I hope you have noticed our love of all things Polaroid here at the Mortal Muses. I was given my first Polaroid camera in the summer of 2011. But figuring out how to get the best from old Polaroid cameras (which have been gathering dust in attics for years) and new kinds of film (made by Impossible Project) is far from easy. After several false starts and much heartache, I feel I’m on track, with more than a little help from my friends Christy, Debra, Lindsey and Meghan. So this is the blog post I wish I could have read when I started out. It’s like a message to my former self, and I hope you will find it helpful if you are thinking of giving Polaroids a try. Here are the five tips I wish I had known at the start of my adventure with Polaroids!
1. There are three main sorts of Polaroid camera.
And they all use different kinds of film! There are Polaroid type 600 series, the Polaroid type SX-70 and the Image/Spectra cameras. The folding SX-70 type is a design classic—its elegant design inspired Steve Jobs—which means the cameras are now cult collectibles. The chunkier 600 series cameras are easier to get hold of and are a good place to start your Polaroid adventure. I have a 660 with autofocus. Yes, it may take up a fair amount of room in my bag, but it’s light and I get good results the majority of the time (see above). I have had a series of disasters while trying to buy a more elegant SX-70, and if you want to buy one I suggest you get one from a dealer who has serviced and checked it properly. This costs more than buying a camera on eBay, but you can be sure than it will work. I bought an SX-70 from a seller in the US, which meant paying extra postage and customs duty, but it was unreliable and I’m now having it serviced by a dealer in London. Given the high cost of film (around $4 US a shot) you really don’t want to be wasting it in a camera that’s not working properly. To further complicate things, each of these three types of camera uses a different kind of film, so check that you have the right sort of film for your camera before you hit the buy button. You need PX-680 film to go with a 600 series camera, PX-70 with an SX-70 and PZ-600 film for a Spectra camera. Just to confuse matters, you can also use PX-680 in an SX-70 camera, but only if it has been fitted with a neutral-density filter. So if you are starting out, go for a 600-series camera that has been properly tested and buy PX-680 film. And remember that you can get the equivalent black-and-white films for each of the cameras too!
2. Store the film in the fridge. Once you have bought your camera and film, remember that the film should be stored in the fridge before you use it. Impossible Project recommend letting it warm up for an hour before putting it in your camera.
3. Shield your film. Unlike original Polaroid film, the Impossible Project film needs to be kept in the dark for a few minutes after exposure. (Impossible Project have recently released their new colour-protection film which is not as fussy about being shielded as soon as it comes out of the camera—but it doesn’t hurt to be careful anyway.) After messing around with cardboard boxes and envelopes I eventually bought a frog tongue for my 660 (which clips into place and cleverly unrolls to shield images as they emerge from the camera) and the dark slide for my SX-70 (a fixed flap which does the same thing). After a few minutes I take a peek at the image, and after 10 minutes or so I transfer it to a box or an envelope where it can continue to develop in the dark. Failing that, put it in an inside pocket, or face down on a table. After about 30 minutes the image will have finished developing. And remember the film tends to work better between 15-25 degrees Celsius (55-77 degrees Fahrenheit) so in the winter months the colder film will tend to underdevelop. Impossible sells a cold clip but the easiest solution is to use your body heat to warm up the freshly ejected image after exposure by tucking it into your armpit for a bit.
4. Think about your exposure. If you have an SX-70 you will need to reduce the exposure time by dialling darker on the exposure wheel, otherwise the image will be overexposed. You don’t need to do this with the 600-series cameras, but you may need to experiment with the exposure to get the best results: move the slider towards the dark arrow if you want your image darker and towards the light arrow if you want your image to be lighter. (This means that in bright light you move the image towards the dark arrow, and in the dark you move it towards the light arrow, which can be confusing.) I’m still learning how to manage the exposures of my images as I get to know my camera better, so keep experimenting with yours until you get a feel for it. Also, I find that Polaroid images are better if they are lit from the front (sun behind you). Backlighting is not your friend when it comes to Polaroids.
