Bush & Leaves - Polaroid SLR670a by MiNT

[Godfrey]

I have to say, I have an original 1973 SX-70 as well as two of the MiNT uprated SLR670 models, the "m" and the "x", with manually settable exposure. But the SLR670a—which is essentially the original SX-70 but modernized to take the 600 speed film, completely refurbished and with a new well-calibrated light metering sensor, is just about my favorite of the set. It seems to embody the best of Dr. Land's camera concept, to me at least, and 600 film gives it just that nice two-stop edge in light gathering so you don't need to use the flash unit as much.

Bush & Leaves by Godfrey DiGiorgi, on Flickr
Bush & Leaves - Santa Clara 2021
Polaroid SLR670a by MiNT​

enjoy! G

 

[RLG]

Excellent photo and a good tip about the SLR670a. I'm using the SLR680, it gives good results but it is quite large and less practical to carry around compared to my SX70.

 

[lynnb]

Very nice result Godfrey. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mh2000]

Just lovely! 🙂

 

[hap]

I have to say, I have an original 1973 SX-70 as well as two of the MiNT uprated SLR670 models, the "m" and the "x", with manually settable exposure. But the SLR670a—which is essentially the original SX-70 but modernized to take the 600 speed film, completely refurbished and with a new well-calibrated light metering sensor, is just about my favorite of the set. It seems to embody the best of Dr. Land's camera concept, to me at least, and 600 film gives it just that nice two-stop edge in light gathering so you don't need to use the flash unit as much.

Bush & Leaves by Godfrey DiGiorgi, on Flickr
Bush & Leaves - Santa Clara 2021
Polaroid SLR670a by MiNT​

enjoy! G

Looks like you have some development (roller?) marks . Very fine picture. I might send my sx 70 to be modded. If I'm wrong let me know.

 

[hap]

Can you modify 600 polaroid with a wood stick and push the emulsion around while developed , like the sx 70 film.

 

[madNbad]

Can you modify 600 polaroid with a wood stick and push the emulsion around while developed , like the sx 70 film.

You couldn’t do that by the time the eighties started. I have one a teacher at the local community college did about 1978 using my SX-70. I was wearing a striped shirt and he squiggled all the stripes around.

 

[mh2000]

The SX-70 is one camera that I've always thought was just brilliant and beautifully designed, but never owned or shot. I've had newer integral film Polaroids, but even if they took just as good a photo, they still weren't the SX-70.

I'm just finishing reading INSTANT The Story of Polaroid by Christopher Bonanos! Quite an enjoyable book if you haven't read it.

Also, the Charles and Ray Eames introductory short film done to introduce the SX-70 is pretty nice as well: https://youtu.be/Lo_1pyQ7xvc

🙂

 

[Godfrey]

Just lovely! 🙂

Thanks!

Looks like you have some development (roller?) marks . Very fine picture. I might send my sx 70 to be modded. If I'm wrong let me know.

Those are light surface scratches on the acrylic clear cover over the image, not roller marks. Poor lighting on that copy capture is what caused it...

I'm not sure that MiNT Camera will take cameras for modification. They sell completed/upgraded SLR670m/s/a/x cameras ... see https://mint-camera.com/en/shop/

They're all quite special but I particularly love my SLR670a. I have the "Ming Edition" of the SLR670x model and I think, in retrospect, I would have been happier with the standard model as I prefer the leather skin to the titanium skin.

Can you modify 600 polaroid with a wood stick and push the emulsion around while developed , like the sx 70 film.

You couldn’t do that by the time the eighties started. I have one a teacher at the local community college did about 1978 using my SX-70. I was wearing a striped shirt and he squiggled all the stripes around.

As mentioned, no. People were doing that with early SX-70 film to the point that Polaroid noticed and produced a specially manipulable emulsion in an art pack film for a while. The modern Polaroid nee Impossible emulsions simply do not allow it without damage to the emulsion.

The SX-70 is one camera that I've always thought was just brilliant and beautifully designed, but never owned or shot. I've had newer integral film Polaroids, but even if they took just as good a photo, they still weren't the SX-70.

