What Polaroid SX-70 is the best? Beginners must watch this.

27 thoughts on “What Polaroid SX-70 is the best? Beginners must watch this.”

1. I had initially planned on this being a 10 minute video… That didn't work so well… Still, I recommend listening to my points if you want a decent understanding on these cameras

   Chapters for those that want to skip around:
   00:15 – Intro
   01:35 – Why good info is hard to find
   06:33 – Define "best"
   08:56 – Why ALL folding SLRs have identical performance
   12:00 – Differences between models
   14:34 – Autofocus cameras
   19:23 – The SLR680 (aka – a 600 Sonar with built-in flash)
   20:47 – A case of PROS and CONS
   29:24 – Summary slide
   29:35 – So which one is best? One that is….
   37:56 – Potential video on how to chose a technician?
   39:10 – Special mention – the Model 3
   39:56 – Special mention – the SLR690
   40:38 – Outro
   41:30 – BONUS – SLR680 vs Sonar + Mint Flashbar

2. Do all of these SX-70 style polaroids have a glass lens? I remember hearing rumors that some later ones switched to plastic lenses. Also what about the ones with blue shutter buttons instead of red? Is there any difference with those models? Thanks!

3. I really appreciate this video! Lots of great info

4. Thanks man! 😀

5. I miss shooting my dad’s 103 and 104. Pack film was so cool. He got us a OneStep in that iconic white & rainbow 🌈 design but I did enjoy the pack film too. I briefly had a 180 that was effectively free but then Fuji killed the film packs within a year. I sold it while it was still worth something. I wouldn’t mind an FP-1 even if just to gaze upon it.

6. 8:11 the internet says the best is the Nikon F3. ChatGPT says the FM2. Same difference. I have both anyways. There will be those who proclaim the red dot 🔴. But I’ve been keeping my New F-1 and RTS by my bedside lately. 😊

7. 3:22 well…. If you’re gonna work against all of the limitations that iOS puts in the way vs the desktop (a recent podcast went into how “everyone says now the iPad is like the MacBook and I say no wait they are so different even with the hardware being closer than ever before”). What can I say about the T480? Well it’s value pro just just up because it’s running Linux. But it still doesn’t do anything for me. I live 8 hours a day on a cube pc for email and Teams and Word and occasionally Excel, but the “work” is done on a RHEL machine (several). But the custom apps on the RHEL system are klunky and I swear that Office Space character took the specifications to the engineers (cuz he’s a people person!) and what we got was the bare minimum of effort. 🫤

8. My first model was a SX70-Sonnar, but after using it for a while, I really wanted one that could use 600 film for lower light because even on overcast days, the Sonnar would give me blurry shots. I was lucky to get a couple of well taken care of 680s at a great price, and they've been really great for 4+ years now. Personally I'd rather start with one that can take 600 film and then when something fails, have it refurbished like a 680. Right now though my mission is to fix my Special Events 4 camera.

9. I'm so happy I found your channel after going into a whole rabbit hole of information I cannot wait to to get sx-70 especially since we had to sell my old one to pay bills but I can't wait to get another one

10. Videos so addicting I bought a sx-70 😔

11. do you know if it is an easy fix to replace the sonar autofocus on an impulse af? i ended up scratched the left side of the metal plate with an exacto knife and im getting blurry shots

12. I have a sx-70 sonar and it’s treated me very well as the best middle ground price wise. compared to the best of the best with an upgraded pcb it’s not too bad. Plus I got a skin from a supplier you recommend and kept your tips in mind when putting it on. I don’t have the resources nor the skill to do a breakdown of these cameras like you do, and you explain everything so well with respects and great knowledge on the history of Polaroid cameras of all eras. Also my rinky dink non slr sx-70 looks the exact same way lol down to the color and the cracks 😂 mines got a broken motor but I don’t care it’s a nice prop

13. I was one of the questioners!

    Thanks for the video. You are great!

14. 23:55 As someone who works on and maintains their own car, I have a '95 Nissan Pathfinder and am so thankful for how much more simple it is to take apart compared to modern cars. On top of how much more reliable it is compared to all the modern ones. Totally worth the lower mileage

15. Q; Which SX-70 is the best?
    A: The one that is fully overhauled.

16. Thank you for this, can’t wait to get into this! Appreciate it good sir

17. Some SX-70 Model 3s had strap lugs and no tripod mount.

18. Love you Jake, the best Polaroid technician in the world!// Kamil (@theburiedherald)

19. Fantastic video, thank you! Actually recently I asked you in Reddit about the SX70 models differences and you kindly gave me an answer which I saved, because yeah I'm new to SX70 and when I started just looking to first buy one and eventually send it to you, I came across so many models as you said: "model 1, 2, alpha, executive, store_name" etc etc… so I was like: "oh boy, so many, what are the differences?", so that's I saved your answer and here you elaborate even further, this is really a very useful video. Hope everyone looking to get a SX70 gets to see this.

20. Would be interesting to find out how much film a typical SX-70 user goes through per year. I would guess maybe 5 packs?

21. Best SX-70 is the Model 3, Jake is lying to us all

22. So if someone is going to have an SX-70 refurbished by someone like you, should they just buy the cheapest one they can find on eBay and send it on to you, or should they look for a certain condition or characteristics to arrive at a less expensive or less involved refurbishment when the camera comes to you?

23. The best one is the lest expensive working example you can get your hands on, especially if it's found at a garage sale or estate sale, loved by the original owner! (Except for the SLR690, we all know that thing is a POS).

24. The appearance was important to me. I don't shoot that often, but the camera is always on the shelf. That's why I chose the early Model 1. I like the combination of chrome and leather, and I like the lines on the lens instead of the distance scale.
    P.S. Still, I gave the camera a full CLA and replaced the PCB with an SX-70r.

25. There’s some oddball Model 3R cameras that have strap lugs and no tripod hole. So that an option for a bottom panel. 19:00

26. wake up babe new ticg video dropped

27. Great video, Jake! Thank you for breaking it all down, I learnt a lot!

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