All Polaroid, Polaroid Originals and Impossible i-Type cameras have some kind of exposure compensation, whether it’s a dial, a knob, a slider or a wheel. So, when should you be using it?
In most cases, your camera will make its own best assessment of your environment using a built-in light meter, and will usually do a pretty good job creating a balanced exposure. If you aren’t happy with the result of a photo, you can re-take the photo, making it lighter or darker using the camera’s exposure control. Below are some instances where you may get better results initially by manually tweaking the exposure a little bit.
Note: If you are shooting with SX-70 film, be sure to read this article first: Exposure Compensation on Polaroid SX-70
Very Bright Sunlight:
Polaroid 600 - slide 1/4 towards darken
Polaroid SX-70 - slide 2/3 towards darken
Polaroid Image/Spectra - slide 1/4 towards darken
Normal Daylight:
Polaroid 600 - keep settings in the middle
Polaroid SX-70 - slide 1/3 towards darken
Polaroid Image/Spectra - keep settings in the middle
Subject is in Shadow in Daylight Environment:
Polaroid 600 - slide 1/4 towards lighten
Polaroid SX-70 - keep settings in the middle
Polaroid Image/Spectra - keep settings in the middle