I'm just finishing reading INSTANT The Story of Polaroid by Christopher Bonanos! Quite an enjoyable book if you haven't read it.

Also, the Charles and Ray Eames introductory short film done to introduce the SX-70 is pretty nice as well: https://youtu.be/Lo_1pyQ7xvc

🙂

The Polaroid SX-70 was a staggering achievement on its release in 1973 ... WAY ahead of its time in almost all ways! I'm almost shocked that you have never owned or shot with one ... I've had so many given to me over the years it presented a problem as I couldn't use them all, managed to find homes for them. It's a unique and superb camera, one of my life-long favorites.

I haven't read that particular book, I'll likely pick up a copy as I collect Polaroid literature (as well as the cameras etc). A particularly superb book is A Triumph of Genius by Ronald Fierstein. It's a big book, breaks down into three sections: a very detailed history of Dr. Edwin Land, an in-depth history of the Polaroid company and camera, and a documentary about the 19 year long patent battle with Eastman Kodak. I thought the first two sections would be fascinating and I'd drag my way through the legal battle ... but NO! The legal battle was a page turner, I simply couldn't put the book down! Absolutely fascinating story and book, all the way through.

I've got that video in my archives, wonderful piece.

I was just out shooting the the SLR670x today, running Polaroid 600 B&W film. Solving a problem I had with my bicycle bag ... IN Summer, the pocket where I'd stuff the exposures to proces is against my back as I cycle and the prints get too hot to process correctly, they turn black. That was my conjecture ... I changed bags to an open-top, canvas musette type bag for today's ride, and the problem is gone (in 90°F weather). 😀

G

 

[mh2000]

>>The Polaroid SX-70 was a staggering achievement on its release in 1973 ... WAY ahead of its time in almost all ways! I'm almost shocked that you have never owned or shot with one ... I've had so many given to me over the years it presented a problem as I couldn't use them all, managed to find homes for them. It's a unique and superb camera, one of my life-long favorites.

I haven't read that particular book, I'll likely pick up a copy as I collect Polaroid literature (as well as the cameras etc). A particularly superb book is A Triumph of Genius by Ronald Fierstein. It's a big book, breaks down into three sections: a very detailed history of Dr. Edwin Land, an in-depth history of the Polaroid company and camera, and a documentary about the 19 year long patent battle with Eastman Kodak. I thought the first two sections would be fascinating and I'd drag my way through the legal battle ... but NO! The legal battle was a page turner, I simply couldn't put the book down! Absolutely fascinating story and book, all the way through.

The book I'm reading is probably a little more the People Magazine version (comments on social impact as much as technical), but has enough to keep me engaged! Maybe I'll look for your book at the used bookstore sometime!

The beauty of the SX-70 camera design really got me excited, but I was pretty devoted to b&w when it came out which is why, if I shot Polaroid, it was mostly the packfilm cameras. Also, as a poor art student, that film was really much too expensive for me! Later, after I started making more money, I did pop for the limited edition Black SPECTRA SYSTEM camera, but didn't shoot that much with it... more for social fun.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

You couldn’t do that by the time the eighties started. I have one a teacher at the local community college did about 1978 using my SX-70. I was wearing a striped shirt and he squiggled all the stripes around.

The SX-70 film in the 1990s could be manipulated, too. I did a lot of it when I was in art school in the late 90s! My photo professor said the earlier 1970s-era stuff stayed soft longer, but it was still very much doable with the late 90s version of SX-70 film.

600 film could not be manipulated. I have not tried it on any of the stuff being made now by the Impossible Project

 

[Godfrey]

... The beauty of the SX-70 camera design really got me excited, but I was pretty devoted to b&w when it came out which is why, if I shot Polaroid, it was mostly the packfilm cameras. Also, as a poor art student, that film was really much too expensive for me! Later, after I started making more money, I did pop for the limited edition Black SPECTRA SYSTEM camera, but didn't shoot that much with it... more for social fun.

Beauty now is that the SX-70 and 600 B&W packs are the best performers of their current production film, although the latest color packs have become nearly as good as well. I buy typically 8:1 B&W packs over color.

