Father, Son, and Dippin' Dots ... Polaroid SX-70

[Moto-Uno]

^^^ Thanks for getting back to me , I'm assuming from the photo that the distant billboard was the point of focus ? Not being a smart ass , just not too convinced they'd fill the bill for me ( as mentioned , it ain't cheap ) ! Peter

 

[Godfrey]

^^^ Thanks for getting back to me , I'm assuming from the photo that the distant billboard was the point of focus ? Not being a smart ass , just not too convinced they'd fill the bill for me ( as mentioned , it ain't cheap ) ! Peter

If you're looking for 35mm film or digital camera detail resolution, an integral film Polaroid is not the right camera. 🙂

The point of focus was the bicycle, but I was shooting through the window of the cafe so the lettering on the tires and the spokes don't resolve quite as nicely as the 30" tall lettering on the billboard in the background. I can just make out the words on the tires looking at the original print with a loupe, they're a bit degraded in this limited resolution JPEG. Of course, it was a bright sunny day and the lens' aperture was likely stopped all the way down to f/32, I think, (as evidenced by the fact that foreground details like the umbrella and hanging lights are equally as sharp as the bicycle) so there is perhaps also a bit of diffraction reducing ultimate resolution.

But ultimate resolution is not what these cameras are about, nor big prints either. The original prints generally appear sharper and clearer than scans or copy photos due to the way the light goes into the emulsion and reflects back to your eye. They have a depth and dimensionality which is very difficult to capture in reproductions.

G

 

[Moto-Uno]

Thanks again for getting back to me , as you mentioned it's probably not the medium for me , but there is something about them that keeps me looking 🙂 .
Peter

 

[RLG]

I just pulled out two Polaroid cameras that I ended up with, and had no idea if they are operational or not. One is a Spectra SE Autofocus the other Impulse SE Autofocus. I bought two B&W film packs from Amazon. Just started testing today. The Spectra has issues. If I rap it a few times against a hard surface I can get a shot out. The Impulse seems to work fine. The Spectra is the better camera, but that's life! The film is from Polaroid originals ultimately, also. The Spectra uses Spectra film, and the Impulse uses Type 600.

There seems to be some problems with the Spectra films from Polaroid Originals. Have not used Spectra lately but there is some information to be found on YouTube and on a website (http://www.polaroid-passion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=24490&hilit=Problème+spectra- . It's in French but Google Translate can help. Dit the dark slide come out normal?
The 600 type films do not have the problem as far as I know.

 

[Godfrey]

There seems to be some problems with the Spectra films from Polaroid Originals. Have not used Spectra lately but there is some information to be found on YouTube and on a website (http://www.polaroid-passion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=24490&hilit=Problème+spectra- . It's in French but Google Translate can help. Dit the dark slide come out normal?
The 600 type films do not have the problem as far as I know.

I believe it is the Spectra processor's motor more than the films. While I have seen this problem with a few of the 600 box cameras (never with an SX-70), it used to happen with all my Spectras from time to time, through all the generations of film I had them for (Impossible v0 to Polaroid Originals).

I suspect the Spectra processor motor is just slightly under spec for the reborn film units. The reborn film units are a scant bit thicker than the original Polaroid film units were (that's why the new film has only 8 exposures per pack vs the originals' 10 exposures per pack). I conjecture that this is putting a load on the Spectra processor motor that puts it right on the edge. Any additional resistance in the processor system and it will not be able to function properly.

My experiments and practice was to keep the Spectra units in top shape by keeping them very clean and exercising them regularly with exposed film. The exposed film never jams, and is a little bit thinner than the unexposed film with packets, so this supports my theory. A tiny touch of light lubricant on the roller pins and gears seemed to help a lot too.

G