Help Diagnose 680 SLR issues (if any)?

[jhunter3]

Hi,

I realize I'm new here--just joined and now posting a question asking for assistance. FWIW I've read posts for awhile (have One-steps, holgaroid, Instax; also shoot rangefinders--digital and analog). Decided to up my game with a 680 SLR I purchased relatively cheaply on eBay. I know, I know. It's not super clean but it's not a beater either. Supposedly the flash indicator lit with a spent film cartridge. That was confirmed, and flash actually fired x two. Seemed ok. Put in a new 600 cartridge from TIP, flash indicator lights for a second then off. toggle flash switch, same. Ok I'll just shoot in well-lit conditions.

Shot is below. Not exactly to my expectations, focusing, brown hue (scanned with a non-photo scanner, granted, the actual shot is not as contrasty as this appears). Also I didn't realize the film required 20-30m to develop completely.

Focusing: too close to the subject? about 20-22 inches away--too close for the focal length? I used the manual focus figuring that if the flash doesn't work, probably can't depend on the autofocus-sonar function.
Flash: seemed to work fine with expired/spent original pola 600 cartridge battery, but not with the new TIP 600 speed film?
Brightness: relatively dark IMO for 600 speed film. Suppose the brightness dial needs to be adjusted toward the white?
Hue: Seemed more toward the brown side...maybe flash or brighter ambient would be better?

Basically I'm wondering if maybe I'm doing it wrong, or am just expecting too much?

Thanks in advance,
J.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Hello - congratulations on your new camera.

Mine is an SLR 690, not too different from yours. I've used mine only with old 600 film I have in the refrigerator, so I suspect your TIP film just has less sensitivity than the original Polaroid 600.

Can't see why your flash would behave differently between the two film packs, though.

Also, I can't remember offhand what the closest focusing distance is, but in actual use, my 690 either snaps to focus instantly or hunts back and forth if I'm too close.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

 

[jhunter3]

Hello - congratulations on your new camera.

Mine is an SLR 690, not too different from yours. I've used mine only with old 600 film I have in the refrigerator, so I suspect your TIP film just has less sensitivity than the original Polaroid 600.

Can't see why your flash would behave differently between the two film packs, though.

Also, I can't remember offhand what the closest focusing distance is, but in actual use, my 690 either snaps to focus instantly or hunts back and forth if I'm too close.

Thanks, man; so it sounds like I've just got to a) adapt, b) get the thing CLA'd or outright serviced, or c) get a $400 version from TIP.

Appreciate the insight.

 

[jhunter3]

Welcome to APUG

Thanks!

 

[Fixcinater]

That shot looks mainly backlit, the couch or whatever is behind her is brighter than whatever light is falling directly on her face. I'm not sure of the SLR 680's metering pattern but it may be broad enough to have caught that light and hence darkened the overall scene.

You should be able to focus to within 12" or so, quite close.

If the AF moves with different focus distances: one close up, then on the sky or a faraway object near infinity, and the viewfinder seems to match what you would expect, then it's probably still dead-on. I've burned film through a few Sonars and SLRs and if it works at all, it most likely works perfectly.

Did you try firing with the flash switch still on? I don't remember (been a while since sold my 680) if the light goes out when working or stays on, but give it a try.

I'd consider at least a couple packs of TIP educational in getting used to the new camera, the whole system is quirky compared to most other cameras so burning some film is really the only way I was able to get comfortable with using it and getting results that matched what I thought I could do with it.

Have fun, it's one heck of a camera!

 

[jhunter3]

@fixinator thanks so much for bringing me back down to earth. You're right it's slightly backlit, and the foreground is darkened. The actual shot is a bit better than that scan. I honestly don't know if I did the shot with the flash on or off--so that's a good suggestion. Just gonna have to eat a few packs and get the hang of how it works. I have a few packs of expired ancient 600 (not cared for too well) so we'll just have to get what we get.

Btw where are most people posting shots now for sharing and feedback? I was pretty addicted to flicker at one time but kind of lost interest when they changed the format a couple years ago and all my shots were small and low-rez that fit the old format. I just didn't have it in me to go back and re-size all those shots. I kinda moved to instagram (understanding that it's not really that good), and I've been maintaining a couple accounts there. Are people still doing Flickr?

 

[Fixcinater]

You can post the scans to the gallery here, if you're a subscriber.

I get more pats on the back at Flickr but like you, have lost interest and don't have much time for trying to display my work online to share with random people anymore.

Google Plus has a fair bit of photo posting going on but largely digital, plus I got tired of the hash tagging happening there too.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

My 690 focuses to 0.3 meters, essentially 12 inches. Your 680 should do the same, as mentioned above.

I'm interested in your results with TIP film; I've got only 4 boxes (40 shots) of my old Polaroid 600 left before I try TIP film.