I-Type Film in SX-70: Polaroid 600 Custom Battery Holder Mod demo

Slim external power solution for SX-70 cameras and CB-70 integral film backs. Helps preserve the SX-70’s compact handling without a bulky power solution. The thickness is just below that of a AAA battery on its own. This is primarily a DIY application with free files and instructions coming soon. I might offer the plastic holder for those without 3D printers, but that’s TBD due to a lot of commission demand on retrofitting SX-70’s with these right now.
The camera body is not harmed, just remove part of the bottom covering or make the necessary holes in the covering to access the power terminals. The tripod socket is not needed and will be blocked with this approach. I don’t personally use the tripod with 600 ISO but maybe I’ll make a bracket with ARCA plate if there’s enough demand.
Capacity is 750mAh. Compare this with OneStep cameras that are reportedly 1100mAh and can shoot 15-20 film packs. In theory this solution lets your shoot 8-12 packs or 64-96 frames. [Update, this varies with SX-70 because of extra power required for the mirror and can be as low as 2-3 packs per reused battery.]
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Free files here (older revisions): www.printables.com/@SPRKPLG/m...
Exclusive & test files, updated revs, giveaways: / sprkplg
Blog & Store: sprkplg.com/

[@JustAnotherChris]

This is awesome! I would love to see a full breakdown of this setup or a build video

[@xXDJllamap3tt3rXx]

mAh is pronounced milliamp hours. Thanks for sharing this design!

[@vekofoto]

wow! thanks for this! this is amazing, much more ergonomic than my DIY mod with 4 AA batteries

[@kabaottoemulsion1869]

That is a good one! Thanks for the idea! I might do one.

[@Valkalium]

The replacement leatherette on your camera is crazy fine! Did you find it somewhere to buy or custom replaced it from a larger sheet yourself? The larger grain + black on black looks great!

[@richardt1792]

You might want to check to see if your DYI project can be 3D printed so you can put it into production. I see that many 3D mods are available related to instant film hacks. SX70 film is hard to find and often out of stock.

[@sprkplg]

I offer the printed parts through my store now, actually! I have versions up for the CB-70, SX-70, and Impulse AF/SE.

[@57Stratmann]

Pretty cool !! More details please......

[@sprkplg]

Just uploaded files and instructions, check out my blog at sprkplg.com/impossible-drive-slim-polaroid-battery-holder-diy-instructions/

[@maryannes6426]

@@sprkplg the link is not working for me :(

[@sprkplg]

Try now

[@57Stratmann]

Link works now, thanks !!!

[@joaohenriqueviegas9124]

Awesome mod! How do you account for the difference in iso from normal SX-70 film?

[@joaohenriqueviegas9124]

Forget, answered in the first video!

[@Ni5ei]

How about using a flat rechargeable phone battery with a boost circuit? There's gonna be a day when you've ran out of used 70 or 600 cartridges.

[@sprkplg]

Yeah there are a few solutions out there that use those. I’ll probably always have a 600 battery of some type though since frames like the duochrome and round frames are typically 600 type. SX-70 film too.. I’d probably only ever run out of batteries if they stopped selling these films.

[@DuyHouse]

Thank you, how to do that?

[@60pka]

MA: mili ampere?

[@GoogleAlvin]

how do you know they are 750mah? It seems quite impressive given its size

[@sprkplg]

They have that imprinted on one of the sides of the battery.

[@polaroidjay]

Any updates on this? Also noticed your page is down so...

[@sprkplg]

The printed parts are available on my site, must have been temporarily down. The files if you want to print on your own are on my Prusaprinters page: www.prusaprinters.org/prints/56344-impossible-drive-slim-polaroid-battery-holder-for-

[@joshc5339]

Are the batteries rechargeable?

[@sprkplg]

No, it uses the batteries from the used film packs

[@joshc5339]

So pretty much you have to use a film pack with a battery and then take the battery out once you’ve used all the films and use it with an I-type pack of films?

[@sprkplg]

@@joshc5339 Yup, if you shoot a lot of the specialty films it ends up helping out as you can get some round frames or duochrome, and use those batteries for the I-type.

[@hitbyabus4615]

So a 600 cartridge but more complicated

[@sprkplg]

Some men just want to watch the world burn.

[@hitbyabus4615]

@@sprkplg you literally need to buy a battery cartridge to use it

[@hitbyabus4615]

But I guess I-type would work

[@sprkplg]

@@hitbyabus4615 Since a lot of the special films are not on I-type, you end up accumulating enough batteries anyway if you like shooting all the polaroid films. I now have a magnetic version so I can switch back and forth more easily as well.