SX-70 film?

Shootar401 · Dec 7, 2014

I was given one of those rainbow pink floyd Polaroid cameras today from someone at work who had it in their basement. Camera is clean for it's age although not spotless. I guess my only film options are Impossible? I just want a plain old style white frame, looks like I only have two options, color and b&W.

Fixcinater · Dec 7, 2014

You could chance it on some of the original SX70 film on eBay but unless it was stored perfectly, we've long since passed the point where the Impossible stock is better than the aging original film. Impossible keeps getting better and the original stock...well...I'd go IP project. They are running specials through their online store.

Also, you can shoot 600 speed in the SX70 just in case you find a deal on that. Takes a bit of work (ND filter or adjusting the light/dark dial) and you there's a trick to get it into the camera but that only takes a small piece of the box or thick paper. There are two nubs on the bottom of the 600 film pack that catch on the SX70 film chamber so people wouldn't make the mistake of shooting 600 in a non-adjusted SX70.

Here's one from an original SX70 folding model, older PX600 with a ND filter over the pack.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/mpUEdL]

SR 125 Span by Dead Link Removed, on Flickr[/URL]

StoneNYC · Dec 7, 2014

Impossible has been updating their film supply and re-engineering the films they put out, it may not be necessary to use filters anymore with the old Polaroid cameras, I would check with the website first to see if their current newest stock versions of the SX 70 film are still needing a different filter

Fixcinater · Dec 7, 2014

The SX70 film is and has always been the correct speed. The filters/mods to the camera were only ever needed to use 600 speed film (for the 600 line of cameras) in the SX70, both mods were around before Impossible Project started producing film.

What was unique for Impossible Project film (especially when they first started) was the so-called Frog Tongue which covered the film upon ejection due to the film's poor opacification layer. The original Polaroid film had this figured out, so the cameras would retract the cover almost immediately after full ejection. The IP film was still sensitive to light so you would blow out the image completely if you didn't eject it into a light proof box or shield it with another film or use the Frog Tongue.

StoneNYC · Dec 7, 2014

Fixcinater said:
The SX70 film is and has always been the correct speed. The filters/mods to the camera were only ever needed to use 600 speed film (for the 600 line of cameras) in the SX70, both mods were around before Impossible Project started producing film.

What was unique for Impossible Project film (especially when they first started) was the so-called Frog Tongue which covered the film upon ejection due to the film's poor opacification layer. The original Polaroid film had this figured out, so the cameras would retract the cover almost immediately after full ejection. The IP film was still sensitive to light so you would blow out the image completely if you didn't eject it into a light proof box or shield it with another film or use the Frog Tongue.

Yes but this was solved by impossible in the newer re-engineered packs and is no longer a concern as it used to be.

Shootar401 · Dec 9, 2014

I'm going to try the IP Color SX-70 for now, just to make sure the camera works. Last I heard about the IP they had some quality issues, but looks like they got that sorted out now. Thanks for the info

darkosaric · Dec 9, 2014

2-3 years ago (when I used them last time) impossible films were already very good - now I am sure they are even better.

Couple of examples:
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed

Then only problem is of course the price, for color you can use Fuji instax - but if you want B&W instant films then impossible is your only option.

StoneNYC · Dec 9, 2014

Shootar401 said:
I'm going to try the IP Color SX-70 for now, just to make sure the camera works. Last I heard about the IP they had some quality issues, but looks like they got that sorted out now. Thanks for the info

FYI it's commonly called TIP not IP since its "The Impossible Project"

Hope the camera works well!!!

StoneNYC · Dec 9, 2014

darkosaric said:
2-3 years ago (when I used them last time) impossible films were already very good - now I am sure they are even better.

Couple of examples:
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed

Then only problem is of course the price, for color you can use Fuji instax - but if you want B&W instant films then impossible is your only option.

Fuji Instax requires a new camera, I think the OP wants to use his found polaroid camera.

EdSawyer · Dec 9, 2014

impossible's stuff, while the only game in town really, has never equaled what Polaroid offered back in the day. It also can't be manipulated, which was the only really good thing about SX70 film in general. And it's about triple the price of the old polaroid stuff when that was available. They have a ways to go yet, I'd say.

Terry Christian · Dec 9, 2014

It's a bit disingenuous to say that Impossible has quality control issues. They've had to re-engineer the a Polaroid films from scratch, and have simply let the public beta-test their efforts with the understanding that their films are not perfect quite yet. The resulting revenue stream and customer feedback has allowed them to progress much faster than if they'd waited until they had a product that lived up to the original.

bsdunek · Dec 9, 2014

EdSawyer said:
impossible's stuff, while the only game in town really, has never equaled what Polaroid offered back in the day. It also can't be manipulated, which was the only really good thing about SX70 film in general. And it's about triple the price of the old polaroid stuff when that was available. They have a ways to go yet, I'd say.