Hangers - East Palo Alto 2021
Polaroid SLR670a by MiNT + Polaroid 600 B&W
Scanned with Impossible app on iPhone 11 Pro​

I can get better scans now with my current copy camera setup and polarized lighting, but sometimes when I'm in a hurry I just use the Impossible app on the iPhone. 🙂

And yes, it remains expensive, although they've both reduced the price a bit and offer additional discounting for bundles of five packs at a time ($15 for 8 exposures at that discount level, or just under $2 per exposure). I usually buy five packs in both 600 and SX-70 versions, re-order either type when I get down to one pack left in stock for the type.

I had a couple of the Spectra cameras: very cool designs too. But they presented a continuous problem for the new film production ... whether it was because the Spectra film transport motor was simply not designed to last, or whatever, there were so many complaints and returns that Polaroid decided to discontinue the film completely. Unfortunate, but such it is. The SX-70 design, both the original SLR folder and the later box design models, seems to have a lot of life left in them, and Polaroid is making new versions of the box design models too. MiNT Camera has been refurbishing them and making the upgrade models on the SX-70 for a while now.

G

 

[madNbad]

In the spring of 1977 I bought a lightly used SX-70 and gave it away about a year before Impossible came out with their film. Of all the cameras I’ve owned, including Leica, Linhofs and a slew of others, it remains one of my favorites. Easy to use, instant picture what was not to like about it. In the many years before cell phone cameras, every Halloween the Polaroid would be there to capture the little wizards and goblins and drop a little something extra in the bag for the parents. A few years back, I tried an SLR 680. It was nice but the Impossible film was new and annoying. Recently, there was one just like the one I had for all those years for sale for a good price but I realized it would never be quite the same.

 

[hap]

The SX-70 film in the 1990s could be manipulated, too. I did a lot of it when I was in art school in the late 90s! My photo professor said the earlier 1970s-era stuff stayed soft longer, but it was still very much doable with the late 90s version of SX-70 film.

600 film could not be manipulated. I have not tried it on any of the stuff being made now by the Impossible Project

I did a fair amount pushing emulsion with a stick ...I'd say about 20-25 years ago. Those images are in a box. If I have some time, I'll try to use my android S20 to capture.

 

[hap]

I bought some impossible BW and color. It did not work out. The Sx-70 camera needs some going over

 

[Godfrey]

In the spring of 1977 I bought a lightly used SX-70 and gave it away about a year before Impossible came out with their film. Of all the cameras I’ve owned, including Leica, Linhofs and a slew of others, it remains one of my favorites. Easy to use, instant picture what was not to like about it. In the many years before cell phone cameras, every Halloween the Polaroid would be there to capture the little wizards and goblins and drop a little something extra in the bag for the parents. A few years back, I tried an SLR 680. It was nice but the Impossible film was new and annoying. Recently, there was one just like the one I had for all those years for sale for a good price but I realized it would never be quite the same.

I had a couple of the SX-70 Sonar models, and a friend has the SLR680. I was never as fond of them as I am of the original SX-70 design. The SLR670 series being produced by MiNT Camera—and particularly the SLR670a for its simplicity—is right on the mark.

Since 2005 when the last of the original Polaroid films were made, the film has been an issue. Scarcity for a time, then getting too old and out of date to be consistent ... And then the ramp up of the new film, first release somewhere around 2011, by The Impossible Project which took many generations and nearly a decade to reach its current state. I've been there with them through most of it, and it's been a rough ride.

It will never be exactly the same .. It can't be, the underlying film chemistry is quite different in many ways. And for all the time and effort, it has been a resources struggle, a truly impossible project to engage in. But that said, I think if you found yourself with a good SX-70 or 600 camera, or the extravagance of an SLR670a/m/s/or x, I think now you might find it very very close to the mark. 🙂

G

 

[madNbad]

Talking to a couple of longtime camera store employees, a few of the underlying problems for Impossible was companies that made dyes and other chemicals for Polaroid had gone out of business leaving no way to revive anything close to the original film. If the chemistry was available it was often banned by the EU because of its toxicity. They are making a more environmentally friendly film and hopefully it’s finding favor. There’s a reason lenses aren’t lubricated with whale oil any more.

