The third iteration of Impossible SX-70 film has promised faster development times, with pictures starting to emerge in 2 (!) minutes, while the full picture takes 20-30 minutes. There is a ever-so-slightly noticeable improvement, but still nowhere near instant, and certainly not developing in a few minutes as they misleadingly imply. Pictures DO start to emerge in a few minutes, but that only matters when the picture is actually instant. Otherwise, who cares if you can see the vague shape of your friend within 5 minutes? In the same vein, the development time is a little bit faster (down from 40ish minutes to yes, 25-30ish minutes), but again, Impossible is a long, long way from truly instant film. Nevertheless, as someone who's been using Impossible film ever since the first iteration (four years), I can still say that it's their best yet.For all the negative reviews, please keep in mind that Impossible film is incredibly finicky. The #1 culprit behind duds is development-- always develop in a dark, warm place, never in direct sunlight or too-cold conditions. Even a fair 60-degree day can result in a picture that's too underdeveloped. Keep in mind these tips:- SET YOUR EXPOSURE DIAL: Start your SX-70's exposure dial from the darkest setting, and work your way up. If your exposure dial is set too high, your pictures will be blown out. Indoors, darkest/ second-darkest (with flash) did the trick, while outside in the day it was anywhere from second darkest to middle point. I've never had to pass the middle point in normal use.- USE FLASH: Think of your Polaroid as a cheap digital camera-- there are very few instances where you wouldn't use flash. Indoors will almost always require flash, unless the room is bathed in sunlight. Ditto for outdoors. *- SHIELD YOUR POLAROIDS: Immediately turn your camera upside down the moment it spits the camera out, or shield your hand over it, or install the Impossible Frog Tongue. Any light hitting the picture in its first few minutes may dramatically affect the exposure.- DEVELOP PROPERLY: Polaroids should develop face-down in a dark, warm place (warmth is the most important part, darkness is more optional but still helpful). NEVER in direct sunlight or lamp-light. The best place is a pocket close to your body. Even room temperature is a little too "cold" for optimal development.- STORE PROPERLY: Put film packs in the fridge and make sure they stay dry. Let them return to room temperature (for at least an hour) before use. This suggestion comes from the Impossible Project's website itself.THE FILM ITSELFDespite the supposedly high price and low reliability, Impossible is a safer bet than authentic Polaroid film. There, you'll find dead batteries and dud pictures, thanks to decades of age and improper storage. At least you'll know that this film has been freshly made, properly stored, and you're supporting a company that is still doing active R&D to improve their film. And while it's honestly pretty expensive and you'll probably make a lot of mistakes, once you get the hang of it, you'll be taking gorgeous pictures that everyone will be begging for.PROS- Lovely muted, retro-looking color palettes to richly vivid colors when developed well- Well-sized, sturdy square photos as opposed to Instax's too-small wallet size or awkwardly proportioned wide photos- It works. Pictures themselves may be duds (as in too blurry or dark), but they don't misfire or fail to develop. Impossible has very good customer service if their film does happen to fail (which happened once in my 4 years of using, but they replaced the film free of charge)CONS- Absurdly high price-- $3 a shot, technically $4 if you use disposable flashbars- Extremely long development times-- around half an hour- Tendency to be overexposed-- your camera's exposure dial must (almost) always be in the dark range to compensate- Extremely sensitive during the development stage- 8 pictures per pack instead of 10, as you'd find with old Polaroid filmSO HOW DO POLAROIDS COMPARE TO FUJIFILM?Fujifilm is the other major manufacturer of instant cameras on the market. They're more successors than competitors, but it's only natural that people will compare.AVAILABILITYPolaroids are vintage items, so they will be much harder to find, in a much wider variety of conditions They WILL however, be about the same price-- as of late 2016, box-type SX-70s are going for around $70 while the folding SX-70s go for around $120. You should know this going in. My only tips are to make sure that the camera you're buying has been film tested. Official resellers like Urban Outfitters, Mint, and Impossible Project sell them for double the price compared to places like Ebay. The former option means they're guaranteed to work since they've been refurbished, while Ebay is obviously more of a mixed bag. However, if the camera is being sold in working condition, then it has very little reason to break. After all, these cameras were made in the USA, and back when things were meant to last a long time. Peace of mind, however, may be priceless.PHOTOGRAPHYIf you're a serious about instant photography, then you want the Polaroid SX-70 Folding Camera. It's an SLR with manual focus. No Fujifilm Instax compares. See my review of The Impossible Project Polaroid SX-70 Original Instant Film Camera (Certified Refurbished) for my personal thoughts on the SX-70.If you just want pictures for memories and for fun, then you want the Polaroid OneStep SX-70 White/Rainbow Camera or Impossible PRD3109 SUN 660 Auto Focus Camera Kit (Black). Note that the 600 series uses different film, but they are pretty much identical in terms of development times, etc. This camera was for people who just wanted snapshots. However, there are several other factors to consider...EASE OF USEFujifilm wins, plain and simple. Fujifilm has captured that instant magic, with photos that takes less than 5 minutes to develop. Furthermore, their film is nowhere near as sensitive and unstable as Impossible is. If, however, you want instant photography AND the experience of using an authentically vintage piece of machinery, then go Polaroid. If you just want instant photography with no hassles and you don't necessarily care about any vintage-ness, go with the Fujifilm. If you do end up choosing the Polaroid, I encourage you to look at blogs, how-tos, etc. and avoid making any rookie mistakes.PRICEFujifilm is also the clear winner here. At $3 a shot, Polaroids are triple the price of Fujifilm's nice-and-easy $1 a shot. The Fujifilm cameras also come with built-in flashes, while the SX-70s do not. You have to either buy disposable flash bars (10 flashes per bar, $10 per bar) or a electronic flash attachment (one-time purchase around $30 used or $80 new), which also factor into the cost. Bear in mind that the Polaroid 600 series have built-in flashes, so you can save that $1 per picture.SUMMARYIt's like the choice between a 2017 Corolla or a 1967 Beetle. Polaroids provide an experience that is unmatched by modern instant cameras, but of course require a lot more investment, care, and patience. They're fun in a different way, and much more charming. But who knows? Polaroids may not be right for everyone. People like me, though, love the feeling of driving in a Beetle and would take it over the Toyota any day.* For SX-70 flashes, I personally think disposable flash bars are more convenient. All electronic flash arrays require separate batteries, as well as time to charge up. Impossible's electronic flash array takes 5 seconds to charge, making spontaneous pictures nearly... impossible. Otherwise, you could just always keep the flash charged and drain battery 2x faster. Imagine having to either wait 5 seconds to take every picture, or having to anticipate a picture 5 seconds before it happens, every time. Keep in mind, ALL electronic flash arrays take separate batteries and must be charged. Meanwhile, disposable bars can be used immediately-- just insert and press the shutter. Even though no manufacturer makes disposable flash bars anymore, they're very easy to find and are pretty reliable, despite all being made in the 1970s and 1980s. I've only had one flashbar fail on me throughout my four years, and even that one managed to provide me 6 out of 10 flashes.