Latest news with #Polaroids
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Best Polaroid instant camera
In 1948, photography and instant gratification converged when Edwin H. Land invented the first Polaroid camera. Since then, a plethora of new technologies have been developed, yet the Polaroid continues to be a memorable party favorite to cherish. Refilling costs Most Polaroid instant cameras require either ZINK paper or film. Considering film and ZINK paper usually contain only enough for around 10 prints per package, it gets expensive taking pictures with instant cameras. Limited prints As there is usually a small number of prints per package of paper or film, shooting with a Polaroid instant camera means you have a limited amount of shots available, so click wisely. Even if you buy a bulk supply of film or paper, when you run out, you still have to stop and refill, which can be an inconvenience when you're in the moment creating memories. Battery power While some Polaroid instant cameras have rechargeable batteries, most take alkaline batteries. This is another form of frequent maintenance and cost involved in an instant camera that should be taken into consideration. In the modern world, the top quality Polaroid cameras not only have the classic nostalgia of the past but also the technological upgrades of today. Now, you can find many Polaroid instant cameras that include features such as printing and editing options, an app to sync your smartphone with and a rechargeable battery. Rechargeable battery If you don't want the hassle of changing batteries continuously, look for a Polaroid instant camera with a rechargeable battery and charging cable. This way, all you'll have to do is plug it in to charge and get back to snapping photos! App Many Polaroid cameras are now extremely sophisticated and high tech. If you wish to send your Polaroid photograph straight to social media without having to capture a picture of the shot itself, look for the app feature. This is not on every modern Polaroid instant camera, but many have this option. Printing options Unlike with the original Polaroid cameras, many modern models allow you to select which shots you want to print out instead of being stuck with ones you don't like. Another great option is being able to select where to print it to if you have other printers you want to send it to. Depending on where you purchase, for a small basic model, anywhere between about $50-$200. However, for the larger, vintage looking Polaroids, their prices can go all the way up to around $500. Why are my prints blown out? A. Due to most Polaroids being automatic cameras, you can't control or edit light the way you can with digital. However, you can increase the quality of your prints by capturing soft, natural light, such as standing by a window sill in the daytime rather than in direct sun or under light bulbs. Do I have to buy ink for my Polaroid instant camera? A. No. Models in the past required ink cartridges, but through modern developments, the Polaroid technology does not currently need it. Top Polaroid instant camera Polaroid Now+ Black (9061) – Bluetooth Connected I-Type Instant Film Camera with Bonus Lens Filter Set What you need to know: This is the ideal camera if you still want the 'Polaroid' look but also want more customizable features and filters. What you'll love: The Polaroid Now+ produces high-quality prints and is very user-friendly. It also comes with a set of filters, which is a nice bonus. It has lots of customizable features, including autofocus, full manual control, light painting and more. What you should consider: It doesn't include a selfie mirror or any film. Top Polaroid instant camera for the money Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Print Digital Camera What you need to know: It has many capabilities that include an LCD display, which doubles as a viewfinder or photo editor. What you'll love: It can sync with iPhone or Android devices via Bluetooth for printing and has the option to download and store 13 Megapixel photos on an SD card for easy transferal to a computer. It features a built-in 'selfie mirror' as well as a timer to get the perfect group shots. What you should consider: ZINK paper is less costly than film but still expensive regardless. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
7NEWS
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
The new instax mini 41 has landed in Australia and it's perfect for taking selfies
