Brooklynfilmcamera.com or Retrospekt.com For SX70

[wjlapier]

I’m considering a refurbished SX70 and might opt for 600 film conversion. Which company would you go with? Brooklynfilmcamera looks to have the longer warranty. I see an option for the 600 conversion with retrospekt but not brooklynfilmcamera, though an email request might be all that is needed. Any experience with either company regarding their refurbished SX70? I’ve purchased from retrospekt but only cassettes. No refurbished electronics.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

I’m considering a refurbished SX70 and might opt for 600 film conversion. Which company would you go with? Brooklynfilmcamera looks to have the longer warranty. I see an option for the 600 conversion with retrospekt but not brooklynfilmcamera, though an email request might be all that is needed. Any experience with either company regarding their refurbished SX70? I’ve purchased from retrospekt but only cassettes. No refurbished electronics.

I personally like the sx-70 film better. Why not get a Mint modified Sx-70 so thst you can use both films?

 

[wjlapier]

I saw the Mint cameras but close to $1000 too much.

I have a large stock of 600 film I feed into an Impulse. Actually has a pretty good lens for what it is. I tape over the flash for outdoor shots and I’m happy how it works. But, I really like the SX70 body and would like another so I’m considering the refurbished ones.

 

[Alan9940]

Two possible options vs a conversion:

1. Use an ND filter over the film pack, or

2. Get an SLR680

 

[mshchem]

Run away. And that's from a huge SX-70 fan. Get an Instax Wide printer for a digital camera. SX-70 film stinks compared to the original. Instax cameras aren't great.

I would look around for a functional SX-70 cheap if you're determined. I have two that still work. The 4 dollar a shot film stinks, I still buy it now and then .

 

[wjlapier]

I have a SX70 with the AF sonar and it was modified to take 600 film, or use a ND filter and shoot 70 film. 600 works fine in it but it's fussy and I have to watch the dial. My Impulse does a better job than the SX70 to be honest. I was hoping the refirbs would be cleaned and calibrated and if modded for 600 turn out some nice photos.

As for a Instax wide printer, I have the Instax printer that prints squares from my iPhone. Kinda fun at times. My kids like the cat photos on square instax film.

Yeah I hear ya on the $4 per shot, but 40 frames for $75 ( recent price on amazon ) brings that down to $1.88 per frame. Beside, my fridge is packed with 600 film. Everytime I see it at Walmart I buy it.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Get an Instax Wide printer for a digital camera.

Heresy! Right film, wrong method, to be clear. Seems like it ought to be possible to adapt Instax Square to fit a Polaroid camera, and the film speed would be well within adjustment for a 600 capable camera. Your images would be mirrored, since Instax exposes through the rear of the print.

If you can make an adapter to put Instax Square packs in a Kodak instant camera (and you can), it should be possible to put either Square or Mini in an SX-70.

 

[mshchem]

Heresy! Right film, wrong method, to be clear. Seems like it ought to be possible to adapt Instax Square to fit a Polaroid camera, and the film speed would be well within adjustment for a 600 capable camera. Your images would be mirrored, since Instax exposes through the rear of the print.

If you can make an adapter to put Instax Square packs in a Kodak instant camera (and you can), it should be possible to put either Square or Mini in an SX-70.

Good points. The original SX-70 cameras are about as cool of a 20th century device as there is, way cooler than a B-29 or color television. My latest round of frustration with the Dutch modern film was catalyzed by my finding a treasure trove of old flashbars. How much more fun can you get than a SX-70 with flashbulbs?? The crackle and smells of melting blue plastic coatings, Yummy!
Everyone should get to experience flashbulbs. Not so sure about spending large sums on obsolete cameras.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I have a Kodamatic 950 that cost me all of $25. Everything works except the shutter... Also got a 960 that was similar in cost, gears fell apart. These are like Instax before there was Instax -- and if I can get one with everything working, I have a contact on Reddit who makes adapters for Instax Square. Much better lens (even the fixed focus ones) than today's Instax cameras...

 

[mshchem]

I have a Kodamatic 950 that cost me all of $25. Everything works except the shutter... Also got a 960 that was similar in cost, gears fell apart. These are like Instax before there was Instax -- and if I can get one with everything working, I have a contact on Reddit who makes adapters for Instax Square. Much better lens (even the fixed focus ones) than today's Instax cameras...

I wonder if Kodak's instant was a joint venture, or if Fuji bought some of Kodak's IP, from the Kodak instant program.

Kodak had a version that allowed the removal of the print from the chemical pod, that would be cool.

I have an Instax Wide camera, it's a lot of fun. I have a couple of the little printers too. Allows me to make instant prints from Bluetooth from phone or XPro3.
The all analog work flow is hands down the best approach. I would love to have a modified Kodak camera, that's a way better investment than anything Polaroid.

 

[MattKing]

I wonder if Kodak's instant was a joint venture, or if Fuji bought some of Kodak's IP, from the Kodak instant program.

