Impulse Series Camera

User Guide

Impulse Series Camera User Guide

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

Note: This product is listed by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL).

As a condition of listing, UL requires that basic safety information be provided.

As with any battery-operated equipment, observe these basic safety precautions:

1. Follow all of these instructions.

2. Do not use the electronic flash if it has been damaged, until it has been examined at an authorized Polaroid Service Center.

3. Do not disassemble the electronic flash. To reduce the risk of an electronic shock, service or repair work must be done only by an authorized Polaroid Service Center.

Incorrect reassembly can cause electrical shock when the electronic flash is used again.

4. Do not immerse the electronic flash in water or other fluids.

PLEASE KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Please read this book cover to cover

We recommend that you take the time to read through this entire book so you are completely familiar with your camera system. It is especially important to know how to handle Polaroid film and pictures to ensure high quality results.

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Impulse Series Camera User Guide

Table of Contents

Important Safeguards ..............................................................................

2

The camera .......................................................................................

4

Impulse ..............................................................................................

4

Impulse AF .........................................................................................

4

To take a picture ......................................................................................

5

Load the film ......................................................................................

5

Raise the electronic flash to activate the camera ................................

5

Position your subject ..........................................................................

5

Take a picture ....................................................................................

6

Other features..........................................................................................

6

The lighten/darken control ..................................................................

6

The self-timer (Impulse AF Only) ......................................................

6

Sonar focusing (Impulse AF Only) ....................................................

7

Camera care .....................................................................................

7

Film care............................................................................................

7

Lens care ...........................................................................................

7

Picture care .......................................................................................

7

To take better pictures .............................................................................

8

Camera accessories ...............................................................................

8

Camera bag ......................................................................................

8

Photofile 20 .......................................................................................

8

Troubleshooting .......................................................................................

9

Possible picture problems and their solutions .....................................

9

Warranty ..................................................................................................

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3

Impulse Series Camera

The camera

Impulse

Front View

User Guide

Back View

A

B

C

D

E

I

J

K

L

H G F N M

Impulse AF

Front View

H G F

A - Electronic flash (shown raised).

A1 - Self-timer button (Impulse AF only).

A2 - Self-timer indicator (Impulse AF only).

B - Single -element, 113mm lens (protected by a lens cover when the flash is lowered).

C - Photocell (measures light from the scene.

D - Lighten/darken control.

E - Film exit slot.

E1 - Sonar rangefinder (Impulse AF only).

F - Film shade (protects the picture from light as it exits the camera).

G - Film door.

B

C

D

E

E1

A

A1

A2

N

Back View

M

I

J1

K

L

4

H - Film door latch.

I - Picture counter (counts down to show how many pictures are left in the film pack).

J - Green ready light (shows the flash is ready to fire).

J1 - Flash status light (red when the flash is charging; green when flash is ready to fire; Impulse AF

only).

K - Shutter button.

L - Viewfinder.

M - Tripod socket (underneath the camera).

N - Neckstrap connector.

Impulse Series Camera

To take a picture

Load the film

1. Push the latch forward to open the film door.

User Guide

2. When the light next to the shutter button is green, the electronic flash is ready to fire.

3. When you are not using the camera, push the electronic flash down. The lens cover will move to cover the lens.

Note: As mentioned, the flash is designed for every picture – indoors and outdoors – combining with the light from the scene to provide the right lighting for the best possible picture.

Latch

2. Hold the pack by its edges, as shown.

3. Slide it all the way into the camera.

4. Close the film door. The camera ejects the film cover.

Raise the electronic flash to activate the camera

Note: Since the electronic flash is designed to be used for every picture, indoors and outdoors, the camera will not operate until the electronic flash is raised.

1. Push the top of the electronic flash

down and release it. The electronic flash will come up automatically and the lens cover will move to the side to expose the lens.

Position your subject

Indoors

Your subject should be within the camera’s flash range:

Impulse – 4 to 10 feet (1.2 to 3m)

Impulse AF – 2 to 14 feet (.6 to 4.25m)

For best results, your subject should also be near a light-colored background.

Outdoors

Your subject should be:

Impulse – at least 4 feet (1.2m) away

Impulse AF – at least 2 feet (.6m) away

(Be sure there are objects in front of your subject. See

Sonar focusing, page 7.)

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Impulse Series Camera User Guide

Take the picture When you have finished retaking the

picture, return the control to the center position (c).

1. Hold the camera as you would a pair of binoculars.

2. Frame your subject in the viewfinder.

3. Press the shutter button all the way.

4. When the light next to the shutter button is green, the electronic flash is ready to fire again. If the green light goes off and you want to take another picture, lightly touch and release the shutter button to recharge the electronic flash.

Note: Pictures taken of people in highly reflective beach or snow scenes often turn out too dark. Set the control all the way to the lighten

setting (a) before taking this type of picture.

The self-timer (Impulse AF only)

The self-timer lets you get into your picture. To use this feature:

1. Place the camera on a tripod or other steady support.

2. Frame your picture in the viewfinder.

3. Push the self-timer button down and release it (d).

Other Features

The lighten/darken control

Use the lighten/darken control when you want to retake a picture to make it lighter or darker.

To take a lighter picture, slide the control all the way to the lighten setting

(a).

d

You now have 12 seconds to get into your picture. During the first 10 seconds, you will see a flashing red light (e) on the front of the camera.

To take a darker picture, slide the control all the way to the darken setting

(b).

6 e

Two seconds before the camera takes the picture, the red light will stay on to remind you to hold still and smile. If you want to stop the

12-second countdown, push the self-timer button down and release (d).

Impulse Series Camera

Sonar focusing (Impulse AF only)

When you take a picture, your camera uses sound waves to measure the distance to your subject.

