-Fi connectivity to access the Internet, or tether it to your smartphone via a Bluetooth connection.

Featuring a 3.5-inch LCD touch screen on the back and pop-up flash, other appointments include an automatic blink detection features, automatic face exposure, and panorama mode settings. Another shortcoming here is the LCD size – the Galaxy’s is nearly 5 inches.

The picture quality goes up to 18 megapixels, and video capabilities up to 1080p. An HDMI output jack is also included so you can hook right up to a television.

The new Polaroid will hit store shelves sometime later this quarter, and will retail for $399.

Current Polaroid digital camera offerings include the Z2300 10MP digital instant print camera, and the Z230E instant digital camera with ZINK (Zero Ink Printing) Technology.