Reviewing a 50-year-old camera might sound odd. However, the SX-70 is probably the most iconic instant camera ever made by Polaroid, and thus it deserves a dedicated article. I actually decided to write this long Polaroid SX-70 review for two reasons. The first one was that I wanted to see how could an old camera perform today. Does it really make sense to buy one now? The second reason was to share my thoughts about the camera and for whom it might be ideal.
Dating back to the early 70s, the SX-70 (check its price here: US | EU |UK) has become almost a cult item among Polaroid aficionados. I have used the Polaroid SX-70 extensively and shot loads of films. While I got some beautiful results, I also ran into some issues. That said, in the Polaroid SX-70 review you’ll read below, I tried to cover everything that caught my attention. Moreover, I share lots of my polaroids, and I also created a video with some of my favorite photos taken with my SX-70.
So, let’s start with the Polaroid SX-70 review.
*This post is part of my #PolaroidAugust side project; some of the photos appear on my polaroid zines.
Some of the links are affiliate links. It means that if you buy something through the links, I might earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Polaroid SX-70 Review: What I love about the camera
Lots of things fascinated me after buying the SX-70. With some of them, I fell instantly in love, while others took some time to appreciate. So, here’s what I love about the Polaroid SX-70.
The Polaroid SX-70 fits everywhere
This was actually one of the main reasons to buy the camera. After using bulky instant cameras for almost a decade, I wanted something that would motivate me to carry it everywhere. For example, traveling with a Fuji Instax Wide was often a deal-breaker due to its size. Even when I switched to more compact models, like the OneStep+, I had trouble having it with me. I’m used to traveling very often, and I always try to have the minimum amount of equipment with me. So a bulky instant camera soon became a no-go.
The fact that the SX-70 was foldable made me fall in love with it. It meant that I could just throw it (carefully) in my bag and go out. As you can see in one of the following photos, it’s slightly bigger than a 6-inch smartphone, and due to its ergonomics, it really fits everywhere. Sure, it’s not as lightweight as a smartphone, but keep in mind that it’s a half-century-old device.
So, if you don’t want to make a strategy about how you can fit an instant camera in your bag, the SX-70 is for you. To this day, the Polaroid SX-70 never discouraged me from taking it with me. I just loaded a film, threw it in my bag (did I mention “carefully“?), and went out to shoot.
The outstanding quality of the SX-70 lens
The SX-70 has a brilliant 116 mm f/8 glass lens. If you manage to focus correctly, your image will be impressively crisp, especially in close-up photos. While there are several things to consider before shooting a polaroid with the SX-70, the truth is that I’ve never seen such beautiful results with other instant cameras. Now, add on top that the SX-70 is a single reflex camera (SLR), and you can see why this camera performs so well. What does this practically mean?
Well, since the SX-70 is an SLR, it means that what you see in the viewfinder is what you get. Unlike most of the other instant cameras, with the SX-70, you just frame and shoot. In the non-SLR models, you also have to remember that the viewfinder is not in the same position as the lens.
The manual focus of the SX-70 is a game-changer
Now, most of the instant cameras out there use simple autofocus. This sounds enough for beginners in polaroid photography or people who just want to have an occasional snapshot. However, the manual focus is a game-changer if you want creative freedom and experiment with polaroid photography.
As I wrote above, if you manage to focus correctly, you will get very sharp images. But, moreover, there will be times that you’d like to have out-of-focus images for one reason or the other. In the beginning, the manual focus will feel like an obstacle. How can you focus correctly? Should you move a bit more the wheel to the left or the right? There’s only one way to find this out: shoot more photos.
After you understand how the camera works, you will be able to get some stunning results. Manual focus takes some time to master, but it will be your best companion when you get used to it.
The Polaroid SX-70 film is so much better
I shot loads of polaroids with the i-Type film, and I was never 100% satisfied. There was always something missing in the colors or the sharpness. Sure, you can’t just blame the film: the i-Type is used in less advanced models. However, the SX-70 film is superior in colors, sharpness, and grain.
The SX-70 film has an ISO 160. Even though this is a slower film (I’ll write more in the following sections), I love the results it creates. On sunny days, even when the light is intense, it delivers excellent results. While the colors cannot compare to old Polaroids, I find the SX-70 film much better than any other polaroid film the company creates. Plus, the polaroids won’t fade away if you store them properly.
The impressive bokeh
For a camera with an aperture of f/8, the bokeh results are impressive. I never thought I could have such creamy backgrounds with an f/8 camera -let alone an instant one. The fact that the camera lets you focus as close as 26.4 cm (10.4 inches) gives you lots of creative opportunities.
