Polaroid SX-70 Tips & Tricks Bonanza - The ultimate guide to using your camera

Chuck this on in the background, sit back, relax and listen to a whole bunch of good tips!

This episode has been something I've wanted to do for some time. Reading the SX-70 Instruction manual to people, since nobody seems to ever bother!

Links to PDFs where you can download your own copy of a manual are below.

Like what I do? Find this video helpful or entertaining?
Feel free to buy me a beer (or two!):

*Getting artifacts in the video? For best quality, manually select 1080p quality, as depending on your bandwidth, YouTube may default to 720p - and YouTube's 720p compression looks like garbage*

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Chapters:
00:15 - Introduction
01:20 - How to open and close the camera
02:03 - Parts of the camera
03:44 - The film
04:49 - The light/dark wheel basics
05:46 - Far or near, just focus and shoot!
06:30 - Flash range
08:35 - How to hold the camera
09:58 - Focusing
16:44 - The distance scale
18:13 - Pointers to help you focus
19:46 - Loading film
21:12 - Developing of MODERN film
22:14 - Daylight pictures
24:41 - The light/dark wheel basics in depth
26:03 - A tip if your L/D wheel isn't working right
26:57 - Temperature and development
27:40 - Flash pictures
32:27 - More tips for flash photos
36:33 - Close up photos
39:37 - "Available light" indoor photos
41:57 - Using the SX-70 to reproduce art
43:27 - Long exposures
46:11 - Extreme temperature
46:50 - Care and maintenance
50:00 - Storing film
53:18 - Please don't shake your pictures
55:30 - Tips to prevent fading
57:26 - Basic troubleshooting for jams
1:01:28 - My top tip
1:02:42 - Common picture issues
1:07:10 - Customer service stuff
1:08:20 - Where to find the manuals
1:09:44 - Outro and thanks!

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Links to PDFs:

SX-70 Sonar manual:

Quick reference guide:

SX-70 Model 1:

SX-70 Alpha:

SX-70 Model 3:

SX-70 Quick Start Guide:

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Got a Polaroid that needs some love? Hit me up!

[theinstantcameraguy]

Chapters:
00:15 - Introduction
01:20 - How to open and close the camera
02:03 - Parts of the camera
03:44 - The film
04:49 - The light/dark wheel basics
05:46 - Far or near, just focus and shoot!
06:30 - Flash range
08:35 - How to hold the camera
09:58 - Focusing
16:44 - The distance scale
18:13 - Pointers to help you focus
19:46 - Loading film
21:12 - Developing of MODERN film
22:14 - Daylight pictures
24:41 - The light/dark wheel basics in depth
26:03 - A tip if your L/D wheel isn't working right
26:57 - Temperature and development
27:40 - Flash pictures
32:27 - More tips for flash photos
36:33 - Close up photos
39:37 - "Available light" indoor photos
41:57 - Using the SX-70 to reproduce art
43:27 - Long exposures
46:11 - Extreme temperature
46:50 - Care and maintenance
50:00 - Storing film
53:18 - Please don't shake your pictures
55:30 - Tips to prevent fading
57:26 - Basic troubleshooting for jams
1:01:28 - My top tip
1:02:42 - Common picture issues
1:07:10 - Customer service stuff
1:08:20 - Where to find the manuals
1:09:44 - Outro and thanks!

[nikko]

We need a niche content creator like this for reading manuals, back of shampoo, how to cook noodles, legal notices, warranty etc. for use to be able deeply at night. 🌑

[erickespinoza]

A read along. You should read other manuals for bedtime 😊😂. Great video!

[gabvideo]

First class video for all new sx70 users and also more experience users too. It seems that today’s tech/camera (and all other consumer products) users have lost the art of reading the manual first if my experience of reading posts on Reddit/instagram/facebook etc. Polaroid have a very good support section on their web too covering camera/film issues.

[gd]

It was an amazing film! Not so much today... being kind...

[WhoIsSerafin]

Wanted to mention I’ve found and just bought two NOS Button Polaroids. And have everything I need on the way to do your battery conversion and make it use I type film. I got two cameras in case I brick one. Anyways we communicated a little about buying one of yours but just thought it would be more fun and I would appreciate the camera more if I do it myself. If successful with the first one I’m definitely sending you some cash for the video tutorial you provided. If not I’m sending you the second camera 😂

[LitchiBorrower]

Had no idea about the trick you share at 45:06 for long exposures, it's very cool ! Do you know if it also works for 600 box cameras ?

[McCoyFromSpace]

Due to the time difference between the US and AUS, for me it’s Reading the Instructions like it’s the Morning Paper 😂

[ashleetough]

Tuck in that blanket, grab that hot choccie, Polaroid Bedtime Compendium is here and I'm ready for an instant slumber