5. Storing your Polaroids. You get just eight shots per pack of film. Some of your first pack will be total triumphs and some will not. Remember to store the exposed images away from light. I store mine in a shoebox, with ribbon around each set of images. When we go on holiday I like to lay them out to make a gradually expanding collage, which I then shoot with a digital camera. If you have a scanner you’ll want to scan your favourite Polaroids, both to share online in the short term and to preserve them for the long term.
If you’re thinking of giving Polaroids a try, I hope this post will help and inspire you, and that you will soon be as addicted as we are! In an age of digital perfection, there’s something peculiarly satisfying about getting a really great exposure from a mechanical, chemical system. You can see how much fun I had with my Polaroids in Crete, just this past week. (These were shot with my 660, with a mixture of original and colour-protection PX-680 film.)
Kirstin of fleeting moments.
Great post, Kirstin – I wish someone had explained the exposure dial to me like this when I started shooting Polaroids last year! It just seems counter-intuitive to me somehow that you move the wheel/slider towards the dark to compensate for bright light and vice versa.
Excellent post! Finally I find a concise post that gives the facts straight and to the point. Bravo!
soooo well done and helpful. can you remind me, because others may also have the question, which way to slide the slider for an image that is backlit?
Cara, such a good question and I’m probably not the best person to answer. My gut feeling is to make the image lighter, either by sliding the exposure wheel towards the light side or use flash!
Yay Kirstin! I’m all for building an army of Polaroid Nerds! Trial and error will always be part of the charm of Polaroid shooting but these tips will surely be helpful to anyone getting into the game.
Such useful help. Polaroids are great cameras and completely magical to see your shot come right out of the camera. Very reassuring to a new user to know that their first shots might not all work, I was devastated when some of mine didn’t and like Jenny, found it odd to turn the dial to dark when it was light and vice versa.
Thanks for the tips Kirstin. Despite the high cost of the film, once that first frame ejects from the camera it’s easy to get hooked. Hoping to try the new film this weekend.
Wow, this is timely! I just won a SX-70 off eBay (ha!) and am awaiting its arrival. The seller does say that it is in great condition but that they do not know if it works so it was a risky purchase and after reading your post it’s quite possible I will have to send it out for further servicing. I was happy to find one that also came with accessories… tripod mount, self-timer, leather case and electronic flash. So we’ll see when the Impossible Project film arrives whether or not I got a sweet deal.
I also have a 600 One Step (actually 2) that I found at a local antiques show. My results have been all over the place. I’m wishing that there was a forum or I had other enthusiasts close by who could give me feedback as to what is happening when it goes wrong.
Thanks so much for this post, I will refer back to it in the coming days once I receive my SX-70.
Wonderful post Kirsten! I could have used this last week! Luckily, I had several Polaroid experts on hand to give me advice, but now I have a place to come back to for reference!
Wow! This is a great post Kirstin!
My birthday was 1st November. Presents had to wait till we got home from holiday in the US.
Guess what? It was worth the waiting! Eric got me two Polaroid camera’s. The folding SX-70 and the ‘one step’/1000. With lots of film. Not serviced. Eric hasn’t read your post :-D. It seems that the SX-70 is offered a lot on Dutch sites. But it is a good start to start playing. Loved Polaroid at Oasis.
Now I miss the sun and colourful scenes.
xo
Jolanda
Hey guys…I’m a newbie to polaroid, I’ve got a polaroid supercolour 635, after taking the first 4 pictures…one came out dark, one came out half light and half dark, the another 2 pretty much the same. I was wondering if this is because; of me? The film? The camera? And how do I improve this? Thanks guys
hi, i’m having the same problem at the moment and i was wondering if you figured out how to fix it
Rate from 1-10 (10 being the highest) the sharpness of the photos. I’m planning to buy Polaroid 660 soon, i just want to know if the photos would be as clear as i hope for it to be and not blurry or anything like that. Would mean a lot if you answer this! : )
also are there adjustment settings for the brightness of the photos especially when you shoot indoors?
