Transform Your Polaroid SX-70 Camera Into a 600 Shooting Machine
By Mackenzie Freeman
5 February 2008
After saving for, and buying, a DSLR, I still could not resist the nostalgia and the idea of having a Polaroid Camera. Much to my delight, my dad informed me that there was a Polaroid camera he bought in the late 70s sitting in my basement, that he bought when he was a teenager. After rushing down to the storage room, finding the rainbow striped Polaroid One-Step Land Camera, and cleaning the years of dust off, I was in my infinate glory.
Little did I know that it took the forever discontinued SX-70 film, which I did not have, nor was in the financial position to obtain (like I mentioned, I had just bought a DSLR...enough said). It was then that I came across the instructions on the Polaroid site on how to make your SX-70 camera compatible with the new 600 polaroid film. It mentions that you need a Neutral Density filter to compensate for the speed difference of the new 600 film, which I also did not have. Feeling almost defeated, my dad told me that a Neutral Density filter works basically the same way sunglasses do. That is when I picked up some 600 film and started holding my Aviators in front of the lens when I took a picture. The results were great!
As time went on, I actually popped a lense out of the sunglasses and taped it on the camera. It was a little more convenient...and I looked a little less dorky when I was taking the picture.
Another point that needs some attention is the exposure settings. Depending on the camera you have, it has to be changed to help compensate for the speed difference of the 600 film. I turn the knob on mine to the darkest setting in full sunshine, and turn it about 2 points brighter in the shade. Since I do not have a flash, I only take pictures outside in the daytime. Also, since all sunglasses aren't the same, and the exposure settings on the Polaroid cameras sometimes differ, you really need to get the feel for your unique situation. This could take a couple shots to get it just right, but you will get the feel of it and be amazed!
So to turn your camera into a into a working master again, here's what you'll need to do:
First, pick up some 600 Polaroid film. It is the most common Polaroid film these days, most of their popular cameras take it. There are other types...but 600 is also the cheapest. To get it to go into the camera, the Polaroid site instructs you to cut the plastic guider nubs off the bottom of the film casing.
Next, get yourself some cheap sunglasses, with big enough lenses to cover the lens in the camera of course, and pop one of the lenses out. I found aviator sunglasses worked the best, they are plenty big enough and there is some room left over for the tape.
For the next step all you need is some tape. Scotch, Duct, Hockey...whatever works for you. Tape the lens from the sunglasses on the camera...and Voila! Now all that is left to do is test your explosure settings and you should be on your way.
This is not by any means a fancy fix, but for those of you out there that are itching to use that SX-70 Polaroid camera and you are unable to get film, this could be the fix for you! It's Fast, Easy, and certainly affordable!
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