As I wrote in other polaroid articles, instant cameras are made for close-ups. It might be hard to get crisp details in landscapes, but the SX-70 is probably the best instant camera out there in close-ups. That said, move close to your subject, choose an interesting background and see how crisp your subject will be and how dreamy the background will look.
The design of the Polaroid SX-70
https://youtu.be/5jaiq_ZZ_eM
The SX-70 uses a very complex mechanism for taking and processing photos. Therefore, I believe that an exhaustive analysis of how everything works has no place in a Polaroid SX-70 review. However, if you want to know more, you can watch the video above to get a better idea (the mechanism’s explanation starts at 4:15).
But all I want to say here is that the camera’s design is beautiful. Apart from the foldability I talked about earlier, the SX-70 feels really good when holding it. In addition, the leather covering the body offers two advantages: the camera won’t slip from your hand, and it also adds a touch of luxury. Last but not least, the metal finishing of the body makes the camera feel more solid.
You will be tempted to skip every other camera
A camera that tempts you to leave all your other cameras at home is always the best camera for your needs. Although I don’t like separating digital and analog cameras, I can tell you that I once skipped all my digital cameras for shooting with the Ricoh GR ii. However, after buying the SX-70, I often thought of skipping the Ricoh too.
The Polaroid SX-70 is a camera that I want to have always with me. It makes me more thoughtful before shooting, and it makes me think more about framing my images. I always wanted to go on a journey and just have with me an instant camera. I won’t lie: I didn’t do it so far. However, lately, I find myself leaving skipping digital cameras for a day when traveling. Instead of taking 200-300 photos, I prefer having just my SX-70 and a film or two and spend a day shooting thoughtfully.
And this, I honestly think it’s the biggest contribution of the SX-70 in my photography life. It is liberating to take photos without having to load them on a laptop and post-process them. To have instantly printed pictures in an era of digital photography overload feels almost revolutionary. I truly hope one day to travel somewhere and only have the SX-70 with me.
Polaroid SX-70 Review: What I don’t like about the camera
While the SX-70 is a fantastic camera, there are also some things that I don’t like. In this section, I will share them with you, even though they’re not deal-breakers.
The price of the SX-70 film
Well, I think that this is a very common complaint among Polaroid lovers. The SX-70 film is expensive. That’s actually the main reason why most people don’t shoot that many polaroids. The photo costs approximately 18 euros (~20 $), and the fact that you get 8 images per film means that each photo costs 2 euros (~2,5 $). I know that it’s also expensive to produce it; however, I wish the film was cheaper or had 10 shots per pack.
For example, whenever I go out for the day, I always want to have two SX-70 films. Apart from the joy of shooting, I also want to present on this blog my Polaroid Diaries. Now, 40 $ for a day out sounds like a bit too much. Moreover, the cost will elevate for the journey I always daydream about, in which I will supposedly only have the SX-70. For five days, I’ll probably need 10 packs, and this easily translates to 200 $. I’m pretty sure that this is a cost not everybody can afford.
The Polaroid SX-70 is a fair-weather camera
I wrote briefly earlier about the camera’s specs. The Polaroid SX-70 uses an ISO 160 and has a lens of f/8. That said, it has a slow film and a slow lens. While this is not bad per se, the relatively slow shutter speed (the fastest it goes is 1/175) means that you will need plenty of light to shoot photos. On cloudy days, the quality deteriorates, and when you take photos inside the house, the images can be really dark.
Therefore, your best bet for shooting good photos is to have the camera with you on sunny days. As time went by, I realized that the polaroids wouldn’t look good when there’s insufficient light around. It’s part of the game, and that’s nothing to complain about; however, the film’s high cost means also that you should take care of how you spend it.
The Polaroid SX-70 has a mind of its own
I’m not 50 years old, so I can’t tell you if people become stubborn at this age. But for the SX-70, I can assure you: these cameras can become really stubborn. And that’s part of their charm.
I often think that every SX-70 out there has a mind of its own. These are old, delicate pieces of equipment that traveled through time to reach us. You can’t expect them to perform like contemporary cameras. Sometimes the SX-70 will refuse to print the image; other times, the moment you think you mastered exposure or manual focus, everything will go wrong. And yet, you’ll have to carry on shooting and embrace the process.
To give you an example, it’s generally advised to overexpose your images with the SX-70 slightly. The reason is that the initial film had an ISO 100. That said, by raising a bit the exposure, you’d get more balanced results. And that’s what I did in the first photos. Guess what. It didn’t work. For some whatever reason, my SX-70 delivered the best results with the exposure in the middle.
