Saving Polaroid Spectra - How to Use 600/I-Type Film without Permanent Modifications or Reloading

A video on 3 ways to still use your Polaroid Spectra camera with 600 or I-Type film (requires 600 type batteries or external batteries) without reloading since that's a pain in the ass and original Spectra cartridges are discontinued, again. No permanent modifications are done (except for the third way if you decide to internally wire a battery pack) if your camera's film door is compatible (else you would have to cut it like in the PolaStudio video or find another camera). Hopefully Ben from ‪@InAnInstant‬ sees this and showcases a Spectra camera with these mods. Share the news and keep this camera alive!
/ itype600_film_and_cart...
Polaroid Spectra Repair Manual:
manualzz.com/doc/6289115/spec...
Part 2, for the newer Spectra models:
manualzz.com/doc/57457230/pol...
Check out this playlist for a complete disassembly of a Spectra camera (though in Japanese, would be nice if someone translated/captioned it):
• Polaroid
PolaStudio's Store (includes a table of models that have compatible film doors, although idk how accurate it is):
polastudio.online/products/po...
Incase you want to prototype a new film door/bottom:
www.polaroid.com/en_us/produc...
(there's also a version for Spectra cameras although you would have to find it on other stores)
Extra Polaroid Spectra Resources (just go to r/Polaroid and search for "spectra" and click on interesting posts while looking at replies):
/ 600_film_cardridge_for...
/ open_source_diy_polaro...
/ modifying_a_spectra_to...
/ spectra_battery_mod_up...
/ i_got_a_600_film_cartr...
/ built_an_external_batt...
/ trying_to_mod_a_spectr...
/ polaroid_go_film_is_ju...
/ frankensteins_monster_...
/ anyone_done_an_externa...
/ 600_film_test_on_a_mac...
/ i_need_help_completing...
• Reload Polaroid 600 or... (Reload Polaroid 600 or I-Type Film into Spectra Cartridge) by SPRKPLG
• Modifying a Polaroid 6... (Modifying a Polaroid 600 Battery to Fit a Spectra Cartridge) by SPRKPLG
• [OPEN SOURCE] Polaroid... (IDK how this guy got full spread of the developer, probably something with the spring being caught in the 600 film cartridge for these mods?)
*youtube is dumb for not showing the full URL because you would've seen the titles and it would've been easier to find an interesting post
Chapters:
0:00 Seeing if your camera can work without any modifications
1:31 Preparing a 600/I-Type cartridge
2:02 Bending battery contacts to work with 600 cartridges
2:53 How to insert 600 cartridges
3:11 Film speed switch and shot counter lever
4:16 Example shots and battery information
6:21 Adjusting the viewfinder for 600/I-Type film
6:55 How to use I-Type cartridges
10:00 Trying to get the dead batteries to work
13:00 Extra information and rambling

[@Qwazii]

Great video dude, helped me a lot with a prototype "Spectra Reviver" I'm making... the intention is to be largely home-made and easy to replicate. Pointing out counter switch in the top left of the inner part of the camera was helpful.

[@robertw1469]

Glad I could help. It's cool that you're making a "Spectra Reviver" (I hope you post updates) and I too have goals of making one myself, though I lack the time, money, and resources to. For anyone who does and wants to, my ideas are: - Instax "back" for Spectra. - Custom backs that replaces the original piece (like at 13:46 in the video). - New film door that replaces the original and fits 600/I-Type film. - A new pick arm/extension mechanism so that frames can come out the center of the rollers instead of the left. - Since Spectra cartridges are wide, somehow make a "back" or hollow cartridge that allows 120 film or some other film (35mm, idk) to fit to make the Spectra into a medium format film camera. - I-Type to Spectra adapter that's very similar to PolaStudio's, but uses regular Lithium Ion 3.7v 10440 (basically AAA) batteries instead of LiFePO4 3.2v batteries (or even flat pack rechargeable batteries, like the external battery mods for SX-70s) wired to a compact voltage regulator (since 3.7v x2 = 7.4v, way over 6.2v).

[@shawnlennon1947]

Dude I love people like you. Making these hobbies cool and affordable. These things are dirt cheap and full of features. And this mod is pretty reversible if one day Polaroid maybe starts to make spectra film again. I thought maybe I put black electric tape on the viewfinder to kinda square the scene from the side where there’s no film being exposed so it’s easier to line up the shot!

[@shawnlennon1947]

I should’ve watched more into the vid. 😂 well at least I know it’ll work.

[@robertw1469]

It sucks that Polaroid killed off a camera lineup with good specs and features, especially the special editions with glass lenses. Trying to come up with reversible mods is my goal since these cameras are the only ones in the world left.

