Your favorite Polaroid camera?

[jasonjoo]

Hey guys,

What are some of your favorite polaroid cameras?

I'm thinking about purchasing one as a "fun" camera, where I can take out and grab snap shots while hanging out with friends. Not sure how fancy polaroids get, but I don't need anything too fancy. Small and compact would definitely be a plus.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[Fintan]

The SX-70 is a classic but the real original film is expensive and not so easily found. A new blend of film is available for it though.

 

[jasonjoo]

Thanks Fintan. I guess my best bet is to buy one of the "newer" polaroid cameras, but the vintage look/feel is very... cool

Are there "vintage" polaroid cameras that take more "modern" or readily available film?

 

[Akki14]

SX-70 does take modern 600 film but you need a x6 ND filter put on it (and use a piece of paper to help slide the film pack in but it's not hard to do). Sonar Onestep SX-70 would probably be good for snaps as that autofocuses. I've only really played with one of the polaroid cameras I have... have a 103 sitting around waiting for me to purchase some 100-type film for it to gobble up

I was going to suggest a Fuji Instax but then I noticed you're in the US and I suppose Instax is a bit too modern anyway... Instax film can be bought a tad bit more cheaply than most polaroid film usually, but the camera itself is a bulky monster.

 

[tony lockerbie]

Hi Jason. The SX70 is a great camera and you can use type 600 film if you remove the small raised plastic areas at the top front of the cartridge. You need to do this to get the cartridge into the camera and once loaded you need to use a 2X ND filter over the lens due to the extra speed of the 600 film. If that's too much hassle just buy a 600 series camera, they're still great fun, although not an SLR like the SX70..... nowhere as cool looking either!
A couple of words and photos here

 

[tony lockerbie]

Whoops... I meant 2 stops of ND, that would be a ND4 then.
Tony

 

[removed account4]

i never had one, but i always wanted a joycam.

 

[ann]

i am not a guy, but my favorite is the sx70, it is also considered one of the top design in the world. Think it ranks about numnber 51, or 52.

if your not interested in manipulation of the film then the type 600 should do the job for you after you make the adjustments others have recommended.

 

[jasonjoo]

Wow, the SX70 looks awesome! It folds up so nicely.. Thanks for the link Tony!

Sorry Ann! Though not a guy, your posts have been very helpful to me! Thanks!

Akki14, that is very useful information. It does seem like a hassle to set up the SX70. But, it just seems so darn cool!

Any other suggestions? The SX70 seems to be a unanimous winner!

 

[Michael W]

I have a Polaroid 680. These use the 600 film that you can buy anywhere. Probably quite similar to the SX-70 in operation.
The 680 has sonar focusing & exposure compensation. I have heard that a lot of people are after them & they are fetching high prices on ebay so probably best to look around garage sales, charity shops etc.
I like mine, it folds flat so easy to carry, simple to use & gives square pics with the muted colour look.

 

[sjperry]

Jason,
I like the older Polaroids of the late 60's-early 70's vintage (such as the 210, 320 models). These have a folding bellows but take modern pack film such as 669 and 690. A wide variety of film is available for these from Polaroid as well as Fuji. The problem with these is that the batteries are no longer made ( a few NOS batteries are around but they are expensive). Not to tout my wares, but I convert these old cameras to use modern AAA batteries and resell them. You can e-mail me if interested.
Steve Perry
stephen.j.perry@att.net

 

[jasonjoo]

Thanks goldie and Steve.

Steve, if I ever pick up a 210 or 320 model, I'll be sure to send you a PM!

I've actually stumbled upon a Holga polaroid back. I've been meaning to get a Holga, so why not convert it to take polaroids? I may go this route, though the price of the polaroid back itself can fund several Holgas!

 

[sjperry]

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the Holga take the standard LF back? These are a lot of these around used. Actually for an typical LF there are two types of Polaroid back available. I have both types for my Linhof. One uses pack film of the 664/ 690 type (3.25x4.25 image). The other uses sheet film like Polaroid type 55 or 79. Type 55 is really great, fine grain B&W which produces a negative. The sheet films are 4x5.

Steve Perry

 

[Richard Boutwell]

I found a Spectra SE on ebay for about $20, and I like the Spectra color and proportion much more than the type 600. The film is harder to find (as in you can't go into K-mart and get it) but some Staples do sell it. Film is about the same price though. Another way to go, as someone else recomended, getting a peel apart film camera. With that you could get P/N film, different color films and have the possibility to do emulsion transfers.