Later on, in the section about Polaroid’s customer service, I’ll share one more incident. But all I want to say here is that you should embrace the SX-70 stubbornness. While it’s definitely something not to like, I must admit that I find it charming (well, sometimes at least).
Polaroid SX-70 Review: Pros and cons of the camera
Before heading over to the next sections of this Polaroid SX-70 review, I’ll quickly recap the things I wrote above.
Polaroid SX-70 Review pros & cons
Pros
- The SX-70 is foldable, and it fits everywhere.
- Its lens quality is outstanding.
- The manual focus is a game-changer, and it’ll give you creative freedom when you master it.
- The SX-70 film is so much better than the other films of the brand.
- For a rather slow camera (f/8), the bokeh is impressive.
- Design and ergonomics won’t make you think that this is an old camera.
- The SX-70 will make you want to skip every other camera.
Cons
- The film is expensive.
- The SX-70 is a fair-weather camera (it struggles in interiors).
- It has a mind of its own.
For whom the Polaroid SX-70 is
The Polaroid SX-70 is a true artist’s camera. The innovative optics and ergonomics, together with the excellent lens, make it an ideal camera for people that want to express themselves artistically. This doesn’t mean that this is a camera for the photographic elite only. On the contrary, that’s a camera for everyone as long as you know what to do. People knowing how to use an SLR (or willing to learn) will definitely find in the SX-70 the instant camera they were searching for. And, of course, it’s ideal for artists who enjoy manipulating photos through various techniques (emulsion lift, etc.).
I also find it an excellent option for people into travel photography. As long as you know how to focus manually and expose correctly, the SX-70 will give you some keepers from your journeys. Sure, not every travel polaroid will look fantastic, but you’ll definitely have several good ones to remember your trips.
On the other side, if you are more into point-and-shoot photography or enjoy shooting smartphone photos, the SX-70 might not be for you. Other polaroid cameras will probably be closer to your needs, and you will also enjoy using them more. I wrote extensive reviews for the Now+, the OneStep+, and the Go, three polaroid cameras that are significantly easier to use.
All that said, I recommend the Polaroid SX-70 for people that want to have the most advanced instant camera; if you are looking for a more simple option, please check the other two cameras I mentioned straight above.
Polaroid SX-70 accessories (and my thoughts about them)
Even though this is an old camera, there are a couple of accessories to consider when buying the SX-70. While you won’t need any of them to operate the camera, you can consider them if you feel like elevating your SX-70 experience. In this section, I will also share my thoughts about them.
The MiNT Flash Bar
The Polaroid SX-70 doesn’t have a flash. However, there’s a dedicated slot where you can attach one. Since this is a fair-weather camera, a flash might be handy for cloudy days or dark interiors. Especially in interiors, the photos will most likely turn out completely dark or too shaky due to the slow shutter speed the camera will use. There are some old-fashioned flash bars that pair finely with the SX-70, and then there’s the MiNT one.
I bought the MiNT flash bar together with my SX-70, and I can’t say that I’m delighted with it. It can also very well be that my expectations were too high. For interior shots without not enough light, the MiNT will perform rather poorly. It will illuminate your subject, but everything else will probably be dark. The colors, at least from my experience, will be washed off. If, however, there’s enough light in the room, using the flash bar will give you much more usable results.
Long story short: don’t hope that the flash bar will illuminate everything nice and evenly. You can use it just as an extra source of light.
If you are interested in the MiNT flash bar, you can check its price on Polaroid’s official website (US | EU |UK) or Amazon.
The Polaroid SX-70 MiNT Lens Set
For the creative people among us, there’s also a lens set produced by MiNT. The colorful lenses are attached to the SX-70 lens, and you can add some color to your photos (blue and yellow). Moreover, the set includes a fish-eye lens, a closeup lens, and an ND filter. Attaching the latter will allow you to use a faster film (the ISO 600). However, I haven’t used any of them so far.
So, if you are interested in the MiNT lens set, you can check its price on Polaroid’s official website (US | EU |UK) or Amazon.
The Polaroid Photo Boxes
The Polaroid Photo Boxes are a nice addition to your polaroid images. They come in 6 different colors, and they can archive up to 40 polaroids. If you don’t want to store your polaroids in shoe boxes, the Polaroid boxes are a good option. I have bought two, but since I shoot too many photos, I prefer to go for the shoeboxes option and save money for films.
You can check the Polaroid Photo Boxes on Polaroid’s website (US | EU |UK) or also on Amazon.
Where to buy the best Polaroid SX-70
Once upon a time, you could only buy SX-70s in flea markets. Nowadays though you can find them also online and some of them will be refurbished. Never forget that this is an old camera, and you can never be sure that every model out there will still work fine. That said, if you see an SX-70 that costs 20 $, make sure that it still works. Otherwise, you might end up having it as decoration in your living room.
