Polaroid SX-70: Now Upgraded With Bluetooth, Manual Shutter Speeds & More

50 thoughts on “Polaroid SX-70: Now Upgraded With Bluetooth, Manual Shutter Speeds & More”

1. What a video Linus! I've never seen any of my cameras featured in a video with such high production quality before!

   I'll try hang around the comments here for a while and answer questions for anyone curious. Here are a few FAQs and a few links to follow:
   – at the moment my workshop gets booked out very quickly, and I am doing refurbs in 'seasons' at the moment. Currently I'm booked out (no part in thanks to Linus sending me like 20 cameras on his own!) but aim to be accepting orders again in August
   – I've already been slammed with requests about Sonar Auto focus cameras. I'd like to point out that Sonar IS an amazing feature. However, it's also another source of failure for a 50 year old camera. The AF unit adds a substantial amount of complexity, and while great, can add significant cost to repair if it breaks. Manual focus cameras are inherently more reliable because they are nowhere near as complicated.
   – Yongmin Lu is the SX-70R creator. I didn't invent the board, but I DID invent the calibration method used on the shutter to guarantee the best possible exposures. I've worked with Yongmin for well over a year at this point, and he's implemented countless improvements to the boards based on my feedback
   – The app is currently rolling out a new version with half stop shutter speeds! So stay tuned for that!
   – The 20 000RPM motor I added for Linus is good fun. On earlier cameras I use a 16000RPM motor because they are gentler on the early model geartrains. The real key to good developer spread has more to do with consistency, and in both cases my new motors drastically help improve camera reliability.

   More info on the SX-70R PCBs I use:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTm0L0xm6Cc

   More info on the PolaVolt:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8RvxlTctgU

2. This is such a great Video. i‘ve also fallen in love with Polaroid Kameras since i‘ve been Twelve (now 17) and have about 12 Polaroid Kameras but have not shot that many Film Cassettes because ive only been making my own money since 15 yo. just sad that there isnt really a budget friendly way to mod my 680 caus only sending it to enywhere outside Europe costs a fortune. i hope to see more of these kinds of videos (and also see the prices drop on them cams 😉 )

3. Well I had decided to send my SX-70 Sonar to Retrospekt, but now you’ve got me questioning myself. Do I spend almost double to send my camera to Australia now?

4. When the autofocus stopped working, were you able to switch to manual focus? Or was it totally stuck?

5. Awesome video! Hey do you have an opinion regarding AF or not AF? I'm looking at getting a SX70 and having it modified, but I can't decide between AF or not. Im struggling between utility vs design. I love the look without the AF, the angular look and that it's more compact. BUT, I hate the idea of ruining shots because the focus was a little off. I'm torn…..wondering if you have thoughts about that since you have both.

6. Hi, Incredible video! Where do you buy it?

7. I started out with a polaroid go and have been wanting to go for a next step and this seems very awesome to go for. Your video cleary talks about the overhual and upgrades showing examples of how you are using this with apps and other accessories real explains everything to a noob like me. Even the portrait sessions shiw me hiw to use this and think of ways to go further with it. I love this and thank you for making this video.

8. Sx70 film is not 160 iso. Its 600 with an ND layer

9. Hi! 18:55 mint flash bar on what position? 600? And you use 600 film?

10. Is there someone that does this here in the states?

11. I have always wanted one of these cameras, but was always put off by the age and unreliability they can bring, now I REALLY want one now

12. Now do u like I-2 more or the sx70R with flash?

13. Had NO idea there was itype conversion mods for the sx70. Wild

14. I still recommend a frog tongue.

15. Had me until Australia lol

16. Sold! I’ll be sending mine in

17. Sorry, but people like you would have to be held accountable for their false statements and misrepresentation. Why the hell do you tell your viewers, who trust you and think you're a pro, that the SX-70 is capable of shooting up to a 1/8000s when this is not mechanically possible at all or only with a considerable effort? It is not enough to replace the motherboard.

    This is cheating and unfortunately it's a shame that either you didn't really find out how the aperture shutter technology of the SX70 is connected and works, or you're speculating that none of your viewers understands.

    You should make a video as soon as possible by correcting everything and protecting other viewers of your channel from falling for your false statements and spending money on something that is actually a lie.

18. when you're shooting with models, are they paid gigs or just for fun and YouTube content?

19. amazing work.

20. I’m really glad I got my cameras out to Jake before you published your video! He will be busy through the rest of the year! Great video and kudos to your love of instant film!

21. Brooo the b&w studio shots were amaazing!! Especially love the backlit shot with the flash😍🔥

22. No one else is splicing super 16mm footage into a YouTube video so effortlessly and it shows

23. Awesome

24. the e30 mentioned 😍

25. Good to see you back Linus

26. LETS GOOOOO!!1!1!1

    found you through jake! this is probably one of the best videos about my beloved camera out there ~~~

27. Can Polaroid update the i-2 to have the same exposure accuracy? 🤭

28. Nice video. Anyone in the US do these conversions? The Itype cameras can also take 600 film. The 600 comes out better in the Itype camera in my opinion. Reminds me of Holgamods.

29. Got any recommendations for an American repair person? Not trying to sound rude, I just don't got Australian dollars

30. Incredible research and effort went into this one. Great work!

31. My busted ass SX70 sonar sitting on the shelf watching me watch this 👁️👄👁️

32. I have the same camera SX70 but I can’t take pictures like the way you did 😅

    Any recommendations for flash ? I can buy

33. Jake is literally the Polaroid wizard, and this video was excellent – so well done and I know how expensive it would have been to shoot that much Polaroid film but man you got some incredible shots!!

34. Hey Linus! Are there any cheaper alternatives for Polaroid camera models that are fully automatic that you think would give similar results?

35. oh look a video about a camera, better buy yours while you still can

36. you never disappoint

37. Dude! Great video. Killer work and very informative about modernizing old cameras, stoked you’ve gotten so deep into the Polaroid world. It was great meeting you at Pola-Con, wish we could have nerded out about double exposures a bit more!

38. Got my sx-70 for 20 dollars. I wish I had the cash to get it overhauled. Its not cheap (understandably)

39. omg finally he's back!

40. Question: for studio, you were using continuous lighting? There's no strobe trigger capability with the app, right? New motherboard is a great leap forward.

41. I’m also noticing that the film looks so much more pink’ish for you than for me. I live in Norway and I-type film turns out much more green/blue’ish.

42. Dang you’re so good! And I can’t believe the camera can do 1/8000s! My TL70 Plus can only do 1/500 and I need nd filters in some situations. How do you feel about the SX70 vs the I-2? Do you still have the I-2?

43. It's not a film camera idiot. It's an instant photo camera.

44. Figures I learn about this mod 3 days after selling my SX-70 😂😂

45. Man these cameras are so beautiful. I really want the white one… The only issue is I don't particularly like the current film 😢

46. Wow Linus

47. What do you think about this Sonar's autofocus? It it really that great and accurate? I plan to buy my first SX 70 and would I rather choose the classic one or the Sonar version?

48. Dam, I was looking for a place to convert my grandpa’s in Australia last video you made. Didn’t realise the best guy was already in Aus! Will need to check him out. Great vid the photos look so much cleaner than regular Polaroid

49. Damn it.. And now I want one.. 😅

50. I genuinely didn’t know it was possible to get Polaroids that sharp until you showed me a few of these. So crazy

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