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by Amanda Kooser November 14, 2011 12:02 PM PST Follow @akooser 
Where are the bell bottoms?(Credit:Polaroid)Polaroid instant cameras conjure up images of bell bottoms and avocado-colored appliances from the boom days of the 1970s. You can get in on the retro wave with the new Polaroid Z340 Instant Digital Camera.
The Z340 pretty much takes the original Polaroid concept and updates it. It's a 14MP camera with a 2.7-inch LCD display and an integrated printer that spits out 3x4-inch color prints.
The printer part uses inkless printing technology from Zink Imaging. The special Zink paper has embedded dye crystals with a polymer overcoat for protection. Heat activates the crystals to form the image.
Polaroid has dipped its toes into the instant digital camera waters before. The C-211Z came out in 2000 with a $799 price tag, but sunk into tech oblivion. It didn't help that it cost $1 per print to use the contraption.
Prices have improved a little. A pack of 30 Zink sheets for the Z340 costs $19.99.
Lady GaGa unveiled a preview of Polaroid's efforts atCES early this year. She sported some Polaroid shades and showed off the GaGa-inspired GL30 Instant Digital Camera. The GL30 didn't appear as promised, but we now have the Z340 available instead.
The Z340 is a little on the chunky side, weighing almost 1.5 pounds. It costs $299.99 and gives you up to 25 prints on a battery charge.
Weight and pricing aside, this is really all about instant gratification and reveling in the retro without having to hunt down original Polaroid film or wear a beige polyester turtleneck.
Amanda Kooser Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET's Crave blog. When not wallowing in weird gadgets and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto. Amanda is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Follow @akooser Topics: Cameras, Gadget news, Retro, Geek culture Tags: Polaroid, Z340 Instant Digital Camera, camera, Zink Imaging @import "http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/Ads/common/info_board/info_board.css";
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