So, where can you buy the best Polaroid SX-70 today? In my opinion, the best option is to buy it straight from the source. Polaroid refurbishes the old models and resells them. Every SX-70 you’ll buy from Polaroid will also have a guarantee, which is extremely important for an old camera. Even refurbished models can have issues, so it’s better to be safe that if something goes wrong, they’ll repair it or give you a new one (check the next section for my story).
So, in my opinion, the safest option is to head over to the official website of Polaroid (US | EU |UK) and check the prices. Yes, it will be expensive, but at least you won’t have to worry if the camera still works or not. The SX-70 is a complex model, and lots of things can go wrong. So, if you want a working model, buy one straight from Polaroid.
Another option is to search on Amazon. You can find some true bargains, but you can also find prices like the ones on Polaroid’s website. However, make sure that the camera is not defective (it should be stated clearly) to avoid unpleasant surprises. See the current Polaroid SX-70 offers on Amazon here (check the used section too).
Last but not least, there’s always the eBay option. People sell all kinds of stuff, and SX-70s couldn’t be missing. You will find plenty of cheap SX-70s, but some of them will be defective. The price range is also wide, so make sure that if something is expensive, it has at least a guarantee or money-return policy. See the latest SX-70 offers on eBay here.
All that said, if you are confident to risk spending 20-50 $ for an SX-70 that might or might not work, you can look at eBay. However, if you want a working camera, refurbished and with a guarantee, head over to Polaroid’s official websites.
Check the current Polaroid SX-70 prices on the official Polaroid websites:
The US store | The EU store | The UK store
Polaroid Customer Service and the SX-70
I decided to write this extra section because of an issue with my first SX-70 and how I got it solved.
As I already wrote, the SX-70s have a mind of their own. You can never be sure about the result, and it will take quite some time to master it. In my case, the SX-70 started having issues after shooting the first film. I searched online for every possible solution, but I couldn’t figure out anything. The problem was common: the film wouldn’t eject always. Sometimes it would, and the result was great, but other times it would stop halfway.
There was no pattern. It happened to every film. At first, I thought it was the battery. However, the SX-70 has no batteries itself; they are loaded on the film. So every film has enough power to eject the 8 photos (usually, they can handle way more photos). After searching for hours online, I decided to contact Polaroid. After all, the camera is expensive and the film too.
Within 24 hours, I received a reply from Polaroid. They asked me to do one or two things. If they didn’t work, then they would replace the camera. And they would even replace the film that got destroyed due to the defective SX-70. Nothing worked, and indeed I had to return the camera. The day they received the camera, they dispatched a new one. And I got the exact amount of film I first bought!
So, kudos to Polaroid Customer Support. Indeed, it’s pricey to buy from them, but they won’t let you down if you have an issue with your camera.
Polaroid SX-70 tips
I’ll share here some quick polaroid photography tips. Most of them apply to every instant camera out there, but they are always good to have them in mind before shooting.
- The fastest shutter speed you can get with the Polaroid SX-70 is 1/175. With a lens of f/8, it means that you have to remain steady while shooting. You should also avoid shooting fast-moving objects unless, of course, you want, on purpose, a blurry effect.
- The SX-70 needs light to perform. So, save your film for bright days. The best times to shoot are either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Shooting with the SX-70 at noon might create unwanted vignetting. Remember always to have the sun on your back.
- Be patient and give some time to yourself to familiarize yourself with the manual focus. It takes time to master it, and it’s okay to fail in the first films. The SX-70s are very intuitive cameras. Every SX-70 is unique; therefore, try to understand how yours works.
- If unsure, keep the exposure wheel in the middle. The camera will try to balance the image’s exposure. However, lots of people recommend overexposing by a third due to the new generation film. Shoot two photos in a row, one with the wheel in the middle and the other a third overexposed, and see which of the two you like.
- Don’t forget to clean your camera rollers often. You should actually do it after every film you shoot, but I guess nobody does that. However, you should do it as often as possible. Sometimes the chemicals in the photo will dry, they’ll get stuck in the rollers, and all your next photos will have unwanted marks on them. See how you can clean the rollers here.
- Don’t shake your polaroids. Contrary to common belief, the polaroids won’t develop better or faster if you do that. In fact, you can damage the chemicals and, subsequently, damage the image itself.
- Store the polaroids you take with the SX-70 in closed boxes to ensure they won’t fade away. Properly stored polaroids will keep their details for decades.
