Katie K

Here is your complete, down-to-earth manual to every major Polaroid camera family so you don't accidentally buy an aesthetic paperweight.

Whether you’re buying your first camera, hunting for that retro aesthetic, or just trying not to waste $20 on a pack of dud shots, here is the honest, zero-gatekeeping breakdown (complete with the actual science and history) of how Polaroid and Instax stack up.

Tucked right inside Factory Square (168 Center St, for anyone who needs to throw it into Maps), this place is a full-blown, two-story, neon-drenched paradise that feels like stepping straight onto a 1990s movie set. We’re talking over 100 vintage arcades, a massive physical pinball lineup, and rotating New England craft beers on tap.