Polaroid SX-70 question

[InakiR]

Hey guys:

I just got my original SX-70 camera and some Impossible Project color film. Every shot comes out smeared and what looks like ridiculously overexposed. I tried setting exposure to both brightest and lightest and still have nothing. Does anyone have any ideas?

4681

[NJMurphy]

Clean the rollers. There's probably some gunk on them which is preventing them from giving the film an even, tight squeeze on the way out. It also looks like the chemical pod isn't being completely broken, or isn't being spread evenly across the frame, given the dark spot at the top of the first two pictures you've posted.

As for the exposure, well, those cameras were always flakey when it came to exposure; I think the meter was selenium (http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Selenium_meter), which eventually deteriorates, making it unreliable. You could try cleaning the meter with a cotton swab, but on the older SX-70's (and what model isn't, these days?) exposure is always going to be a crapshoot. Also the IP film packs may not be to the same ISO specs as the originals.

And from the looks of your second picture, you may want to adjust your focus a little better.

What SX-70 body are you using? You may want to check with IP not only about the ISO question, but your exposure problems as well. They may have some tips for you.

[InakiR]

Interesting, I thought that dark spot was something pressing on the film, didn't know about the chemical pod. Is that related to the rollers you think? I'll try and find instructions on how to maintain the camera...it has been in someone's attic for years.

I have a normal brown SX-70 Land Camera

That picture was handheld, we did what we could with the focus but we were just trying it out!

[peirceman]

Thanks for sharing these. I had just read about the impossible project not too long ago and was thinking of getting some film. This just might be the nudge I need.

Scott

[InakiR]

They have some great stuff, a bit expensive (understandably) but nice products and accessories.

[NJMurphy]

Interesting, I thought that dark spot was something pressing on the film, didn't know about the chemical pod. Is that related to the rollers you think? I'll try and find instructions on how to maintain the camera...it has been in someone's attic for years.

I have a normal brown SX-70 Land Camera

That picture was handheld, we did what we could with the focus but we were just trying it out!

There is a pod of developing chemicals in the bottom of the film (that 3/4 inch white space). When the film is ejected from the camera this part comes out first, and is forced between two rollers that break the pod by squeezing it, then as the film comes out, the rollers spread it across the undersurface where it reacts with the paste coating the film and begins the development process.

Those dark spots can indicate that the mylar surface was stuck to the underlying paste, so no developing chemicals coated that part of the film. Or the film was buckling slightly on the way out.

Dirt on the rollers (usually bits of chemicals that have leaked out) will prevent the rollers from giving an even squeeze, which in turn will cause the lines and streaks you see in the final print. Cotton swabs and warm water will clean most of that.

When you say 'normal brown' model, is it a folding model? The early versions of these had a split screen focus check in the middle of the viewfinder (since it was an SLR), but even with that, the viewfinders were pretty dark. Later models, as well as the Sonar Auto Focus, didn't have this feature. Polaroid One Step models were fixed focus; usually four feet to infinity.

For the record, I have two folding SX-70's; an original and a Sonar, as well as a One Step. My favorite use for them was doing manipulations, i.e., messing with the emulsion before it had set, for impressionist and surrealistic effects. Some of what I've done can be seen here: www.vangoghlaroids.com (http://www.vangoghlaroids.com) (I'm not sure if this can be done with the IP films; but I intend to stop by their New York location later this spring to find out.)

[InakiR]

Cool, yes folding and split screen focus. I'll try and get a good cleaning of the rollers today and see what is up.

[InakiR]

I took at it when I was home for a few minutes, there is some white gunk on the rollers but VERY little. I do think that the top roller is "bowed" and that may be a part of my problem. Have you ever seen this? Can it be replaced/repaired?

Thanks!

[InakiR]

4685OK I cleaned the rollers and that worked fine...for one picture. The next slide kind of got stuck and the counter got stuck between counts. We emptied that film and stuck in the B&W one and it went insane. Basically now pretty much anything we do (close it, open it, even open the tray) releases the shutter on it. At one point it seemed like the front was slightly off kilter and one side was higher than the rest. Also, the shutter stopped opening.

I've attached a pic of the front of it. Its odd, this only became apparent when we put the new roll of film in.

[NJMurphy]

There is definitely something wrong with that camera. It looks to me like someone tried to shut it without first releasing the strut on the left-hand side.

For those unawares, there's only one strut keeping the camera open, one of the design flaws in the folding model. (Another design flaw being the proximity of the bellows to the user's shutter hand; for me it was always a conscious effort to keep from poking a finger into the bellows.)

These cameras were always pretty fragile, and this problem may well be why it wound up in someones attic for thirty-five years.

If you want to continue playing with Polaroid film, I'd suggest finding a One-Step model; the non-folding models use a regular viewfinder, and some have a built-in flash. Or see of you can find a Spectra model. I have one of those, too. That one lets you work in a rectangular format.

And as for your initial exposure issues, you should read through this part of their website (http://shop.the-impossible-project.com/allabout/colorshade/); they admit that their version isn't exactly like the Polaroid film of yore.

[Trick]

Yeah, your camera is definitely on the fritz. Good news is that you can get a new SX-70 still reasonably priced. If you want one that is guaranteed to work, then buy directly from The Impossible Project. Each camera they sell has been serviced by an ex-Polaroid repairman and he kicks butt.

And I will disagree with NJMurphy. Get a folding SX-70 (Sonar is the best). It has a MUCH better lens and is a much better built camera than anything else Polaroid made in this type of film.

I've shot a bunch of this film from the beginning and have learned quite a bit about it...and LOVE it, even though it's expensive and sometimes hard to work with. I've even been profiled on their site for my work with putting their film into my Mamiya RB67 and shooting it that way:
http://blog.the-impossible-project.com/viewfinder-patrick-j-clarke-searching-for-the-soul

As far as your initial shots...I am guessing that you bought 600 speed film for your SX-70. The SX-70 was designed for ISO 100 film (TIP calls it PX70) and when you put in PX600 film, the camera can't meter the change. It's easy to fix tho. TIP sells an ND filter that goes over the pack before you put it in the camera and that's what I do. You still might need some L/D adjustment, but it works very well. You can also shoot PX70 film, but I find the PX600 and PX680 films are a little more contrasty and vibrant.

The "Divot" at the top is due to the age of your camera...here's a tutorial on how to remedy that...but hopefully your new camera won't have that problem.
http://blog.the-impossible-project.com/avoiding-the-notorious-undelveloped-patch

It's cool to see this kind of work on PopPhoto tho, keep it up!