[@shawnlennon1947]

@@robertw1469 dude I got a picture my dad has of my cousin on a spectra in a drawer, it’s so damn sharp and wide, it’s beautiful. If you can find an impulse af it’s not foldable and doesn’t have as many switches on it but It’s got a good lens, the auto focus piezo and a timer! Im not 100% but I think the lens is glass. The only challenge is finding one as cheap as the spectra but they’re out there still.

[@robertw1469]

@@shawnlennon1947 I have one but the lens is not glass. It's still pretty sharp. Only thing I don't like about that camera is the forced flash and the shutter having a max shutter speed of like 1/15s. The viewfinder is nice and large.

[@shawnlennon1947]

@@robertw1469 the bright and huge viewfinder makes it such a pleasure to use. It’s my holy grail cause I found it so cheap. And hell yea the images are pretty sharp. Also thanks for the info, I remember hearing something about cameras being force flash being a down side, I built a sweet little oragami box out of a spent dark slide that fits over it but I knew that I heard somewhere it effected something with fractions and such 😂.

[@__jg]

Thank you man!

[@HR-wd6cw]

The best option is to find an existing Spectra cartridge, modify the battery pack, and then load the film yourself into the cartridge. It's abit more work but no modifications to the camera need to be made, and pretty much no jamming that i can see on mine. The only downside is you do have to load the film in a dark bag or dark room, but I bought a few spectra cartridges that were used up (very very cheap) and just load a few at a time. While this may work, you do run more of a risk of damaging something in the camera that could render the camera inoperable. Using a Spectra cartidge with modifyed battery pack from a 600 type film catridge does pretty much gaurantee that the cartridge is inserted correctly and shouldn't jam.

[@robertw1469]

Using a 600 pack is much easier (if you have a compatable film door). Just slightly bend the battery contacts, tear off the black strips, and insert the pack. Both methods, a 600 pack vs. Spectra, have the same ejection positions and also problems with spread. Jams are from weak batteries or too thick rollers.

[@gaetanodifilippo1504]

Great video with many suggestions I did not take into consideration before watching. Spectra cameras were my favourites Polaroids aside the SX70 and when I finally learned that there was a chance to revive them I was very glad to know. I also read your wishlist in the comments above and is really agreeable, but first of all, I'd like Spectra film to come back! Would ask one more question: did you tape the rollers disassembling each one of them from the spreading unit? Looks a bit tricky to me, related to my technical skills... I tried without and it's very difficult to join the two edges side by side, while trying neither to leave any space uncovered nor overlap them. I used a 0,15mm thick electric tape. And/or: in your experience, bending the spreading unit springs could void taping or both are necessary? Anyway, a very helpful and clearly explained process and video. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@robertw1469]

For the example picture of the "perfectly taped" rolls (7:04), I took them out of the spreading unit (which is delicate work since there's tiny plastic clips that can break easily) and separated the plastic gear so that I could roll the rollers onto the tape, sticky side up like a rolling pin. BUT after some testing, that had weakened the adhesion of the plastic gear to the roller and now it is spinning in place. If you want to tape them like that without taking the rollers apart (which I would recommend so that you won't damage the roller gears), I had applied a full width (not thickness) of e-tape and then cut another thin strip (or make two strips with equal widths that cover the roller's circumference), slowly cutting it with a straight edge and X-Acto knife until it fits with no gaps/bumps using some needle nose tweezers. It is very time consuming and tedious. IBH I don't know the thickness of e-tape used since I ran out from trying to perfect taping the rollers, it was 3M brand though. I talked about bending the roller springs because the 600/I-Type cartridge is longer than Spectra and so actually sort of collides with the spring closest to the gears. I don't recommend it and I had theorized that was reducing the spring tension on that side since the spread on the top left was the only problem but now I'm not sure. If you really want to do it, you'd need some strong fingers to get the springs out and two pliers to bend the springs in an L shape to dodge the cartridge. I've been busy with work and school, having little to no time to tinker with Spectras after caring for myself. It would be nice for some Polaroid/Instant film influencers (In an Instant, Analog Resurgence, Just Another Chris, etc.) to get wind of this and make videos to spread the word farther.

[@gaetanodifilippo1504]

@@robertw1469 "It would be nice for some Polaroid/Instant film influencers (In an Instant, Analog Resurgence, Just Another Chris, etc.) to get wind of this and make videos to spread the word farther" Oh, yes it definitely would... Anyway, your explanation is extensive and accurate, thank you very much. I actually tried to bend the springs using an old spectra that was already broken and could not do it without breaking the plastic clips that held them in place, which are very delicate. I will keep trying, but in the meantime thank you very much for all these very helpful details. 🙏

[@C0yf1sh]

From what your pictures show it might be pretty straight foreword to remake a bottom to fit the other cartridges, although I am not familiar enough to know what I would need to do to redesign the roller assembly lol.