Have you ever dreamed of being the kind of person who casually pulls out a cute camera at brunch and nails the lighting every time? Fujifilm has just dropped the instax mini 41 in Australia, and it's the glow-up we didn't know the iconic instant camera needed. Building on the cult-loved mini 40, this new version keeps the retro charm but adds just the right amount of spice. Think matte black body with dark silver accents, a finely textured grip, and a pop of orange that says, 'Yes, I know what I'm doing.' But it's not just a pretty face. The instax mini 41 is made for capturing real-life moments as they happen, with no filters, no faff, and no bad lighting to ruin your selfie. Here's why everyone's adding it to cart: Automatic Light Adjustment means the camera does the thinking for you, adjusting shutter speed and flash output depending on where you are. You just point and click. Close-up Mode is activated with a quick lens twist, perfect for nailing the details in selfies or cute coffee table flat lays. Built-in Selfie Mirror helps you line up your shot like a pro. No more awkward guessing games, and capture the perfect snap every time. Whether you're snapping a sunset at golden hour or taking candid Polaroids at a party, the instax mini 41 delivers clean, balanced prints in seconds. And yes, you can still ' shake it like a Polaroid picture ' (but Fujifilm says it's not actually necessary). Style meets substance (finally) Instant photography is having a serious moment, again, and the instax mini 41 is made for the new wave of creative sharers. It's light, easy to carry, and way more photogenic than your standard camera gear. Honestly, it'll probably feature in your selfies as much as your friends do. To top it off, Fujifilm has released a matching carry case ($29.95) that protects your camera without ruining your aesthetic. It's a vibe. Or, you know, just treat yourself.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Crypto investor allegedly tortured captive Italian businessman with a chainsaw for weeks in luxe NYC pad in sadistic scheme to gain password: sources
A cryptocurrency investor from Kentucky is suspected of torturing an Italian businessman with a chainsaw in a sadistic, weeks-long extortion attempt to gain the password for his accounts at a ritzy Manhattan apartment – before the captive made a daring escape, police sources said. John Woeltz, 37, was arrested after the bloodied and bruised businessman – a 28 year-old man – broke out of the SoHo house of horrors Friday morning, ran to a police officer and said he'd been held prisoner for more than two weeks, the sources said. Cops rushed to the luxurious Prince Street pad – which Woeltz was allegedly renting for roughly $30,000 to $40,000 a month – and discovered multiple Polaroid photos showing the businessman being tied up with electrical wire and tortured, including one of him bound to a chair with a gun pointed at his head, according to the sources. Since being taken captive, the businessman had been bound with an electric cord, Tased while his feet were put in water, pistol-whipped, forced to take cocaine and threatened to have his limbs cut off with an electric chainsaw, the sources said. The nightmare erupted from a dispute over cryptocurrency, in which the suspect allegedly tried to extort millions of dollars from the man by unleashing a litany of horrific tortures, according to sources. The man was rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment, while cops arrested Woeltz, who was expected to face an assault charge, the sources said. Woeltz was charged Friday night with two counts of second-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree, first degree unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon. A second person — 24-year-old Beatrice Folchi of Manhattan — was also arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful imprisonment. Two other people believed to be employed by Woeltz – who is a crypto entrepreneur and investor – were waiting to be interviewed by police, sources said. The ordeal began May 6, when the businessman arrived in New York City from Italy and went to meet Woeltz, with whom he apparently had past business dealings, according to sources. But when the man went to the posh pad, the crypto bigshot snatched his passport and tied him up, sources said. The man suffered days of torture that were documented by Polaroids – which likely were intended to be used to extort money, either from the victim or his family back in Italy, according to sources. Police found the photos scattered throughout the blood-soaked makeshift torture chamber, along with several implements of terror – broken glass, night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest and a gun – in plain sight, sources said. The man had a wound on his arm that is believed to be a cut from the chainsaw, according to the sources. The victim also had an Apple AirTag put around his neck in case he tried to escape, according to the sources. He eventually did make his successful attempt to flee because he believed Friday was the day he would be killed, sources said. Ciaran Tully, a photographer who sells his work across the street from the building, said he saw Woeltz, clad in a robe and handcuffs getting arrested. 'This is definitely the strangest thing I've seen in my time here,' he said. 'Normally, this is a pretty quiet block.' A jewelry vendor who wanted to be unnamed said he got a 'weird vibe' from the 'crypto guys' who recently moved in. 'I knew there was something weird going on, I just assumed they were shooting porn or something,' he said. 'I couldn't have guessed all this.' Woeltz was being held in the NYPD's 5th Precinct Friday awaiting charges. The NYPD's Emergency Service Unit searched the premises to make sure their were no other torture victims, the sources said.
