Instant cameras are the most common use for Land’s polarizing filters, but this type of camera has declined with the rise of the digital camera.  Originally, polarizing filters had varied military uses during WWII such as dark-developing goggles, target finders, and the Vectrograph.  The Vectrograph used a stereoscopic viewing system to view the camoflauged positions of enemy combatants.  

Land’s most popular use for polarizing filters was found in instant cameras and film.  His Polaroid Land camera, sold between 1948 and 1953 was the first commercially successful self-developing camera.  Land continued his breakthroughs in the 1970s with the development of instant color photography which resulted in the SX-70 film and camera.

Land’s polarizing filters also found use outside of cameras.  They are used in 3D glasses and to control brightness through a window which is a necessary component of LCD lighting. 

In 2008 Polaroid announced that they would cease production of all instant film.  Many professional photographers use high-end instant cameras to test the lighting before using more expensive equipment for the real pictures, and police officers and fire investigators often use instant cameras because of the unalterable instant photo produced.  This provided incontrovertible evidence. 

Inventor Bio

Born in Connecticut, Land was educated at Norwich Free Academy and Harvard University. During his lifetime he was awarded six honorary doctorates. Land spent nearly all of his life engaged in research and development of optical devices. During World War II he developed optical and other systems for military use and proposed the retinex theory for mechanism of color perception, in addition to creating cameras and films that gave instantaneous dry photographs in black and white and color. But he is best remembered for the instant-photo film and cameras made famous by the company he founded, Polaroid Corporation.