Hi! Should you store the film in the fridge even if you have used it? ( like 3 shoots) or is it ok to store it in the camera until you are going to use it again? 🙂
I probably would. It doesn’t hurt to keep it cold.
I’ve just bought the one step 600 and after trying all 8 films, all but one were a disaster. This polaroid game is a hard game but I’m new and I will not give up on it. I wish I seen your advice earlier. Lesson learnt and onwards and upwards
Got myself an SX-70 off craigslist from an older gentleman camera collector for $10. So yes, the film costs more than the camera and the first package of 600 film I used without a filter was kinda sketchy for a first time user, but this helped for sure. I’ll look forward to experimenting with it in the future.
what happen if u didn’t store them in the fridge
and use them straight away. and I have a new version it’s a Polaroid and I’m new at this so yeah
it’s a Polaroid 300 by the way the camera I got
what should i do if i don’t want to use the film in my camera right away.. do i put my whole camera in the fridge
You can put the dark slide back onto the top of the pack of film and use it another time. Or just leave it in the camera for when you’re ready to shoot!
Hey, when I take my polaroid shots, a weird, dark, possibly overexposed (I say this because I do a lot of traditional darkroom photography, and overexposed 35mm film has a similar appearance to this) blotch of film remains at the top edge of the photo. I’ve attempted cleaning the rollers, which seemed to help some, but it did not resolve the problem completely. The shape and size of the blotches are seemingly unpredictable. I’ve sought help from other sites, but no one seems to mention this malfunction…any ideas?
Also, if you ever get the chance to respond to this, I have another question or two. Thanks!
Hey Rachel,
Do you mean a brown blob? If that is what you mean. A brown blob is created when you’re rollers aren’t tight enough. It means that the film chemicals aren’t rolled out till the end of your photo. You can fix this problem to remove the door and put another door in. (If you have got a foldable ex-70). You can find doors online probably, or ask Impossible Project. Removing and adding a door is really easy. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much!
Hello Rachel, just as Jolanda said. It’s to do with the chemical not being spread out evenly enough. Do let me know if you have any more questions. Try *contacting* the muses and that should get to me.
Thank you for your help. I had one more additional question. My shots tend to have a pattern in their resulting quality: the regular color of the photograph is interrupted by a lighter stripe in the middle. It almost looks as if the photo is subtly divided into thirds, with the left and right portions resembling each other in color and value while the middle portion seems to have lighter, more saturated color. Any idea what that’s about?
thank you very much but do u know what the problem is when the whole picture comes out white? im having a lot of trouble thank you once again Kristin!!!!!
Oh no! Have you tried the film with different cameras? Sounds like it’s the camera and not the film.
I am having the same exact problem as Stella: “…the regular color of the photograph is interrupted by a lighter stripe in the middle. It almost looks as if the photo is subtly divided into thirds, with the left and right portions resembling each other in color and value while the middle portion seems to have lighter, more saturated color. Any idea what that’s about?” Thanks.
Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. It’s either the rollers that need cleaning, or it’s an uneven distribution of the film within the pack.
Great post Kirstin its so helpfull! Thank you for all the good information 🙂
It’s a pleasure!
Hey Kristin! I have the same polaroid 660 autofocus and i’ve had it for almost a year now but recently it seems like it’s dying out when I try to take a picture the little red light comes on like the flash is starting up but I don’t hear the winding up noise and when I snap to take a picture it just doesn’t work. Let me know if you have any suggestions or tips on what I should do! Thanks!!
It sounds as if the battery might have died in that pack of film. It’s probably worth trying a new pack of film!
