Polaroids

[educo]

YEAH!! Alright, thanks for the info!! I'm gonna hunt down some expired polaroids too

 

[Whitelinen]

Are there any good polaroid sites?

 

[Dylan.]

Plrds.com
a very very very times infinity great photographer
Mike Brodie

And Polanoid.net

 

[Whitelinen]

Thanks! Do you know a site speciafically for polaroid photographs of nature, settings etc, not people? I don't like polaroids with people.

 

[Diamond Star]

{Flickr}

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

please note they are not birds they are actually shoes.

please excuse the fact that ones bigger than the other i tryed to fix it but gave up

 

[fourboltmain]

Shot, and later destroyed by me. No Photoshop used!



^ Click me, I grow!

 

[StilettosAddict!]

Looooooovely thread! & Great pictures

I've been wanting to buy a polaroid for some time now, any recommendations?

 

[republicofstyle]

^ I have the same question too!! Polaroids are wonderful, and I've been meaning to get one. Everybody I know has high recommendations for the SX70, but is there a better one now that they've discontinued the Time Zero film?? Should I get the 600 instead?

 

[fourboltmain]

The SX-70 kicks *** for one reason, you can manually focus it. It's not a point and shoot, and it's not an autofocus. Most '600' Polaroids are crap, except the 600SE and the SLR 680 (690 too, I think.) '600' refers to the film it uses, 660's, etc are all the same. Crap.

BUT, they have the SX-70 Sonar, but that has a manual overide switch which let's you focus by hand.

But the SX-70 and Time Zero film was cancelled last year. You can still use the SX-70 though, with 600 film.

http://www.polaroid.com/sx70/en/index.html

^ The instructions seem weird, but it's easy to do. I'll post a tutorial on how to gut a Polaroid for new film eventually.

 

[marqueemoon]

The SX-70 kicks *** for one reason, you can manually focus it. It's not a point and shoot, and it's not an autofocus. Most '600' Polaroids are crap, except the 600SE and the SLR 680 (690 too, I think.) '600' refers to the film it uses, 660's, etc are all the same. Crap.

BUT, they have the SX-70 Sonar, but that has a manual overide switch which let's you focus by hand.

But the SX-70 and Time Zero film was cancelled last year. You can still use the SX-70 though, with 600 film.

http://www.polaroid.com/sx70/en/index.html

^ The instructions seem weird, but it's easy to do. I'll post a tutorial on how to gut a Polaroid for new film eventually.

What's the advantage of SX-70 over the SLR 680 or 600SE?

I'm trying to find a good polaroid camera, but I'm a total beginner with still photography. Is there any way you could post pictures that illustrate the difference between various polaroid cameras (only the better ones) and types of film?

 

[fourboltmain]

OK, I'm answering your PM on the thread for everyone's benefit.

SX-70



The SX-70 is the forefather of all Polaroids. It's a self ejecting, manual focus (later models had auto focus, with a manual over-ride) SLR Polaroid. All those Pola shot in focus were most likely taken with this modern marvel. But they stopped making them in the early 80's I think. They used two kinds of film, SX-70 and Time Zero. Both of these films are now extinct. 600 film can work with this cam, but the camera has to be slightly modified, as shown here:

http://www.foundphotography.com/PhotoThoughts/archives/2006/06/polaroid_sx70_modification_for.html

SLR 680 and 690



These cameras are pretty much super SX-70's that take 600 film, so no mods are required. The problem is they're rare and nerds like me and others want them bad, to the tune of $150 or more each on eBay. I can't justify the cost to practicality ratio of these things. You can get an SX-70 for $20 at times, a little rough around the edges, but definitely usable.

Polaroid 600SE



This thing isn't even made by Polaroid. It's a Mamiya Universal with a 3x4 inch pull-apart film back. It has interchangeable lenses, full manual controls for shutter, aperture, and focus. It has no electronics, not even an exposure meter. It weighs as much as a third arm and is nothing short of beautiful. Not only does it use 3x4 backs, it can accept 6x7 and 6x9cm medium format film backs. All the backs have dark slides so you can switch film mid-roll. I THINK everything is compatible with the Mamiya except the lenses. There's also a Polaroid 600 that has a fixed lens. These things start at around $450, but it's well worth it. Oh, and it's a rangefinder too.

Polaroid Spectra


And last is this rare gem, the Polaroid Spectra system. It shoots bigger than the SX-70/SLR series, and the film is readily available. The REALLY badass ones have manual focus on them. They also have a timer, flash over-ride, all kinds of cool options. Another variation that's harder to find, but way cheaper is the Minolta Instant Pro, which is actually pictured above, and is cosmetically exact to the Spectra.

foundphotography.com -- kenrockwell.com -- photofxdm.org -- camerapedia.com

All this said, I scored a Spectra in a thrift store in the original box for $7 and an SX-70 for $9 with the accessory kit. Just keep your eyes peeled, most people have no idea what they have.

 

[marqueemoon]

^thank you!

 

[tigerrouge]

I love polas. It's crazy to say it, but it seems as if its the one form of photography that does capture the soul of the landscape you're looking at.

I remember them from the 1970's, when they were the only camera affordable for the ordinary family. Now my parents won't use anything other than digital, but I still have to have a polaroid camera to hand. I love walking out alone to woods - the pictures I take there remind me of what the place, the day, felt like, more so than what they simply looked like.

Even the photographic process itself is something to savour - that moment of delayed gratification as you wait for the image to form.

You can often get good arc effects with the sun, though you do also risk going a bit blind, but it's all in the name of art, eh. I just wish the film wasn't so expensive these days (to buy new) or else I'd be taking pictures all the time. But maybe it's best left as an occasional delight.