[@C0yf1sh]

I also feel like the best way to run these without bending contacts is to just use your 600 film on your 600 polaroid lol, and then use the batteries for itype film in your spectra.

[@user-km5dv3fy4x]

Thank you so much for this cool hack. I followed the 600 film manual, and it seems like the battery is working fine. I hear the rolling sound, the flash and the shutter work. But it keeps failing to eject the black slide and I don't know why. Do you have any suggestion? I will appreciate if you'd give me any advice.

[@robertw1469]

Have you tried wiggling the pack to make sure it's snug against the left side? Could be that the pick arm is not in the right place. I assume you also ripped the front flap off + black strip?

[@user-km5dv3fy4x]

@@robertw1469 I think the cartridge was ready, I will try adjusting the pick arms. Thank you for answering me so quick😙

[@zeriben12]

thank you very much for your efforts, i like new polaroid because they just keep lots of 600 cameras out of wasteyards, which brings to the disagreement and dissapointment about them discontinuing spectra film, im aware that polaroid is not a charity and they need to make money, but basically discarding hundreds of cameras and turning them into e-waste while frankensteining old spectra equipment to make yet another film format and use more plastic for such really dissapoints me, i have been thinking about just getting an spectra and shooting circle frame film, spectras are such awesome cameras and it sucks that they just left them to die like this

[@robertw1469]

Yeah, it's pretty stupid how they frankensteined the old Spectra machinery for the Go format to compete with Instax minis (Instax still wins with its better chemistry, price, and support with multiple 3rd party cameras). They could've fixed all of this if they didn't cheap out on the pack batteries and just used a bigger lithium battery, we're already paying premium prices and the Spectra cartridge is literally bigger than the 600 cartridge! I just tested a Spectra camera with taped rollers with a 5v voltage regulator that has a 2A current limit, and it's able to push the newer film with no problem. This means that using a 6v voltage regulator will also be no problem.

[@zeriben12]

true! the existence of the polaroid mio (a polaroid camera compatible with instax mini film) just makes this more ironic ive also been thinking about getting a spectra, probably the original model (i would have no issue breaking out the plastic tabs that you mentioned in your previous video), i really want to shoot 600 film and ive noticed you have knowledge regards doing this, i saw your previous method of bending the cameras contacts, but i also saw in reddit that you can 3d print an adapter that facilitates doing this, i would really appreciate your input in this, would you recommend bending the camera contacts or just getting someone to print me the adapter? i am probably only going to use circle frame film, from what ive seen utilizing square film means lots of spread issues in the top that you can only tune out by grinding the rollers and going through several packs of film to fine-tune the grinding, i dont want to mess with that and i would just prefer a way to shoot circle frame film in a more featured packed camera, there is also this chinese adapter that is really overpriced and i really doubt it provides anything different other than what ive mentioned if you could help me out with this i would appreciate it lots, but its okay if not :)))))

[@robertw1469]

@@zeriben12 Just try out bending the contacts and a straw to hit the film speed switch first. For the 3d printed ones, there are now two types, the one which you reload and the one by me that centers the cartridge. Both still have spread issues.

[@zeriben12]

@@robertw1469 thank you!! will do ive seen a guy who sanded their roller holders just uploaded a video to their youtube, i asked if they could maybe upload clear pictures of how they should look after sanding, maybe this is it for shooting with spectras in 2024

[@marcuslieberman3577]

Wow you guys are great!! I have a Spectra, I miss it! Have you tried Button Batteries? You said that you charge the batteries already in the cartridges? Please post when you have a breakthru!!

[@robertw1469]

Button batteries? As in those coin sized batteries in watches and key fobs? Those batteries are too weak even though they have a high enough voltage(1.5v to 3.0v). Remember, these cameras need up to 2-3 amps of current at a constant 6.0v and those coin sized batteries are designed to handle at most a few hundred milliamps (a milliamp is 1/1000 of an amp). The original Polaroid PolaPulse batteries were quite powerful (explained in the video with screenshots) compared to what the current Polaroid offers today. The best alternatives would be a flatpack battery that's similar to those used in phones, laptops, or in the RC hobby. Else, we have to strap batteries to the top of the camera and have wires! (the third method in the video) For the batteries in the 600/SX-70 cartridges (I-Type does not have any batteries), those are disposable, one time use, non-rechargeable batteries and they would become a fire hazard if they were recharged. Right now, I'm busy and haven't found the time to experiment with cameras or anything at the moment. I'll see if I can 3D print a new film door using my local makerspace. My newest video has a video of a ProCam working if you're interested in that and I plan on trying to revive those too. (the mods in this video actually work with ProCams!)

[@marcuslieberman3577]

@robertw1469 thanks they don't make easy...