Hi there I am just wondering if anyone could help me here, it’s been a good 20years or so since last using a Polaroid as a kid and don’t remember it bring so hard,
I have take 4 pictures and all have came out very dark blue and don’t seem to develop anymore any help would be great thank you
Hello guys, please can someone help? I have just bought a Polaroid 600 on eBay without doing prior research (yes not very wise!) now I’m reading that the 600 film takes 30mins to develop – is this right? What would be the best Polaroid and film to get for quicker development, I wanted it for my wedding guest book. Thanks so much for any suggestions!
I just got a Polaroid 600 One Step for free and I’m planning on giving it to my best friend as a wedding gift to use in her wedding. I didn’t know that the 600 had a long developing time, I thought all Polaroids had an instant developing time once it was spit out of the camera?
Just a great thing! look at http://www.deselfiestick.nl
Amazong post! I freaked out when my first photo game out looking like an ultrasound. I got it Now! 🙂
Hi guys, I just purchased a polaroid 635 supercolor LM. I am very new to the whole polaroid experience. First photo was cream with brown blob (after standing still for a few years maybe it just needed a start-up, second photo was fully cream coloured and nothing else. Photos after that were fine, not over exposed, good colouring, sharp and clear but …. the photos seem to have a line at the bottom (not a consist one) changes per photo. As if the last bit has not had the opportunity to develop properly. Line is a creamy color. Any ideas?
Can I ask where in London is servicing you SX-70 I have found one white SX-70 model 2 in the loft but don’t want to waste money on film until I know it works. And would prefer to have it serviced before I attempt anything
I use Sendean.
What Polaroid camera do you recommend among the three types? Polaroid type 600 series, the Polaroid type SX-70 or the Image/Spectra cameras?
This website helped me decide: http://danfinnen.com/article/buying-guide-for-used-polaroid-cameras/
“2. Store the film in the fridge. Once you have bought your camera and film, remember that the film should be stored in the fridge before you use it. Impossible Project recommend letting it warm up for an hour before putting it in your camera.”
How long do you keep in the film in the fridge?
how do you get it centered? for some reason my camera doesn’t seem to get my pictures centered
Trial and error, I’m afraid.
I have many polaroid pictures. My parents honeymoon pics from 1959 stood up better than the modern ones. The ones with the paper borders are fading. But.. I have some pics taken with a friends phone that is completely smooth on the front and the colors are as vibrant as the day taken. Can you tell me what type if camera that would have been? I dont like the ones with the paper borders. If only we could go back to the ones that you had to peel apart and apply the fixative. For pics to be clear since 1959 they must have been better than most monern cameras.
Wow, I really am caught in the present… Taken with a Friends CAMERA is what I meant. Sorry.
Thank You! I was looking at a Polaroid sun 600 and this has definitely helped me with the small issues that would’ve had a HUGE impact. I thank you again and keeping takin’ pictures!
you stink
Hi. I just love all of the comments. I bought a Polaroid for myself 3 days after Christmas. I am new to all of this. Can you please give me some advice about how to take a good picture with the Polaroid 600? Thank you so much
I just got a Instax mini 8 and my first few photos were great but I am now later on the pack of film and my pictures arn’t developing. Do you have a way to fix it? Or is there something I’m doing wrong?
Hi! I was just wondering where you think the best place to order a 660 with autofocus would be? Ive been wanting one for years but ive never been completely sure where the best place would be to order one. Thank you for all the advice as well! It’s really very helpful.
Can you make picture appear after it has nearly appeared?
What if I would use the 600 film in a SX-70 polaroid camera and brighten the picture? Does that kinda replace a flash? 😀
Great read!! Just bought film for my first Sun 600! Excited for results 🙂
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I just got given 2 old Polaroid one600’s and 3 newly sealed film packs.
Places one into the camera and fired off a test shot….half the photo is still shiney (I.e undeveloped?) The film boxes are dated 01/2008 but had been stored in a cupboard since. Any ideas? Film or camera issue
I have a Polaroid 420 land camera. What time of film do I need?
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