 

[marqueemoon]

OK, I'm answering your PM on the thread for everyone's benefit.

SX-70



The SX-70 is the forefather of all Polaroids. It's a self ejecting, manual focus (later models had auto focus, with a manual over-ride) SLR Polaroid. All those Pola shot in focus were most likely taken with this modern marvel. But they stopped making them in the early 80's I think. They used two kinds of film, SX-70 and Time Zero. Both of these films are now extinct. 600 film can work with this cam, but the camera has to be slightly modified, as shown here:

http://www.foundphotography.com/PhotoThoughts/archives/2006/06/polaroid_sx70_modification_for.html

SLR 680 and 690



These cameras are pretty much super SX-70's that take 600 film, so no mods are required. The problem is they're rare and nerds like me and others want them bad, to the tune of $150 or more each on eBay. I can't justify the cost to practicality ratio of these things. You can get an SX-70 for $20 at times, a little rough around the edges, but definitely usable.

Polaroid 600SE



This thing isn't even made by Polaroid. It's a Mamiya Universal with a 3x4 inch pull-apart film back. It has interchangeable lenses, full manual controls for shutter, aperture, and focus. It has no electronics, not even an exposure meter. It weighs as much as a third arm and is nothing short of beautiful. Not only does it use 3x4 backs, it can accept 6x7 and 6x9cm medium format film backs. All the backs have dark slides so you can switch film mid-roll. I THINK everything is compatible with the Mamiya except the lenses. There's also a Polaroid 600 that has a fixed lens. These things start at around $450, but it's well worth it. Oh, and it's a rangefinder too.

Polaroid Spectra


And last is this rare gem, the Polaroid Spectra system. It shoots bigger than the SX-70/SLR series, and the film is readily available. The REALLY badass ones have manual focus on them. They also have a timer, flash over-ride, all kinds of cool options. Another variation that's harder to find, but way cheaper is the Minolta Instant Pro, which is actually pictured above, and is cosmetically exact to the Spectra.

foundphotography.com -- kenrockwell.com -- photofxdm.org -- camerapedia.com

All this said, I scored a Spectra in a thrift store in the original box for $7 and an SX-70 for $9 with the accessory kit. Just keep your eyes peeled, most people have no idea what they have.

Thanks again! You've been extremely helpful (I gave you karma). I just have a few questions.

SLR 680/690:
Do they have manual focus like th SX-70s? If you purchase one on ebay how do you distinguish the good ones from the bad ones? There seems to be a ton of variability in price when I looked and I'm afraid of getting ripped off.

600 SE: Could you explain what this means to me? : "Not only does it use 3x4 backs, it can accept 6x7 and 6x9cm medium format film backs. " Does that mean different photo sizes? What's the standard photo size for a poloarid? Also where's a good place to buy 600SEs? What are their main advantages over the 680/90?

Polaroid Spectra: How much do they go for online? Where's a good place to look for them? Does the Minolto have manual focus too?

Which camera would you most recommend for a beginner like me?

One more thing, do you know what kind of cameras agencies usually use to take polaroids of their models?

Thanks!!

 

[BetteT]

Please do not "quote" images ... remove them first befpre posting the quote. Thanks.

 

[kissmesweet]

The two that DiamondStar posted are amazing!

 

[SweetFantasy]

i love black and white polaroids

 

[fourboltmain]

SLR 680/690:
Do they have manual focus like th SX-70s? Yes.

If you purchase one on ebay how do you distinguish the good ones from the bad ones? Like anything on eBay, it's luck. The best way to tell would be the condition it's in.

600 SE: Could you explain "Not only does it use 3x4 backs, it can accept 6x7 and 6x9cm medium format film backs." Does that mean different photo sizes? What's the standard photo size for a poloarid? The 3x4 back is actually 3.25" by 4.25" in size. This type film of Polaroid film is self-developing, but the 6x7-6x9 backs let you load professional sized film in it, so you can get negatives as well. It's also a manual load/unload, the camera doesn't spit it out.

http://shopus.polaroid.com/shop/public/products/details/dsp_product_details.cfm?product=649609-5

http://shopus.polaroid.com/shop/public/products/details/dsp_product_details.cfm?product=642404-5

Also where's a good place to buy 600SEs? What are their main advantages over the 680/90? If I knew where to score a 600SE, I'd have one. LOL eBay or your best bet. The main advantage is it's a truly professional camera, as it has fast sync speeds, different lenses, a flash sync, full manual control, the list goes on and on. It's really just a studio camera.

Polaroid Spectra: How much do they go for online? Where's a good place to look for them? Does the Minolto have manual focus too? From $5 to $50. Buy the boxy shaped ones. The Minoltas have manual focus, very few of the Polaroids do.

Which camera would you most recommend for a beginner like me? Maybe a Sun 660. I didn't post the clamshell Polaroids, but they are pretty much all the same. They have different names, like Sun 600, Sun 660, blah blah blah. must CLAIM to have autofocus, but it doesn't work. Here's a pic of one:

One more thing, do you know what kind of cameras agencies usually use to take polaroids of their models? Newer 600 series (clamshells) or Spectras.

Thanks!! You're welcome. Here's a link to almost every Pola cam to grace this green, green Earth, including pictures:

http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landdcam-gallery.htm

www.rwhirled.com/landlist

 

[milou.]

This might become my favourite tread. I absolutely love the atmosphere of polaroids. It's so magical and dreamy! And also, it might sound a bit weird but sometimes it's almost like by using a polaroid camera, your able to capture "the soul" of the landscape, object or person wich your making polaroids of. There's something so real about them.

I will show some of my own polaroids soon!

Oh and sorry for the crappy English. Blame it on the fact I'm from Holland