SLR670 by Mint

[robert blu]

Is anyone using an SLR 670 by Mint? I have two SX70 Polaroid, but for various reasons are not very reliable (Sometimes work, sometimes not) and after having tried the new B&W.02 by Impossible I'm thinking to buy one of these...but the price is not very low and I would like to have any comments from the users...Thanks in advance
robert

 

[Ezzie]

From what I understand the shutter IC has been replaced with a Mint designed version, giving up to 6x the shutter speed, allowing it to be used with both ISO 100 and 600 films. As such the electronics are brand new, and should be more reliable than a regular refurbished SX-70. Just my half arsed semi-qualified understanding of course.

 

[robert blu]

Thanks Ezzie, it's what I understood. I'll ask how much cost to refurbish mu old one tha I'll decide...
robert

 

[Godfrey]

My SLR670m, bought last year just as they became available, showed some processing defects for a pack or two, and then refused to move film. I sent it back to MiNT in Hong Kong for warranty repair. They found a bad processor motor, replaced it, cleaned and serviced the whole camera. It arrived back home today, gone a total of five weeks. It now works flawlessly again ... better than it did when I first got it! I think the processing motor was always a bit flakey.

Good service, quite reasonable turn-around given the usual lengthy shipping to and from Hong Kong, etc. I'm very pleased to have this camera back in service.

My 1972 SX-70 (my uncle's, he bought it new and gave it to me in 2012) is still my favorite for sentimental reasons, and in fine working shape. But the SLR670m and SLR670a have advantages with their new electronics and the fact that MiNT is intent on doing the right thing for customer service.

If I were to do it over, I'd pick the SLR670a over the SLR670m as I find the manual exposure control is less valuable to me than having an SX-70 optimized for 600 speed film. But they both have their value ...

G

 

[lawnpotter]

My SLR670m, bought last year just as they became available, showed some processing defects for a pack or two, and then refused to move film. I sent it back to MiNT in Hong Kong for warranty repair. They found a bad processor motor, replaced it, cleaned and serviced the whole camera. It arrived back home today, gone a total of five weeks. It now works flawlessly again ... better than it did when I first got it! I think the processing motor was always a bit flakey.

Good service, quite reasonable turn-around given the usual lengthy shipping to and from Hong Kong, etc. I'm very pleased to have this camera back in service.

My 1972 SX-70 (my uncle's, he bought it new and gave it to me in 2012) is still my favorite for sentimental reasons, and in fine working shape. But the SLR670m and SLR670a have advantages with their new electronics and the fact that MiNT is intent on doing the right thing for customer service.

If I were to do it over, I'd pick the SLR670a over the SLR670m as I find the manual exposure control is less valuable to me than having an SX-70 optimized for 600 speed film. But they both have their value ...

G

But cant you use both 100 and 600 film with the SLR670m ?

I dont fully understand the advantage of the SLR670a. Is it faster to use ?

 

[Godfrey]

But cant you use both 100 and 600 film with the SLR670m ?

I dont fully understand the advantage of the SLR670a. Is it faster to use ?

The SLR670m is calibrated for the SX-70 film, nominally ASA 150, for Auto setting or use without the Time Machine module. This works very well. You can use 600 film in it as well, the same way you do in a standard SX-70: with an ND filter on Auto (with adjustment using the lighten/darken control) or by setting the exposure manually with Time Machine.

The problem with the latter is that when you use Time Machine, the camera is limited to just f/8 and you have whole step settings in shutter speed. The B&W film has just barely enough latitude to work with whole step exposure adjustments, the color film does not. Consequently, there are simply situations where it is very difficult to expose properly other than on Auto, and then you must use an ND filter combined with the lighten/darken control.

The advantage to the SLR670m is that you can also run manually timed exposures as long as you want since it supports Bulb. Flash exposure using the MiNT electronic flash works well for both, since the flash has both full and quarter power settings.

The advantage to the SLR670a is that it is essentially an SX-70 upgraded with the meter calibrated to work with 600 film; the shorter exposure times available with the new electronics allow it to manage the exposure properly in full sunlight. It doesn't allow manual exposure settings or long time exposures with B, but in general the faster film produces better results due to shorter exposure times. The aperture and shutter work together just like they do in the SX-70 or SLR670m on Auto mode. Again flash exposure using the MiNT flash works well due to the low power setting.

IMO, what I've recommended to MiNT for the SLR670m is that they upgrade the Time Machine module to allow setting exposure time in half-steps. That would expand the usefulness of manual exposure greatly.

Both cameras have their advantages. It's good to know the advantages and limitations of both.

G

 

[lawnpotter]

The SLR670m is calibrated for the SX-70 film, nominally ASA 150, for Auto setting or use without the Time Machine module. This works very well. You can use 600 film in it as well, the same way you do in a standard SX-70: with an ND filter on Auto (with adjustment using the lighten/darken control) or by setting the exposure manually with Time Machine.

The problem with the latter is that when you use Time Machine, the camera is limited to just f/8 and you have whole step settings in shutter speed. The B&W film has just barely enough latitude to work with whole step exposure adjustments, the color film does not. Consequently, there are simply situations where it is very difficult to expose properly other than on Auto, and then you must use an ND filter combined with the lighten/darken control.

The advantage to the SLR670m is that you can also run manually timed exposures as long as you want since it supports Bulb. Flash exposure using the MiNT electronic flash works well for both, since the flash has both full and quarter power settings.

The advantage to the SLR670a is that it is essentially an SX-70 upgraded with the meter calibrated to work with 600 film; the shorter exposure times available with the new electronics allow it to manage the exposure properly in full sunlight. It doesn't allow manual exposure settings or long time exposures with B, but in general the faster film produces better results due to shorter exposure times. The aperture and shutter work together just like they do in the SX-70 or SLR670m on Auto mode. Again flash exposure using the MiNT flash works well due to the low power setting.

IMO, what I've recommended to MiNT for the SLR670m is that they upgrade the Time Machine module to allow setting exposure time in half-steps. That would expand the usefulness of manual exposure greatly.

Both cameras have their advantages. It's good to know the advantages and limitations of both.

G

Thanks for the detailed answer. I also looked on their site. They have a comparison chart of the two cameras