Performance Anxiety
June 7, 2008
I assumed that I could just run out to the drug store and pick up a new pack of film for my Grandfather’s Polaroid SX-70. But a quick internet search told me that SX-70 film hasn’t been made since 2006… and now it sells for upwards of $100 for an out-of-date pack of ten exposures. But I found a pack for only $30 on eBay — and luckily the 35-year old camera still worked.
You’d be parched too if you sat in a closet for 30 years.
From an industrial design point of view, the SX-70 is quite remarkable. Designed in 1972, it still has a contemporary feel, great ergonomics, and solid build quality that rivals the best German and Japanese cameras. I even found its manual focus a novel — and welcome — feature. And it’s just plain cool.
So, with all that build-up, what did I do with the very last of my SX-70 exposures? Knowing that I’ll probably never use a Polaroid camera again….
Snapshots. Really ordinary, run-of-the-mill snapshots….
Shannon in white and Karen in umm, amber.
Reader Comments (add yours)
1. Christian — Jun 7 2008 02:56 AM
You can use it with the 600 film, only a few modifications and it works.
But sadly you have not the original and wonderful colors as an original SX700 film.
2. M — Jun 7 2008 04:17 AM
I hope some manufacturer starts re-producing some Polaroid films. The prices of old film are ridiculous at the moment. I have my hopes on Lomographic Society who have re-introduced some antique cameras before. If they would come up with a relatively cheap Polaroid camera, that might peak an interest to produce film for it as well.
3. melody — Jun 7 2008 09:12 AM
i have this camera, too - morgan's dad had it laying around for like 30 years and no one had touched it. morgan knows how much i love poloroids so he gave it to me. messing around with it, found out it still had film in it! didn't work though.
4. tommy d — Jun 7 2008 05:02 PM
Frank,
Just came across your site while looking for info on 4X5 location photography. Really (warped :-) beautiful stuff—you've mad beauty-extracting skills!
The SX-70 is so clever in it's folding mirror design—wonder if anyone has modified them for 6cm (or cut film) work? I mean, just stick a roll film back on that baby and let 'er rip, you know? (a new razzle project? hmm.)
I keep an old Zeiss 6X9 folder around because of it's fantastic negative size : pocketability ratio, but its scale focus makes me wish for the SX-70's technology. Worth pondering...
Again, you do justice to the dream job you've got. As my dad would say, "Good work, if you can get it."
Cheers
5. jeremy — Jun 9 2008 11:30 AM
Ran across this...FWIW:
http://silverbased.org/sx70with600film/
6. Meagan — Jun 9 2008 06:19 PM
you can modify it to use Polaroid 600 film...