Last Updated on January 10, 2026 by George Pavlopoulos
It’s been a while since I last shot a Polaroid Diary. I’ve been waiting in vain for Polaroid to produce a new batch of SX-70 film. While there are rumours this will happen in the first weeks of 2026, I decided to get into the closest store and grab a 600 film instead. The moment I paid for the film pack, I realized that I hadn’t shot polaroids in Athens for a long, long time. Hence, I decided to take photos of Athens bits and pieces with the Impulse AF.
While the SX-70 is my favorite instant camera, the Impulse AF never let me down. As I wrote in my Impulse AF review, that’s my to-go camera under any weather condition. The camera doesn’t struggle in low light as much as the SX-70; it delivers sharp results and remains intuitive enough for my shooting style.
The Athens bits and pieces were destined to be an article that wouldn’t focus on a single location. The idea was to have the camera always in my bag and shoot an occasional photo here and there. Unlike other Polaroid Diaries where I’d mainly shoot in one location, this time I thought of taking a variety of photos. This, of course, meant a higher chance of disappointing images, but so be it.
That said, in the following lines, you will see photos I shot with the Polaroid Impulse AF in different locations and under various weather conditions.
Let’s begin.
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What’s on the Polaroid Diaries: Athens bits and pieces with the Impulse AF
I spent the Christmas holidays in Athens with family and friends. The relatively bulky Impulse AF accompanied me wherever I went, and the 600 film pack kept me thinking about my shots.
As I mentioned in the introduction, the 8 photos in this Polaroid Diary were taken in various locations. You will see a picture from a park, one outside the National Gallery, but you will also see tiny details from home and ancient landmarks. This variety was intentional, and that’s why I chose the “Athens bits and pieces” in the title.
The reason is that Impulse AF makes me comfortable enough to shoot in any light and weather conditions. While instant cameras have limitations (yes, they always need light), due to its flash, the Impulse AF handles moments pretty well. A persistent style wasn’t what interested me this time; I was more focused on how I could create a diary of various moments.
The Athens bits and pieces with the Polaroid Impulse AF
Athens enjoyed some sunny days shortly before Christmas. While it later became really cold, on one of the first days I returned from Berlin, I took the underground and started strolling around Plaka. One of the most photogenic parts of Plaka (and a favorite for travelers) is the area around the Roman Agora. The modern city is elevated compared to its past planning, and you can enjoy a tremendous view of the ancient world beneath your feet.
A night or two later, I got back home really late. Despite having the camera with me, I didn’t even think of shooting a photo. Then, I went straight to the Christmas tree and saw an ornament that looked nice. I have a thing for Christmas ornaments, and I photographed them in the past with the SX-70. This time, though, I wanted to see if the Impulse AF would treat them well.
Although I kept it at arm’s length away, the ornament appears soft, while the books in the background are sharper. The light looks pretty good, though.
A few days went by. By the end of December 2025, I visited my aunt’s flat in downtown Athens. Christmas days are always dedicated to family and friends, and this was a fantastic opportunity to take a photo. However, the lighting didn’t seem adequate during the gathering, and I was afraid the portraits wouldn’t turn out well.
Shortly before leaving, though, I saw a photograph on the wall. Now, that would be pretty experimental: shooting a photo of a photo with a Polaroid camera. Although the flash is visible in the image, I find the result interesting.
On a sunny day in 2026, I ended up once again close to Plaka. I always think that Polaroids look better when you can use negative space. In this case, it was the blue sky of Athens that framed one beautiful building and a cypress tree. The light was harsh, and the exposure could be better, but still, I find the result usable.
One of the following days, Barbara and I visited the National Gallery of Athens for an art exhibition. This was the only time that I actually shot two Polaroids on the same day. The first one is from the attached park to the Evangelismos metro station. It offers a nice shortcut to the National Gallery and keeps you away from the traffic of the nearby avenue.
The second photo was taken straight outside the National Gallery of Athens. This was way too ambitious, and despite looking relatively okay, I assume that I failed. There’s a statue at the museum’s entrance, and behind it, you can see what once was the Hilton Hotel of Athens. The hotel is undergoing an extensive renovation and will no longer be a Hilton.
Its boxed style and the repetitive lines made me think that I could shoot a layered photo: a statue in the foreground and an interesting pattern in the background. Well, this didn’t happen. In my attempt to capture everything, I didn’t manage to capture either the entire statue or a nice pattern of lines behind it. Once again, a Polaroid lesson was learned. Still, I find the result usable, but not at all what I expected.
With only two shots left in the Impulse AF, I soon started wondering what to photograph next. One rainy day, I decided to walk along the ravine in my neighborhood. The ravine stretches across several kilometers, and chunks of it are filled with houses. It wasn’t easy to find a spot with an open view. After it became apparent to me that I’d have a relatively busy photo, I decided to shoot behind the trees and include a building in the left corner.
Lastly, late one afternoon, I came across two red boxes. These are used either for telecommunications, electricity, or water supply -I couldn’t tell. Despite the lack of light, I decided to shoot the final photo of the 600 film there. I was curious to see whether the colors would pop and how the Impulse AF’s flash would reflect in the image. I think that the camera handled the setting pretty well.
And that’s it with the 30th edition of my Polaroid Diaries. Hopefully, the next diary will be shot with the SX-70, as I am eagerly awaiting the new batches of film to be produced.
The settings for this Polaroid Diary with the Impulse AF
As you probably remember from my previous Polaroid Diaries, I always dedicate a small section to the settings I used. I believe this is useful for people who shoot in similar conditions, and for me as well, since it serves as a reminder for next time.
After shooting lots of Polaroids with the Impulse AF, I have a specific set of rules.
Rule number one. Whenever I shoot in bright light conditions, I underexpose by 2/3. This setting seems to offer the most balanced exposure and helps the film produce the best colors it can.
Rule number two. For indoor shots with the Impulse AF, I always keep the exposure in the middle. This means that I get enough shutter speed to avoid non-blurry results, while the colors appear okay. The yellow tint seems unavoidable, though.
Rule number 3. Never shoot through glass or other frames. The fact that the Impulse AF flash is always on (no, you can’t override it) means that shooting through a window won’t work. The same usually goes with frames: they will attract the flash. It was tempting to shoot a photo of a photo, and I did, knowing that it probably won’t be usable. If, like me, you have the urge to do so, shoot from an angle. That’s what I did in this photo, and probably that’s why it produced a usable result.
And that’s it with the Athens bits and pieces with the Impulse AF. If you want to see more diaries, get instant photography tips, and read honest camera reviews, subscribe to my Polaroid mailing list.
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More Polaroids: The complete Polaroid diaries
Polaroid Camera reviews: Polaroid Sun 660 review, Polaroid Impulse AF, Polaroid NOW+ review
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