A built-in computer then uses this measurement to provide the correct lens setting.

The sound waves travel to the central part of the scene (approximate area circled in white), so be sure there are no objects in front of your subject.

User Guide

Film care

For best results, use 600 color film when the temperature is between 55° F (13° C) and

95° F (13° C). At temperatures below 55° F

(13° C), keep the camera and film as warm as possible. Above 95° F (13° C), keep the camera and film as cool as possible. Store the film below 75° F (24° C), if possible. In its sealed box, the film can be refrigerated (not frozen).

Camera care

Keep the camera free of water and sand.

Avoid storing the camera in hot places.

Picture care

During the first 60 seconds of development, handle the picture gently. Fanning or

bending the picture will disturb the development process.

At temperatures below 55° F (13° C), immediately place the developing picture

(being careful not to bend it) in a warm pocket for at least a minute. In hot weather, keep the developing picture cool by placing it in shade.

Lens care

Avoid touching the lens. Remove dust and fingerprints by breathing on the lens and wiping it gently with a clean, soft, facial tissue. Do not use silicone-treated eyeglass tissues.

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Impulse Series Camera

To take better pictures

By following these three simple rules, you will take better pictures indoors and out:

• Include color – Look for color when framing the scene in the viewfinder or use colorful props.

• Move in close – You can take the most pleasing picture of peoplewhen they are 3 to 5 feet (.9 to 1.5m) from the camera.

User Guide

• Look for light-colored backgrounds

indoors –– When your subject is near a light background, both are well lit by the flash.

Camera accessories

The accessories listed add to the versatility of your camera and to your enjoyment of your photographs. For information on these and other accessories, please contact your dealer or your nearest Polaroid office.

Camera bags

These durable, padded nylon bags hold a camera, film, and accessories. Each has an adjustable strap.

PhotoFile 20

This distinctively styled photo album holds 20 photos and offers easy flip-through viewing.

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Impulse Series Camera

Troubleshooting

Possible picture problems and their solutions

Problem

Repeated spots or bar pattern

Cause

The developer rollers inside the film door need to be cleaned.

User Guide

Solution

Open the film door (do not do this in direct sunlight, when there is film in the camera).

Clean the developer rollers with a lint-free cloth dampened with water, if necessary.

Background to dark The background was either too Be sure the lighten/darken far from the subject or beyond control is in center position.

the flash range.

Place your subject near the background and keep both within the applicable flash range.

Impulse - 4 to 10 feet (1.2 to 3m)

Impulse AF - 2 to 14 feet (.6 to

4.25m)

Unsharp picture The subject was too close to the camera.

Be sure your subject is at least

4 feet (1.2m) from the camera.

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Impulse Series Camera

Possible picture problems and their solutions (cont’d)

User Guide

Problem

Unsharp picture

(Impulse AF Camera)

Cause

An object in the foreground prevented the sound waves from measuring the distance to the subject. The lens focused on the object, causing the subject to be unsharp and at times too dark.

Solution

The sound waves travel to the central part of the scene. Be sure there are no objects in front of your subject.

Pictures too blue or too red/yellow

Pictures taken at temperatures In cold weather (below 55° F/ below 55° F/13° C) can 13° C), keep the developing have a blue tint. Pictures taken at temperatures above

95° F/35° C can have a red or yellow tint.

picture warm by placing it inside your pocket. In hot weather, keep the developing picture cool by placing it in shade.

Subject too dark

Featherlike pattern

The camera’s photocell measured the bright window light, causing the subject to be too dark.

Reposition your subject away from the bright background.

When a bright source of light

(lamplight, candlelight, etc.) is in the central part of the scene and in front of the subject, the camera’s photocell will measure the bright light, causing the subject to be too dark.

Move the source of light to one side of your subject so it is not part of the scene.

When you fan or bend a Handle the picture gently, by its

developing picture, it disturbs wide white border, during the first the development process.

60 seconds of development.

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Impulse Series Camera

Full one-year warranty

U.S. and Canada

If your camera proves to be defective within the warranty period, we will, without charge, either repair it or, at our option replace it with a fully reconditioned or new camera.

The warranty period is one year from the original date of purchase. To verify the warranty period, you should keep the sales slip or other proof of the purchase

date. Without this information, the warranty will be determined by the manufacturing date on the camera.

The repair or replacement of your camera is guaranteed for the remaining warranty period on your original camera.

The warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse or tampering with the camera and a charge will be made for such repairs.

For warranty service or information, call our toll-free number listed below. If your camera is not working, our representatives will verify the problem and can ship a replacement camera to you quickly (within approximately two or three Polaroid business days in the

U.S.).

U.S. only: This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state.

This warranty excludes all consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of consequential damages, so the foregoing exclusion may not apply to you.

User Guide

Canada only: The warranty and provisions do not affect your statutory rights.

For more information: From within the U.S., please call us toll-free at 1-800-343-5000,

Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm (Eastern time).

In Canada, call toll-free: 1-800-268-6970; in

Toronto, call 675-3680.

Americas Business Center

If you have any questions about your camera or pictures, you believe your camera needs repair, or you need additional information, call us toll-free: 1-800-343-5000 from anywhere in the U.S.

Our representatives can be reached every weekday from 8 am to 8 pm, Eastern time. In

Canada, call toll-free: 1 800-268-6970. In

Toronto, call 675-3680.

Or, if you prefer, write to us. The address is:

Americas Business Center, 201 Burlington

Rd., Bedford, Massachusetts 01730. Please include a sample picture of the problem you are having with your camera.

Polaroid instant color film is sold in the U.S.,

Canada, and Latin America. Before traveling to countries outside the U.S. and Canada, call us toll-free to learn where film for your camera is being sold.

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