Business Mayor
24-05-2025
- Business Mayor
Italian businessman tortured for weeks with chainsaw and Taser in luxury New York apartment by crypto investor, police say
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US A cryptocurrency investor from Kentucky was arrested in Manhattan on Friday after allegedly holding an Italian businessman captive for more than two weeks in a luxury SoHo apartment. John Woeltz, 37, has been charged with two counts of assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the New York City Police Department. A bloody and bruised 28-year-old businessman, who has not been publicly identified, allegedly escaped Woeltz's Prince Street apartment hours before he believed he would be killed. The man approached a nearby traffic agent, who then called police. Rents in SoHo are high. That on Woeltz's apartment is thought to be between $30,000 and $40,000 a month (Getty Images) Woeltz was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on Saturday. He is being held without bail and was forced to surrender his passport, according to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The businessman claimed he arrived in New York from Italy on May 6 and went to Woeltz's apartment, where Woeltz stole his electronic devices and his passport then demanded the businessman's Bitcoin password. When he refused, Woeltz and another man held him captive for more than two weeks of torture, including shocking him with wires, holding a gun to his head, and suspending him over the ledge of the five-story building, according to a criminal complaint. He was bound with electrical cords, tasered while his feet were in water, pistol-whipped, forced to take cocaine, and threatened with having his limbs cut off with an electric chainsaw, according to police. Read More TRON and BitTorrent are exploring zkEVM integration The abuse continued until the victim escaped on Friday morning. When police entered Woeltz's apartment, they reportedly found Polaroids depicting the man being tied up with electrical wire, tortured, and bound to a chair with a gun pointed to his head. The Polaroids were likely used to extort money from either the victim or his family in Italy, police said. Officers also found guns and several torture devices in the apartment, reportedly rented for $30,000 to $40,000 a month. Police found no other victims in the apartment. Officials also arrested Beatrice Folchi, 24, of Manhattan, on Saturday, on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges stemming from the incident. Folchi's alleged role or relationship to Woeltz is unclear. Police are still searching for another male suspect. The allegations follow a string of reported attacks targeting crypto investors and executives for access to accounts worth millions of dollars locked behind sophisticated encryption. Neighbors were shocked by news of the alleged crimes. 'This is definitely the strangest thing I've seen in my time here,' Ciaran Tully, who works across the street from Woeltz's apartment building, told The New York Post. Tully claimed he saw a barefoot Woeltz detained in a white bathrobe. 'Normally, this is a pretty quiet block,' he said. 'I just can't believe stuff like this would happen in 2025 in New York of all places,' Midtown resident Kareem Hakemy told CBS News. 'This is our borough, our neighborhood. … We have to be careful.'
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Thrifts 1970s Polaroid for $5.59—Unprepared for What She Ends Up With
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman has gone viral after sharing her excitement over a vintage Polaroid camera she thrifted for just $5.59—and was amazed to find that it still works. Hailey (@hailsjournal) posted the moment to TikTok, where the video has since garnered over 1.3 million views and more than 166,300 likes. "I cannot believe I found this," she captioned the clip. The footage shows Hailey sitting in her car with a friend, snapping a test photo with the camera—only to discover, to their surprise, that the decades-old device still functions perfectly. The same cameras often retail for upward of $93. The camera in question appears to be a Polaroid OneStep Land Camera, a cult classic model originally introduced in 1977. Known for its rainbow stripe and big red shutter button, the OneStep became a bestseller due to its ease of use and accessible price point. It used SX-70 film and was designed to be a true point-and-shoot experience—ideal for instant photography beginners and hobbyists alike. A split image showing Hailey's Polaroid find and her taking a selfie with the camera. A split image showing Hailey's Polaroid find and her taking a selfie with the camera. @hailsjournal/@hailsjournal While the nostalgia of instant film has made Polaroids trendy again, using vintage models comes with a learning curve. One key myth that modern users need to shake (or rather, not shake) is the idea of waving the photo around to develop it. In fact, Polaroid advises not to shake photos, since it can cause the chemicals to spread unevenly and create blotches or haze. Instead, Polaroid users should allow their photos to develop face down out of the light. Hailey's thrift-store treasure also sparked a wave of commentary from fellow enthusiasts and camera collectors. "A tip, ALWAYS use the flash, even when you think it's not needed you need the flash so the picture comes out great. also don't shake the picture and instead place it down away from light," posted Amber. "Sx-70 is 100 iso [sensitivity to light as a numerical value] film so using 600 film in normal outside settings would make it overexposed so either needs sx-70 film or an nd [neutral-density] filter over the film, but surprised it shoots alr [all right]," Vincent recommended. "Don't shake the picture! I have the non vintage one but the instructions say to just place it face down to let it develop lol [laugh out loud] it shouldn't come out blurry if you leave," suggested another Polaroid user. "Thrift find of the century," said another user, echoing the sentiment of many TikTok users who were stunned by Hailey's luck and the camera's performance. Do you have any amazing thrifting finds that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
