Topic: Polaroid SX-70 - Confusion

[Verian]

 have an SX-70, which is a bit battered cosmetically but seems to work, mostly. I don’t know if the problem I have is film related or whether it is the camera itself, I suspect the latter but am not absolutely sure. I loaded a film from The Impossible Project, 1 of 2 packs I bought, the other went in a 600 and works fine, here’s an example:



The SX-70 was producing images that were massively over exposed, to the point that when development was complete they were blank. I adjusted the darkness control which resulted in the following:



[There's another similar one taken immediately after on my blog  - http://verianthomas.com/?p=513

What I have noticed is that I have to press the button twice. It seems to open the lens on the first press and lose it on the second, as though there it is set to Bulb, but I can’t find anywhere this might be set.

I have read the manual for the camera and I know I’m supposed to hold the button until the image pops out, however, I tried that and the shutter seemed to just stay open, for several seconds, until I pressed the button again and got the overly exposed image out.

Is it broken, or am I doing something wrong?

[DonkeyDave]

isn't the Sx70 ISO100, and the 600s ISO 640? In other words you need the SX70 film, not the 600.

I'd test the SX70 shutter with an empty pack to see if its behaving

[Verian]

Good point, I just put it in the camera because it fitted! Although I seem to remember checking online to see if it would work, my memory does lie to me sometimes though.

[Verian]

Just checked online, looks like I've put IP PX-680 in the SX-70 instead of PX-70. It does actually fit though, and everything works, except the actual picture taking bit of it.

I'm guilty of being a complete amateur!

[Aksel]

You can adjust "darken" to max and cross your fingers or tape on a nd filter   

[Francois]

Years ago, they had special filter plates that fit on the SX-70 so that they can take 600 film. There are also filters you can add to the film pack... but you'd have to re-insert the darkslide in the dark before proceeding.

[Alan]

yes I have 2 of those filters but they are coloured !

an ND or correct film is the way to go.

I hate that, the film is so expensive as it is without "wasting" it like this

[Francois]

Probably to give the 600 film that Time-Zero look...

[MJL]

After shooting >20 packs of TIP PX600 & PX70, here is what I found:

* The PX70 behaves like ISO 300, not ISO 125 as they claim.  So, dial ~1/4 more towards the dark side.
* Shield the film for the first 90 seconds after ejected, even with their new "Protection Formular".
* Using their ND film dilter with PX680 in SX70 is still better than the supposely native PX70 film.
* Unless using the original 1970-era 10-bulb flash bar or the new TIP "Mint" electronic flash bar, flash photography is a nightmare, on or off camera.
* All SX70 cameras are old.  The analog circuit board inside need a good cleaning & check up to ensure it still function consistently.  Lot of the camera parts need go into (or through) motion when you press the red botton, that is why they recommand you to keep pressing it until the film ejected. I believe your stricky shutter problem is actually a sticky mirror which doesn't want to return to the horizontal closed position.  Run the camera few times with an empty film pack may help.

[original_ann]

Though I've not had a chance to try the Impossible Project films, I regularly shoot 600 film in my sx-70 and actually love the exposure it gives.   I think I tend to want a less 'realistic' image from an integral polaroid and usually have to bump the camera to the darkest setting.   

[Verian]

After shooting >20 packs of TIP PX600 & PX70, here is what I found:

* The PX70 behaves like ISO 300, not ISO 125 as they claim.  So, dial ~1/4 more towards the dark side.
* Shield the film for the first 90 seconds after ejected, even with their new "Protection Formular".
* Using their ND film dilter with PX680 in SX70 is still better than the supposely native PX70 film.
* Unless using the original 1970-era 10-bulb flash bar or the new TIP "Mint" electronic flash bar, flash photography is a nightmare, on or off camera.
* All SX70 cameras are old.  The analog circuit board inside need a good cleaning & check up to ensure it still function consistently.  Lot of the camera parts need go into (or through) motion when you press the red botton, that is why they recommand you to keep pressing it until the film ejected. I believe your stricky shutter problem is actually a sticky mirror which doesn't want to return to the horizontal closed position.  Run the camera few times with an empty film pack may help.

Thanks, I still have a couple of images to shoot before the current pack runs out so I can have a little test. It's already set as dark as it will go but I think the issue may well be that the film is exposed too long due to shutter/mirror problems. The camera has probably sat for years without being used so running an emppty film through it might well loosen it up a bit.

[Verian]

Though I've not had a chance to try the Impossible Project films, I regularly shoot 600 film in my sx-70 and actually love the exposure it gives.   I think I tend to want a less 'realistic' image from an integral polaroid and usually have to bump the camera to the darkest setting.

I think I have a problem with the camera and the length of exposure as I've had a little surf around the net and found images that have come out quite nicely.

Hopefully I can get it sorted.