Polaroid SX-70 Review: The verdict
The Polaroid SX-70 is a magnificent instant camera. It’s actually the best instant camera I ever used, and I always look forward to shooting more photos. Somehow, the SX-70 feels like a journey through time. I feel like returning to an older, more thoughtful era. I don’t have to rush to shoot photos or take the same image 10 times and then figure out which one is the best for post-processing. Instead, you unfold it, you frame, and you shoot. The rest is polaroid magic.
I don’t know when this will happen, but I still plan to travel without a digital camera. Somehow, I just want to have the SX-70 and enough film to shoot everything that attracts me. I believe that there’s no better camera for instant travel photography. If you can afford one and have the patience to become friends with it, the SX-70 will be one of your favorite companions.
As a camera both for artists and travelers, the SX-70 is a timeless piece of equipment. If you always wanted a more advanced instant camera, the SX-70 is the best you can buy even today, 50 years after its launch.
Check the current prices for refurbished Polaroid SX-70 cameras on the official Polaroid websites:
The US store | The EU store | The UK store
More Polaroid Reviews: My Now+ Review, My Polaroid OneStep+ Review, My Polaroid GO Review
My Polaroids: The full Polaroid Diaries, My SX-70 polaroids
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Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by George Pavlopoulos
The film is shit though. I had an SLR 690 and I used to use Polaroid cameras a lot back in the day. The film was very stable and the results were consistently good. That was the beauty of the original integral film. It was easy to use. Load film, point, focus, take a snap. Unlike the pack film, which had to be peeled apart at a specific time, depending upon the environment and time the photo was taken, integral film made Polaroid accessible, and easier to use. The enthusiasts of today speak about ways in which to get good results, with a great deal of tinkering, but all that effort defeats the purpose of what the cameras were for: take a quick photo that would be developed instantly, rather than getting the film processed. No one made this much effort to take Polaroids back in the day. They were simple to use and just worked no matter how unskilled someone was with the camera. Today people make taking Polaroids almost like some kind of science project. They just don’t get it.
The best vintage Polaroid cameras these days are a waste of money because the film is so unreliable and crap. They give you no better results than a dirt cheap Polaroid camera. I actually got better results with the Impulse AF using the current 600 film than I did with the SLR 690. The images were equally bad. It never used to be that way. Just because some classic Polaroid cameras have great engineering and history does not mean that they are capable of producing quality images using the film available at the time of writing.
The sad fact of the matter is that Polaroids history and legend is not enough to pay for such an expensive film to get photos that are nowhere near as good as the vintage stuff. The company now manufactures products that are of very terrible quality but they market their products well and try to sell them to people who weren’t even born when the original Polaroid films were used.
The SX70 is a great camera and it was capable of producing excellent images using the old film. The new film gets jammed all too frequently, is full of undeveloped patches, and it is sad to think that even the best images are lacking vibrancy and detail. People make excuses for the company by saying “it is your camera”, or “it’s your technique at fault”. Sometimes they blame the temperature or the storage. Back in the 1990s, I never once had a problem with the SX70 nor 600 film. Heck in 2017 I was getting better results with expired original Polaroid film than the overpriced crap they sell these days because the old film was better. Unless the film improves, the classic and best Polaroid cameras using integral film will underwhelm. I try the new film every few years to check if it has improved. It hasn’t, only the marketing and branding has. Why would they improve it if people who use it these days pay for it and then say “oh it is meant to be this way”? No it isn’t.
Hey Roger,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ve only used the new SX-70 films (I mean from Polaroid Originals and on); therefore, I can’t really compare them to the past as a shooter. But, yes, I’ve seen the stunning polaroids from the 70s in exhibitions, etc., and I agree: the film was SO much better. Colors, contrast, everything.
I often complain about the film’s quality. To be honest, I never had much luck with the i-type. I use lately the Impulse AF (I didn’t present anything so far, though, but I plan to), and I’m delighted by the results. Regarding the SX-70 film, I am not that dissatisfied, but I always look forward to the new batches to see improvements. So far, there are minor changes, unfortunately. However, I get good results most of the time as long as there’s plenty of natural light outside. On the other hand, shooting inside seems impossible even with the flashes (MiNT, flash bars); it’s a waste of film. I hope that they can improve it.
Last but not least, the SX-70 film has become insanely expensive -and it became even more costly in the previous months. There must be something done about it.
I never used the SLR 690. Did you see any significant differences in comparison to the classic SX-70?
Thanks for stopping by, Roger.
Take care,
George
Hi,
This is Roger again.
Thank you for your reply. You make a lot of good points.
I did have an SLR 690, but the last time I used it was around 7 or 8 years ago. At the time, I got the Impossible branded colour 600 film. In fact, I got several packs and not all of them from the same place. I had a number of Polaroid 600 cameras, and I hadn’t used them for years, so I was keen to try and see how good the new Impossible film was.