Kodak developed the technology, incorporating everything necessary to avoid patent litigation from Polaroid.
Polaroid sued anyways, and the trial judge came to a decision against Kodak that fundamentally increased the protection offered by US patents to something that had never been known previously in US patent law.
The decision was probably a major factor in the eventual bankruptcy of Kodak.
In the meantime, Fuji developed Instax technology that essentially encroached in the same way on the Polaroid patent, but Polaroid didn't sue them.
Edwin Land rejected a settlement of the Kodak litigation that had been worked out by the respective lawyers, and which was consistent with the then current situation in US patent law. By that time, there was a fair amount of animus felt by him against Kodak - ironic really given that he had had to rely on Kodak to supply and manufacture significant amounts of Polaroid materials over the years.
Polaroid of course also subsequently went bankrupt, and Fuji just kept working on the same technology that Kodak got sued for.

 

[Aviv]

I’m considering a refurbished SX70 and might opt for 600 film conversion. Which company would you go with? Brooklynfilmcamera looks to have the longer warranty. I see an option for the 600 conversion with retrospekt but not brooklynfilmcamera, though an email request might be all that is needed. Any experience with either company regarding their refurbished SX70? I’ve purchased from retrospekt but only cassettes. No refurbished electronics.

I refurbished my SLR 680 from Brooklyn Film Camera. I sent a slightly dingy camera someone found in their attic and got what felt like a brand new camera back. I believe they are quite good at their job and am sure they do equally good work on SX-70s.

 

[mshchem]

Kodak developed the technology, incorporating everything necessary to avoid patent litigation from Polaroid.
Polaroid sued anyways, and the trial judge came to a decision against Kodak that fundamentally increased the protection offered by US patents to something that had never been known previously in US patent law.
The decision was probably a major factor in the eventual bankruptcy of Kodak.
In the meantime, Fuji developed Instax technology that essentially encroached in the same way on the Polaroid patent, but Polaroid didn't sue them.
Edwin Land rejected a settlement of the Kodak litigation that had been worked out by the respective lawyers, and which was consistent with the then current situation in US patent law. By that time, there was a fair amount of animus felt by him against Kodak - ironic really given that he had had to rely on Kodak to supply and manufacture significant amounts of Polaroid materials over the years.
Polaroid of course also subsequently went bankrupt, and Fuji just kept working on the same technology that Kodak got sued for.

I think that the settlement from Kodak was all that kept Polaroid afloat at the end. Mind boggling. Polaroid threatened to sue Fuji over the square format of Instax. Crazy. You would know better than I, but I believe Polaroid bought all the film and chemistry from Kodak. Polaroid did amazing work, but Land was a monopolistic sort. Land is second only to Edison in terms of the sheer number of patents in his name.

 

[MattKing]

It wasn't a settlement - Polaroid won at trial.
And the costs of compliance were brutal - buy back all sold cameras, among other things.
I believe that Polaroid were mostly making their own film and sourcing their own chemistry by the time of the litigation.

 

[Donald Qualls]

The way I've heard it (recently) was that Fuji developed the first version of Instax (not yet under that name) concurrently and in cooperation with Kodak. Why Polaroid didn't sue Fuji alongside Kodak (as I heard it) was likely related to Fuji not (at that time) offering any instant products in a major Polaroid market (they were limited to Japan at that time).

 

[wjlapier]

I went with Retrospect for the SX70 converted to use 600 film. I had to send it back because it was overexposing even with the dial turned dark. Their communication was top notch but I wasn't too thrilled to send the camera back. I have it now and it exposes film near perfectly--near perfectly because I feel this camera needs a slight under exposure (m could be personal taste ).

I have another SX70 that I use SX70 film in and it also needs a slight under exposure. I might send this one for a CLA. It has these slight blueish color issues near the bottom of the photo that I've read is due to the rollers. Other than that it works very nice and in clean condition.

600 film is easy for me to find here locally--or Walmart usually has double packs available. SX70 film I buy from Polaroid since this is the best price I can find and usually in stock.

 

[Donald Qualls]

What did the conversion and overall service cost? I've got an SX70 that needs gone over, preferably reskinned, and I'd like to convert it for 600.

 

[wjlapier]

Check Retrospekts website. They charge a flat fee that covers a full tear down with new leather cover. I’ll shoot another box before I decide on sending it in. Interestingly, the camera that shoots SX70 film ( from Roberts Camera ) is in better cosmetic condition than the Retrospekt SX70.

Oh, the SX70 that shoots 600 film was purchased from Retrospekt. I didn’t send it in initially. I did send it back because of the over exposure issue.

 

[Nicholas W]

I’m considering a refurbished SX70 and might opt for 600 film conversion. Which company would you go with? Brooklynfilmcamera looks to have the longer warranty. I see an option for the 600 conversion with retrospekt but not brooklynfilmcamera, though an email request might be all that is needed. Any experience with either company regarding their refurbished SX70? I’ve purchased from retrospekt but only cassettes. No refurbished electronics.

Having used both, I like Retrospekt better. Higher quality repairs.