 

[Godfrey]

Talking to a couple of longtime camera store employees, a few of the underlying problems for Impossible was companies that made dyes and other chemicals for Polaroid had gone out of business leaving no way to revive anything close to the original film. If the chemistry was available it was often banned by the EU because of its toxicity. They are making a more environmentally friendly film and hopefully it’s finding favor. There’s a reason lenses aren’t lubricated with whale oil any more.

That is verified by my discussions, over the years, with some of the Impossible engineering folks. Although the underlying causes might differ a little bit: Polaroid closing down production and cancelling chemical purchases probably helped drive many of the smaller companies to the edge, and by the time Impossible tried to recreate the film, not only were there barriers to production due to environmental regulations that had come up, but the quantities they expected to need were an unprofitable situation for the chemical companies.

If Polaroid had never shut down production and the delivery of chemistry had been maintained on a regular basis, the changes due to environmental regulations would likely have been incorporated as running incremental development of the chemical processes ...

It's been a fascinating process, to see a company recreate the magic of this film, this camera. It took a lot of guts and a whole hell of a lot of work to achieve what they have achieved. And the fact that the new film works perfectly in the original, never modified or serviced, bought new in 1974 SX-70 that my uncle gave me in 2012 is just nothing short of miraculuous!! It took them a decade for sure, but what a stunning achievement for a couple of crazy guys!

G

 

[hap]

That is verified by my discussions, over the years, with some of the Impossible engineering folks. Although the underlying causes might differ a little bit: Polaroid closing down production and cancelling chemical purchases probably helped drive many of the smaller companies to the edge, and by the time Impossible tried to recreate the film, not only were there barriers to production due to environmental regulations that had come up, but the quantities they expected to need were an unprofitable situation for the chemical companies.

If Polaroid had never shut down production and the delivery of chemistry had been maintained on a regular basis, the changes due to environmental regulations would likely have been incorporated as running incremental development of the chemical processes ...

It's been a fascinating process, to see a company recreate the magic of this film, this camera. It took a lot of guts and a whole hell of a lot of work to achieve what they have achieved. And the fact that the new film works perfectly in the original, never modified or serviced, bought new in 1974 SX-70 that my uncle gave me in 2012 is just nothing short of miraculuous!! It took them a decade for sure, but what a stunning achievement for a couple of crazy guys!

G

Who would y ou trust to look at a SX-70 in very good condition but probably some film transport issues.?

 

[Godfrey]

Who would y ou trust to look at a SX-70 in very good condition but probably some film transport issues.?

I've only dealt with MiNT Camera on Polaroid SX-70 equipment. They sell their newly refurbished and upgraded SLR670 models, and they also offers repair services for user cameras. Their support page offers a contact link and a Repair information section that explains the process. A camera check up is about US$26, add the shipping charge.

https://mint-camera.com/en/support/

My SLR670m camera was damaged (my own fault*) and needed an overhaul. They handled the out-of-warranty repair for me very efficiently ... I seem to recall the turnaround was about three-four weeks max, and the camera has been working perfectly for me again ever since. 🙂 I don't recall how much it cost me, off hand, but I can look it up when I get back to my desktop computer.

Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased with MiNT Camera and have been delighted with all my interactions with the company. Good folks!

G

(* That was in the days earlier in the Impossible film development when you really needed to cover the print immediately as it came out of the slot for the first 10 seconds or so: the opacifier wasn't activating fast enough. I'd rigged an opaque flippy flap over the slot that did the job well, but then I was sloppy handling the camera at some point and made an exposure with the flap held down over the slot. The ejecting print jammed hard into the flap and unseated something in the transport gear train and the drive motor. They corrected what had gone awry in the gear train and replaced the drive motor, etc.

Nowadays, the film is almost as resistant to inadvertent exposure on ejection as the original Polaroid SX-70/600 films were, so while it's a good idea to keep direct sunlight off them as they come out of the camera, I just quickly cover them with my hand and stuff them into my pocket or bag, or lay them face down on a table. I still have a "frogtongue" accessory if I want to give the film a tiny bit of extra protection, but I haven't needed it in ages.)