Unfortunately, no matter which of my four/five cameras I used, the results I got were abysmal. Impossible a and it’s apologists used to make all sorts of excuses when users got bad results, but the fact of the matter is the original Polaroid film just worked. The average Polaroid user had become used to just putting the film in, pressing the shutter button and getting the photo. If you read what people used to say how you need to use the Impossible film, the assumption would have been that the average Polaroid photographer was a pro, which couldn’t have been further from the truth for most Polaroid 600 users were the sorts of people who just wanted convenience and ease of use. They didn’t want to calculate temperatures, lighting, etc and even when I did all those things, the results were still bad. The whole point of the cameras was that it had good stable film that was easy to use. People didn’t develop special skills or photography knowledge to use them. You just popped the film in and took photos and the film was stable enough to deliver good results. Impossible always had an excuse for their crappy film: maybe it was the camera, maybe it was the technique or the temperature, or maybe the photo was not shielded. On forums others chimes in with other technical advice, none of which made sense and all of which was subjective and irrelevant because the people who used to use the Polaroid integral film weren’t the sort of people who tinkered with their cameras and used special techniques. The truth was the film was rubbish but Impossible kept it going with some good PR. Thankfully the film today is better and they did at least try to make improve it:
I know a lot of newbies who use Polaroid cameras and films these days say that you cannot expect to get pin sharp photos, and that the “washed out, low fi” quality is what Polaroid is known for, but that is not true. Polaroid was never proud of a washed out look. That was hardly whet they were aiming for. Polaroid was a serious imaging company and they worked hard to make respectable products that worked as well as could be expected. They were competing in a crowded photography market and their product had to be at least usable. Their 600 film produced decent images that weren’t washed out. The notoriety of poor Polaroids dates form earlier cheap Colorpack camera which were harder to use because you had to use the film in certain ways depending upon the environment and you had to correctly calculate how long it would take the photo to develop. A lot of people got it wrong and they ended up with poor images. This is why integral film became popular because it developed easily and was pretty foolproof.
My photos from the 90s were always good no matter what the light or temperature was. If it was dark, the flash fires and the camera produced a good image. Outside, if you focussed correctly, the cameras always produced the best image possible. The film had been designed and tested to just work. If people overexposed their images by dialling up the light or not focussing properly (as many cheap Polaroid cameras did not have autofocus), that did not mean the cameras and the film produced inherently low fi images. People in the 80s and 90s didn’t buy those cameras and expensive film to get crap photos. That kind of thinking comes from newer users who wrongly attribute those qualities to Polaroid.
This is why the Impossible film lived up to its name as it was impossible to get great results with it. I had entire film packs which left huge undeveloped patches, and the ones that came out right could hardly have been called “colour”.
No matter which camera I used, the results were the same so I sold my SLR 690, as I was getting the same results from the Impulse AF, so what was the point of keeping a fancy SLR, the images of which could hardly be distinguished by those of the cheaper and less capable cameras?
Having said that, the SLR 690 was so effortless to use. The focussing was spot on, and back in the day when the original Polaroid film was made you can get some sharp images with good saturation. The problem back then was that Polaroids were seen as a naff way of taking photos because other cameras were able to achieve better results and deliver larger prints. When I got I first Polaroid camera in the 90s most people I knew were of the opinion that though you can get instant prints, for the price of the film, and quality of the results, you would be better of using non-instant cameras.
It is also nonsense that artists used Polaroid cameras. That point is very overstated. Some artists may have occasionally used them but it was hardly common. Just because there WERE artists who used them, does not mean MOST did. The cameras did not have changeable lenses, produced small prints, most of which would not have been worth the effort for a series artist or pro. The 600 film small images and the a pro photographer or artist would have chosen a much better camera and film to get better prints. Some used the film to test what their final image might look like.
The large format Polaroids were used by some artists but when I was using Polaroid in the 1990s, it was mainly seen as a novelty. It was never considered the best way of taking analogue photos. Artists and pro photographers thought of them as useless toys, and even the best cameras produced images that were not really of the shape, size and resolution that would make capturing them worth the effort. You could get better Bokeh with other cameras, and if you wanted a low fi grainy and artistic image, other cameras would have given much better results.
The good thing was that the film was much more stable and if you only took a few photos per year and didn’t want to get a whole film roll processed, it meant you could take a photo and file it away. I bought it because I didn’t have to wait for photos to be processed. I knew I could get better results with other cameras. As you may well remember, back in those days ordinary people took less photos than they do today and a roll of 25 exposures may take several months to go through. People typically didn’t pay to have film processed for a few exposures so most waited until the roll was done and that could be a long time as most people only used their cameras occasionally and may have only taken two or three shots at a time to preserve the film.
