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Polaroid Automatic 340
France Version française
Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2023-01-30 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from 1969 to (After) 1975.
Index of rarity in France: Frequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 718

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Polaroid 

Automatic The shape and main features of the Automatic series cameras are defined in patent 3,165,043, filed in 1963 and published on January 12, 1965. The inventor is Richard R. Wareham.

We may recognize very well on the drawings of this patent a horizontal camera, bellows (or foldable) with a folding viewfinder. A lid is shown open. It fully protects the camera when not in use. The magnetic hinge between the body and the lid is well represented. The lens, the shutter and the cell are included in a frontal part of rectangular shape. The axis of the lens is well centered in relation to the body of the camera.
A strap with two attachment points allows the camera to be worn around the neck.
Patent 3,205,802 protects the electrical connection of the flash.

From the first to the latest model, these cameras will evolve little in their general form, and the main organs will not change place.

Automatic1: Viewfinder with or without rangefinder (depending on model)
2: Shutter release
3: Flash connector(depending on model)
4: Rangefinder pushbutton (depending on model)
5: Flash range indicator
6: Rangefinder pushbutton (depending on model)
7: White tab slot door
8: Film selector
9: Yellow tab slot door
10: Electric Eye (depending on model)
11: Lens
12: Flash outlet (Flashcube only - depending on model)
13: Lighten/Darken control
14: Shuttercocking lever










Cameras in this series are intended for use with the new Pack 100, which produces 8.5 x 10.5 cm photos.
Development is external to the camera and rapid.
The films initially available are Polapan 107 (black and white, 3200 ASA) and Polacolor 108 (Colors, 75 ASA).

  Years Shutter Lens Rangefinder Price (french francs)  

Automatic 100 polaroid 1963-67 without time limit Triplet
Separated 1080 (1966) Metal body
Automatic 101 polaroid 1965-67 Max. 10 sec Triplet
Separated 849 (1966) Metal body
Automatic 103 polaroid 1965-67 Max. 1 sec Triplet
Separated 572 (1966) Plastic Body
Automatic 104 polaroid 1965-67 Max. 1 sec Doublet
No 399 (1966) Plastic Body
Automatic 125         No    
Automatic 135         Separated    
180 polaroid 1967-69 1/500 to 1sec 4.5/114 mm   1185 (1968) No light cell
185       Mamiya
5.6/114 mm
coupled to the viewfinder   Mechanical timer
Automatic 210 Polaroid 1967-69  

8.8/114 mm
Doublet

No 399 (1968) Plastic Body
Automatic 215       8.8/114 mm
Doublet
No    
Automatic 220   1967-69 ? to 10 sec 8.8/114 mm
Doublet
Separated 515 (1968)  
Automatic 225 Polaroid     8.8/114 mm
Doublet
Separated    
Automatic 230 Polaroid 1967-69 ? to 10 sec 8.8/114 mm
Triplet
Separated 657 (1968) Plastic Body
Automatic 240   1967-69 ? to 10 sec 8.8/114 mm
Triplet
Separated 907 (1968) Metal body
Automatic 250   1967-69   8.8/114 mm
Triplet
Zeiss Ikon
coupled to the viewfinder
1071 (1968) Metal body
Automatic 315 Polaroid c.1969   8.8/114 mm
Doublet
No    
Automatic 320 Polaroid 1970-76   8.8/114 mm
Doublet
Separated 350 (1972) Plastic Body
Automatic 330 Polaroid 1970-76   8.8/114 mm
Triplet
Separated 475 (1972) Plastic Body
Automatic 340 Polaroid 1970-76   8.8/114 mm
Triplet
Separated 668 (1972) Plastic Body
Mechanical timer
Automatic 350 Polaroid 1970-75   8.8/114 mm
Zeiss Ikon
coupled to the viewfinder
963 (1972) Metal body
Electronic timer
190   1974-75 Seiko SLV 1/500 to 1, B 3,8/114 mm
4 éléments
Zeiss Ikon
coupled to the viewfinder
1351 (1974) Timer
195 Polaroid 1975-1978 Seiko SLV 1/500 to 1, B

TomiNo 3,8/114 mm
4 elements

Separated 1459 (1975) Aluminium body
Electronic timer
Automatic 355 Polaroid 1975-77     Zeiss Ikon
coupled to the viewfinder
1156 (1975) Metal body
Electronic timer
Automatic 360       8.8/114 mm
Zeiss Ikon
coupled to the viewfinder
   
Automatic 420 Polaroid c. 1972  

8.8/114 mm

Separated   No time
Automatic 430   c. 1972   8.8/114 mm
Separated   Mechanical timer
Automatic 440 Polaroid     8.8/114 mm
Triplet
coupled to the viewfinderr   Mechanical timer
Automatic 450       8.8/114 mm
Triplet
coupled to the viewfinder   Electronic timer
__________

The Polaroid Automatic 340 retains the features of the 320 and 330, but additionally has 4 exposure ranges and 4 sensitivity settings. Its viewfinder and rangefinder can be folded down for better protection when closing the camera with its cover.

Polaroid Automatic 340



__________

  320 330 340 350

Zeiss Rangefinder- Single viewfinding window x
Metal body x
Shutter body in metal x
Tripod socket x
Integrated circuit x
Retractable rangefinder-finder x x
Possibility of receiving a close-up lens x x
Possibility of receiving a portrait lens x x
Two ranges of exposure time for the N&B x x
Two ranges of exposure time for the color x x
Exposure time for the color going up to 10 seconds x x
Four possible settings of film sensitivity x x
Possibility of B&W photographs inside without flash x x
Possibility of receiving a U.V. filter x x x
Possibilité de recevoir un filtre à nuages x x x
Triplet lens
non (*)
x x x
Inside timer x x
oui (**)
Electronic Eye
x x x x
Transistorized electronic shutter x x x x
Avec flash exposition automatique x x x x
Easy film pack loading x x x x

(*) : Duplet (**) : electronic



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