Yes, it is triple the price, but the $8.00 in 1972 is probably at least the $24.00 in today's dollars. In 1972, gasoline was about .60/gallon (pre oil embargo), and a friend bought a new Ford Galaxy loaded for less than $5,000.
I have thought of trying some of the TIP film, and, yes the $24.00 has made me think, but I realize it's not really so bad.

StoneNYC · Dec 9, 2014

Terry Christian said:
It's a bit disingenuous to say that Impossible has quality control issues. They've had to re-engineer the a Polaroid films from scratch, and have simply let the public beta-test their efforts with the understanding that their films are not perfect quite yet. The resulting revenue stream and customer feedback has allowed them to progress much faster than if they'd waited until they had a product that lived up to the original.

Exactly, I was hoping FILMferrania and/or NEW55 would do this just to keep them going. TIP was smart, however it did turn me away from it, too many mistakes and lost images, I'm going to sell all my TIP Polaroids I think before they degrade any further (yes I'll inform the customer about this).

Terry Christian · Dec 9, 2014

Stone, I don't think it would be as crucial with Ferrania or New55 as it was to Impossible. With New55, they're dealing with essentially B&W film with a developer pod. Ferrania has all their old machinery and formulations, and it's just a matter of reconfiguring everything. Impossible only had the machinery and not the chemistry, so they've had to research and developing everything from nothing. The "beta test" phase was thus much more important.

While I'm completely ecstatic that Impossible happened, I'm not personally a Polaroid lover, especially not the integral film. (I grew up with a white rainbow Polaroid One-Step and hated it even then!) Sure, the early Impossible films aren't for everyone, but they're for people who enjoy tinkering with not-ready-for-prime-time formulations and the eccentricities they offered. I understand their product is much better now and approaching the level of quality from the real Polaroid films, even if the image takes longer to develop.

StoneNYC · Dec 9, 2014

Terry Christian said:
Stone, I don't think it would be as crucial with Ferrania or New55 as it was to Impossible. With New55, they're dealing with essentially B&W film with a developer pod. Ferrania has all their old machinery and formulations, and it's just a matter of reconfiguring everything. Impossible only had the machinery and not the chemistry, so they've had to research and developing everything from nothing. The "beta test" phase was thus much more important.

While I'm completely ecstatic that Impossible happened, I'm not personally a Polaroid lover, especially not the integral film. (I grew up with a white rainbow Polaroid One-Step and hated it even then!) Sure, the early Impossible films aren't for everyone, but they're for people who enjoy tinkering with not-ready-for-prime-time formulations and the eccentricities they offered. I understand their product is much better now and approaching the level of quality from the real Polaroid films, even if the image takes longer to develop.

I agree that FILMferrania didn't need it I disagree wholeheartedly that NEW55 didn't need it, they have a LOT of re-engineering to do, completely re-formulating the product with new film and new developer and probably new paper. As well as a different design for the whole package itself. It's essentially MORE work than TIP had to do. Which is why TIP didn't take on 4x5 peel apart film, because the machinery was destroyed before it could be salvaged, they were however able to save the 8x10 machine, hence them having the 8x10 stuff.

NEW55 has a lot to deal with. Anyway they did a kickstarter that funded so hopefully that was enough to get them through testing and onto production.

AgX · Dec 9, 2014

Shootar401 said:
Looks like I only have two options, color and b&W.

I hardly can imagine any more options...

darkosaric · Dec 10, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Fuji Instax requires a new camera, I think the OP wants to use his found polaroid camera.

With some cumbersome workarounds you can use Instax films in old Polaroid cameras. There was a video posted here couple of years ago - somebody used Instax film in SX70 camera.

AgX · Dec 10, 2014

With great technical modifications one could use Instax films in Polaroid cameras intended for peel-apart films.

One cannot use Instax films properly in Polaroid cameras intended for integral films, as these films and the Instax films are basically different.

darkosaric · Dec 10, 2014

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

AgX · Dec 10, 2014

Darko, thank you very much for linking to that tutorial! I did not even know it.

But, it takes two cameras.
And..., with my remark I was not even hinting at the mechanical issus with spreeading the paste, but rather the mirror-inverted image you get when using a through the back-exposed film in a camera with mirrored beam.

darkosaric · Dec 10, 2014

Yes, it is very, very cumbersome. I would not use second camera - I would rather used some kind of home made rollers in the dark to spread the chemicals once when it is exposed. I saw once somebody made paper pinhole camera that used instax mini and then spreading the chemicals with pencil that is round - inside the folded paper camera. Hard to explain in words, once you see it - it is very logical.

SX-70 film?

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