I love using a polaroid as a snap shot camera. There are actually people who ask me what it is. One woman in Florida asked if it was "a really old digital camera." I told her, "Yeah, it's olde school digital."

__________________
www.RichardBoutwell.com

 

[jasonjoo]

Hey Steve, I can get any Holga and mount a LF polaroid back to it? No modifications? I really like the type 664 film, but the thing about the Holga is that it won't expose the entire film, which bothers me.

That's hilarious Richard!

 

[sfadam]

my favorite is the captiva. it takes 95/500 film (joycam film) which was discontinued last year and is now really expensive on ebay. i really like the size and shape of the film (its shaped like/looks like a window), as well as the polaroid colors. the camera itself is also really weird and badly designed, and it gets a lot of comments even from polaroid fans who don't know what it is. i have an "SE" version which also has a glass lens. so its basically like a joycam that takes properly exposed and properly focused pictures.

 

[gr82bart]

I only have one - the Polaroid One 600 Job Pro - so I guess that's my favourite. Funky little camera - http://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-One600-Job-Instant-Camera/dp/B00002254O

But really funky is the Fuji Instax 200 I got for Christmas - http://www.fujifilm.com/products/instant_photo/Instax200.html where the images are postcard size! Not available in the States.

Regards, Art.

 

[abby]

i LOVE my 330

 

[lens_hacker]

My two favorites:

Model 180 for Pack Film;
SX-70 Sonar special edition. I converted this camera to use 600 film as per Polaroid's instructions. I removed the small neutral Density filter over the electric eye. That was 1 F-Stop. Then set the L/D control 1 full notch toward Darken for the 2nd F-Stop. Mine works well in Full-sunlight, but probably would not do at the beach. The SLR680 and SLR690 stop down to F90, the SX-70 SOnar and Alpha's stop down to F72.

 

[3Dfan]

I grew up with a Polaroid Sun 600 as my primary camera. It took much nicer photos than my 110 Instamatic and didn't require expensive flash cubes, so I loved it.

I recently tried to get one of those I-zone cameras with sticker film for my niece. Every Kmart seems to sell them but the film is nowhere to be found.

Another way to go, as someone else recomended, getting a peel apart film camera. With that you could get P/N film, different color films and have the possibility to do emulsion transfers.

I'm pretty sure that type 665 p/n was discontinued last year. I scraped my plans to get a quarter-plate polaroid camera when that happened.

 

[Neilson]

any spectra system;

 

[amuderick]

I use a Polaroid 360. The bellows/frame look of the camera gets attention and makes street photography less intimidating for the subjects I think. You can take pictures of kids and seem like less of a creep. The electronic flash helps me take great B&W 'press photo' style shots at weddings and events. It is a pretty versatile camera with the close-up and portrait attachments.

If you want to pick one up you'll need to replace the non-user replaceable battery in the electronic flash.

Also, with the help of two rubber bands it can be modded to accept common CR123 batteries.

I use 669 film in Florida for great old postcard colors. 665 (I stockpiled but it can still be found) for grand landscapes or even some street work (since I can gift the print and keep the neg). Fuji FP-100C for color and Fuji FP-3000B for B&W in any light.

I like my SX-70 and Spectra too but they definitely don't get as much use as my pack film camera.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

Lots

I have a closet full of 'em, including a 350, 450, 180, SLR 690, and all the backs for 4x5 Graphic cameras, plus lots of non-working and roll film models.
But the one which is real fun is the "BIG SHOT." Uses pack film and flash cubes, has a single element 220mm lens fixed focus for close-up portraits. Don't know what happened to mine, and the one I bought on ebay came in pieces because they just threw it into the box without any packing!

 

[Alex Hawley]

But the one which is real fun is the "BIG SHOT."

Hey Bill, I have a Big Shot. Bought it a couple years ago, ran one pack of film through it. Lack of suitable subjects I guess. But now that you reminded me of it, maybe it will make for some fun in the Instant Print Exchange. Thanks!

 

[sjperry]

Yes they dropped the 665 P/N film because of some OSHA problem with the chemicals used, or something like that. The type 55 film though is still produced. But you need a large format with Polaroid back to use it. Write an e-mail to Polaroid. If there was demand for the 665 I'm sure they could figure out how to produce a modified version, since the 55 is still in production.

What film does the I-zone take that you couldn't find?

Steve Perry