[@pokulan]

Wow, now using smaller film there is a room for a LiPo battery and boost converter :D.Ohh God please, I don't want to mod next one Polaroid... Why Am I watched this? 🤣

[@Artix902]

Have you tried getting a spectra cartridge and putting foam in it so it can fit a 600?

[@robertw1469]

The goal of these mods is to not reload 600 film into Spectra cartridges in the dark since that's a hassle to do consistently. I wanted to find an easier method and I have already seen that video by SPRKPLG.

[@HR-wd6cw]

@@robertw1469 It's a hassle but there is less risk to the camera (or jamming in my experience) and no modification to the camera are needed. You're only modifying the Spectrum cartridge.

[@robertw1469]

​@@HR-wd6cwThat method will work for cameras with extended film doors, but other than that it's better to use a 600 cartridge. The jams in this video is because of dead batteries and in the real world it's from people forgetting to tear the black strips, using dead batteries, or from thickening the rollers too much.

[@Antique1dude]

So I'm not able to push in the contact with a straw, I can't wedge it under there. What happens if I use it without the contact pushed in?

[@robertw1469]

If you look at the bottom paragraph at 3:37, the service manual says that having the switch closed (as in there's no straw there) will increase the exposure by 1/3 of a stop. Basically means your images will be overexposed a bit but I think that could be semi-remedied by setting the exposure compensation (usually in the back of the camera) to darken (manual says the exposure adjusts by 2/3 of a stop). The camera will still function without the straw and you could also use some other thing to push the film speed switch in.

[@Antique1dude]

Update, if I use a ND filter meant for a sx-70 would that work for fixing the overexposed photo issue. Thanks

[@robertw1469]

@@Antique1dude I don't think so since that ND is rated for coverting 600 film speed (which is 640 ASA) to SX-70 speed (160 ASA) right? Which is I think 2.0 EV/stops, way more than 1/3 EV like the manual said.

[@Pacificbell]

13:10 I don’t think the film defects are the cameras fault it looks like the film was not stored properly

[@robertw1469]

I wish this was true but there's something about the Spectra cameras and their rollers not working well with 600 film. I have tried multiple packs of 600 and I-Type and have even put the same pack through a regular 600 camera and it's fine. But in my Spectra cameras, it's a gamble.

[@Pacificbell]

@@robertw1469 oh well

[@Hungrymunchie]

Cant you just replace the lower jaw with the rollers and stuff with one form a diffrent polaroid

[@robertw1469]

Not without a custom adaptor of sorts. That is because they're different widths. Other than that, they're basically the same.

[@Hungrymunchie]

​@@robertw1469 i think im gonna mod mine but basically all i have to do is bend the 2 pins for the battery, and then those other 2 on the side, trim the plastic behind the rollers and tweak the rollers for even spread? After that will it work fine if i use 600 film or still sometimes struggle with ejecting or other things? Btw do you know how close up you can get with the spectra to your subject?

[@robertw1469]

@@Hungrymunchie Yes, that's basically the video. You would only need to trim the plastic under the rollers if you have an incompatible door. Since you're planning on grinding the roller assembly, you would in theory have perfect spread and only have the unavoidable black line at the bottom of your pictures. There shouldn't be ejection problems if your motor sounds fine and the battery is fresh. The Spectras should have a minimum focus of 2ft, just look for the user manual online. It should also beep at you if you're too close thanks to its more advanced circuitry. I also remember there being macro kits that should allow it to focus even closer (this is also another reason why discontinuing Spectra is stupid).

[@Hungrymunchie]

@@robertw1469 alr thanks a bunch!

[@robertw1469]

TLDR: The springs have a big impact on the spread of developer paste and they are interfering with the cartridge. I noticed that the spring for the rollers on the side with the gear is actually sort of interfering with the cartridge which might be the reason the developer doesn't spread properly. What I've done was like at 1:18 where I bent the springs, but that wasn't enough to clear the cartridge fully, so I moved the spring further into the door and now it seems to not touch the film cartridge. I haven't tested the spread yet as I'm outta batteries :( Edit: Still haven't tried with batteries but I did try to manually roll a frame through a detached film door and got full spread. The remaining problems would be fixing the source of the light leaks (could just be I have a broken camera since I got it online or there are internal reflections), the thickness of the developer paste, and spacing/tension of the rollers.

[@leele3143]

Hi, i am really interested in your project. You menioned fixing the spring will help to have a full spread ? How do you fix it? Can you please make another video explaining it . Thank you

[@robertw1469]

@@leele3143 I did plan on making an update video although I have yet to find the time to record it. Also I don't know for sure that I fixed it as I haven't tried it in the actual camera, I just rolled a frame through rollers which were detached from the camera and cartridge. I still need new batteries and film as well.