Polaroid meant you paid far more for the film upfront but you didn’t have to go through the hassle of getting the film processed or wait to see the photos, but the trade off was that you got smaller prints with the typical consumer cameras. Spectra cameras were probably the best ones Polaroid made, but sadly the film is no longer available.
As for the 600, the lenses of most cameras were mostly crappy plastic ones, and most people weren’t using the SLR’s and high end Polaroid cameras anyway, which is part of the reason the company didn’t make that many of the pro cameras. The pros generally didn’t need those tiny photos no matter how good the tech was. By the 80s and 90s, the cost of film processing went down considerably, and though you had to wait, photos with non instant cameras was better.
I still like Polaroids for the same reason I liked them then. If you like analogue photography, Polaroid gives you the image right away. You don’t have to send it out for processing and you can keep a whole collection of images in an album, photos that have a very different quality and look to your standard digital camera.
However, for people to retrospectively say that Polaroids were an artists dream, that is all revisionism. Yes some artists may well have used them but they were a minority. I think the new Polaroid obsession actually harms other kinds of analogue photography because many people these days choose to go the “instant” way for their photography because they get the prints straight away, but instant never was the best kind of analogue photography, and sadly the hipsterism is really causing the death of the better kind of analogue photography because younger people find instant more “artistic” when in reality other analogue cameras produced much better results.
To end my post, I would say that I had a non folding SX70 camera, the type that has a sonar autofocus in. It has an optional Polaroid flash and I got some very good results with that using film manufactured in 2021. I generally find that with Polaroid, turning off the flash gives you really bad results. This was also true with the original Polaroid film. I always hear people saying that it is good if an instant camera allows people to turn the flash off, but in reality, it slows down the shutter speed and gives abysmal results, unless your camera is mounted on a tripod and you have very good natural light. This is also true of Instax cameras where the flash can be turned off. I have used the Instax AF 500 and the SQ6 and when you turn the flash off you get these dark, washed out and out of focus images. The reason most instant cameras intended for the general consumer have an auto flash is because the manufacturers know that that is the way to get the best results. Without a flash these cameras struggle. Pack film cameras delivered better results with the flash off, and I have several photos taken with a vintage Polaroid Pack film cameras with the glass lenses and rangefinders. Even if your photo turned out dark, it was still sharp. With integral film, you either get a washed out mess or something out of focus.
The Polaroid film has improved since the Impossible days, but to be honest, I think the best cameras still don’t deliver the kind of results that completely wow a person and you can get the same kind of results from cheaper Polaroid cameras. The film is just not good enough to bring the kind of results from an SX70 that people were able to get in the old days. Those cameras built their reputation together with the original film. Without that film, you are just getting very average images, using an extremely expensive film that only approximates the experience. I only use Polaroid occasionally now, and usually only to see if the film has improved. I think Instax is way better these days and better value for money. Horses for courses.
Hey again, Roger,
Thank you so much for commenting again; you’ve put so many polaroid aspects on the table. As you will see in the following lines, I more or less agree with you. I’ll just add a couple of thoughts because I don’t want to distract the readers: your comment should be read.
Indeed, I don’t see the same quality in Polaroid films. I actually mentioned it in every polaroid camera review I wrote during the last couple of years. I believe that the film needs more work and the company has to rethink the film prices. The progress is very slow; however, I see development if I compare 3-4 years old photos with current ones. And that’s good because the company seems to be working on it.
There’s a reason, though, why I’m not that hard on my criticism. I don’t know if what I heard is true, but while browsing some articles a couple of years ago, I saw that some of the chemicals used in films were banned: they were considered toxic. Again, I don’t know if that’s true. But if it is, it means that Impossible had to develop the film from scratch. Practically, it meant that they had to create a polaroid film, knowing that it would never be the same. Actually, it wouldn’t be even close. If there’s someone from Polaroid reading us, it would be great to have the company’s input.
The washed-off look isn’t mine either. I always try to find a workaround to get more contrasty results. And you are SO right about the flash. I have used a 660 and an Impulse AF lately, and they both deliver great results with the flash on, even outdoors with intense daylight. I’ll try to upload some photos in the coming weeks/months.
Last but least, everything in the digital world is a matter of branding, I guess. I agree that the artsy marketing approach is part of the marketing. I’m good with that as long as the company keeps working on the films. And I’d love to see a new SX-70. I mean, since they develop an SX-70 film, wouldn’t it be nice to have also a brand new model made for that film?
Roger, thanks again for stopping by.
