There's something about summer and Polaroids that seems to go together.

Maybe it's the retro vibe of Polaroids in general, but the look and old-timey feel of the instant camera photos make them  seem like they were taken on a family vacation in, say, the '80s. Or the '50s. It's instant nostalgia.

As you probably know, Polaroid is getting out of the film business, and by the end of this year, you won't be able to buy any more new film. So now's the time to stock up while you still can.

To these eyes, the most beautiful Polaroid prints come from the SX-70 camera, the really sleek, ahead-of-its time machine that was introduced in the early '70s but has been out of production for many years.  You can still get an SX-70 on eBay, but Polaroid has already stopped making the Time Zero film that was specifically designed for this camera. Again, you can buy some on eBay, but it's pricey.

A good alternative is  600 film. Polaroid  600 film, which you can use by making a few simple modifications to the SX-70. Beautifully documented and easy-to-follow directions for making the mods can be found here.

Another good option is the Polaroid Spectra line, which also use the still-available 600 Image film.

But time is short. Stock up now. And don't overlook the beauty of expired film, which can produce unpredictable but sometimes beautiful results.