Polaroid Now Gen 3 MoMA Edition Instant Camera

Polaroid Now Gen 3 MoMA Edition — Analog Instant Photography, Curated

The Polaroid Now Instant Camera Generation 3 - MoMA Edition is a fully analog instant camera developed in collaboration with the MoMA Design Store, pairing Polaroid's iconic square-frame format with a bright, museum-inspired color palette and three interchangeable wrist straps. Inside the body, a custom shutter driven by a precision step motor and a two-lens autofocus system deliver sharper exposures than the previous generation, especially in bright outdoor light. The camera accepts both Polaroid i-Type and Polaroid 600 film, so shooters can move between battery-free color packs and the classic 600 line without changing gear. For anyone who wants the tactile ritual of a physical print without giving up modern exposure control, this MoMA Edition reframes the Polaroid Now as a design object as much as a tool.

What Sets the MoMA Edition Apart

Unlike the standard Polaroid Now Gen 3, the MoMA Edition ships with three vibrant wrist straps that match the camera's curated colorway, turning the body into a wearable accessory rather than a hidden gadget. The outer shell is molded from ABS and PC plastics with 40% recycled content, a meaningful step for a category that has historically relied on virgin polymers. A vacuum-discharge tube flash — the same human-friendly flash system used across the Gen 3 line — fires accurately up to roughly 2 meters, calibrated for portraits against walls and indoor scenes.

Two-Lens Autofocus for Sharper Everyday Shots

The optical system is built around coated optical-grade PC and acrylic lenses, organized into two fixed focus zones that the camera selects automatically based on subject distance. This dual-zone approach removes the manual focus guessing that plagued earlier Now models and keeps framing predictable across portraits and landscapes.

• Autofocus Zones: 0.40 m–1.3 m and 1.0 m–infinity — covers close-up portraits and standard scenes without manual switching
• Lens Material: Optical-grade PC and acrylic, coated — durable enough for daily carry while keeping image quality consistent
• Field of View: 40° horizontal, 41° vertical — closely matches the framing seen through the viewfinder for more predictable composition

Six Apertures and a Human-Friendly Flash

Exposure control runs through a custom step-motor shutter paired with six usable apertures spanning f/64 to f/11, giving photographers real creative range across bright sun, overcast skies, and indoor light. The flash system uses a vacuum discharge tube that stores energy between shots, so recycle time stays short even when firing back-to-back frames.

• Aperture Range: f/64 to f/11 — six stops covering typical daylight and well-lit indoor conditions
• Shutter System: Custom design with precision step motor — consistent timing shot to shot for predictable exposures
• Flash System: Vacuum discharge tube storage — accurate, human-friendly flash calibrated for subjects within roughly 2 m

Recycled Body, Rechargeable Battery, Tripod-Ready

The chassis measures 150.2 mm × 112.2 mm × 94 mm and weighs 448 g, light enough to slip into a day bag while still feeling substantial in the hand. A rechargeable lithium-ion cell delivers enough charge for up to 15 film packs, and a standard tripod mount on the base opens up long-exposure and group-shot possibilities. Film compatibility covers both Polaroid i-Type (battery-free) and Polaroid 600 packs, so existing film libraries carry over.

• Dimensions: 150.2 mm × 112.2 mm × 94 mm — pocketable footprint with a confident grip
• Weight: 448 g — light enough for all-day carry without fatigue
• Battery Life: Up to 15 film packs per charge — USB-C rechargeable lithium-ion cell for travel-friendly top-ups
• Film Compatibility: Polaroid i-Type and Polaroid 600 — works with the full current Polaroid instant film lineup

Designed for Shooters Who Want a Print, Not a Pixel

The Polaroid Now Gen 3 MoMA Edition is the right choice for photographers, travelers, and gift-givers who want a tangible instant print without sacrificing the exposure refinements of a modern camera. Beginners will appreciate the autofocus, self-timer, and double exposure modes that remove most of the guesswork from instant photography, while more experienced shooters can lean on the six apertures and tripod mount for deliberate compositions. The MoMA colorway and bundled wrist straps also make it a strong fit for design-minded buyers who want the camera to read as an accessory, not just a tool. Anyone moving up from a smartphone-only workflow will find the printed square format a refreshing counterpoint to digital overload.

A Polaroid × MoMA Design Store Collaboration

The MoMA Edition is part of Polaroid's ongoing collaboration with the MoMA Design Store, which curates objects embodying the spirit of good design. The camera carries a 2025 year-of-design attribution and ships in a configuration that pairs the Now Gen 3 body with three MoMA Edition wrist straps — a thoughtful bright collection intended to invite users to create their own pieces of modern art. Polaroid's heritage of full-frame instant film carries through in the camera's compatibility with both i-Type and 600 packs, keeping the analog ritual intact while the body itself moves toward more sustainable materials.