All the best,
George
PS: I shot some great photos with Instax. However, I’m not a fan of the Mini film due to its size. On the other hand, after using Instax Wide for more than seven years, I must admit that the results are just okay. Unfortunately, the camera is bulky beyond words, and there’s practically no real development. If Fuji created a new and more compact camera using the Wide film, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
I think the current Polaroid company wants to push i-type more, but they needed to use the legacy systems and films initially to get the users on board with their existing equipment. Now that they are making new cameras, which are selling, I wonder if they will keep making film for old cameras. A new SX70 would be great but I am not sure if the build quality would be as good. My SX70 is from 1978 and has been used for all those years and it still works great. With a little TLC it might keep going for many more years. I think building a new camera with that kind of quality is unlikely today. Even Polaroid stopped making those type of cameras in the 1980s and 1990s for the most part and settled for cheap cameras with plastic lenses. The premium grade stuff costs more to make, and they typically sell fewer units than the cheap and cheerful ones so I am not sure if the incentive is there for the current Polaroid to do it.
I so agree it would be great if they make a new SX70 camera, maybe a cheaper non-folding type because I think if they make new cameras supporting SX70 film, it is likelier to keep the film in production. Right now, there is some speculation that they might pull the plug on the film like they did with Spectra, especially since Polaroid know people can find ways of making the 600 film work with the SX70 anyway. It would be a shame if they discontinue it. I don’t use Polaroid as much as I used to but, as I said in one of my earlier posts, the film has improved and is at least usable now, so now and again I like to take photos with my old cameras. I just can’t get over how much the film costs and that you only get 8 exposures. They should try and get ten back in the pack, at the very least. I don’t think that is going to happen though.
I think Fuji can make better cameras, but they never intended to make these pro cameras. I know that sound like a cop out answer but the success of Instax is probably down to the fact that they always market them as fun gadgets anyone can use, and by the end, Polaroid were also doing that. The last twenty years of Polaroid were more or less an effort for the company to convince consumers that they had an easy to use, and foolproof product that you didn’t have to be a pro to use. When Instax came out instant film photography, even classic Polaroid, was mainly seen as a bit of a novelty. The problem with making pro models means more effort, spending more money for less returns. The Instax market seems to consist of people who just like to take quick snaps to stick on the fridge or put in a wallet. I think if they go too far towards the pro models they turn the whole thing into a nerdy niche and I think they prefer the cameras and their Instax film products to retain that fun “anyone can use this” image. They look big and plasticky because they want them to look like cheap and fun cameras.
I think they could definitely meet pro consumers half way, but one cannot deny that the film Fuji make is beautiful. You can use the better Polaroid cameras with average film and still not get great results, but you can use the bad Fuji cameras with their film and get better results than the best Polaroid cameras. I know “better” is subjective but Instax reminds me more of classic Polaroid than Polaroid itself. I think the Polaroid fans and marketing uses Polaroid’s history too much to sell the current products and I personally feel a lot of people think that Polaroid is the better system today due to these efforts on sort of enthusiasts. It might be fun to use occasionally but to be honest I just don’t see why people should pay way more money to get 8 shots, most of which will probably turn out bad anyway.
I also think if the price remains as high, fewer people would be buying their products over time, and there is always the very real threat of the current company also going under so they have to be very careful.
Before I go. I would like to remark that I had much more fun using the Polaroid peel apart cameras. The ones with the glass lenses like the 250 I used to have gave razor sharp images that wipes the floor with integral film. The film Fuji made was excellent and it was a sad day when they stopped making it. I think the best way to use Polaroid was to get one of those old cameras with glass lenses and Zeiss rangefinders. I wish Fuji reintroduces that film, but they probably got rid of the machinery. That was the best way to show people what Polaroid could be. I took some photos using the Fuji peel apart film on an old 250, not long before Fuji discontinued the film, and I am glad I did because those photos were amazing. I suspected Fuji will stop the film, so I sold it literally months before the announcement came. I know new pack film is being made by another company but it is way overpriced and looks pretty poor. Maybe someday it will get there. I hope so because if you want great Polaroid photos, pack film is the way to go, as long as film can be found.
Roger
Roger,
I’d love to see some Polaroid peel-apart film again! The one currently produced (the One Instant) is insanely expensive. I can’t afford it, and therefore I never used it.
Let’s hope that the SX-70 film won’t have the fate of the Spectra. It’ll be very sad if it happens. If I’m not wrong, my SX-70 is from 1972 (I bought it refurbished), and it works great. Of course, I truly hope that Polaroid will create a new SX-70 camera with a glass lens. Fingers crossed.
Thanks for your comments, and enjoy shooting,
George