The ultimate Polaroid SX-70 upgrade guide

[@caoyang5074]

Thank you s much for sharing! I just bought an old sx70 and your tutorial will save me $200 ! thanks again!

[@shawnlennon1947]

This is so cool. It’s like circuit bending. You want a different pitch out of the instrument, locate the resistor for pitch and put a a different value for different sound. I wonder if you could put a potentiometer or switch with 2 resistors in replacement of the 600film resistor and be able to control what film setting your in!

[@segraffiti]

kinda zoned out for a while so sorry if you already spoke on this but having that lithium-ion battery on the part of the camera that always has pressure on it isn't the best idea unless you're really careful. Although they're designed for just eight shots, these batteries (like older Polaroid film pack batteries) have a lot more juice than what is needed. Just be safe with it and don't crush it, it is a good way to save money & reduce battery waste though. Polaroid film can't really be environmentally friendly (plastic packs & film, metal spring, non-rechargeable battery, chemicals etc) so doing anything at all is helpful.

[@OfficialNintendo]

Awesome video, I bought an old sx-70 sonar to dismantle and use as a Frankenstein experiment to make a custom 3D printed polaroid film back for my Hasselblad 500CM so I could get medium format quality but I fell in love with the camera and it’s in mint condition so I might just make it so it can use 600 film and I’ll dismember some other crappy polaroid camera.

[@gregorylegras6745]

Thanks for this great video tutorial.I m gonna do the modification soon with an 150pf capacitor. Should be good I hope! ;)

[@pijusveberis6833]

did you do it? how did the 150 work out for exposure?

[@JamesDBuzzard]

Super good tutorial!!!!

[@swishpan]

Thanks a lot I appreciate you found the video useful!

[@guenin]

Thanks for this video. I had to make a custom square drive bit by grinding down the tip of a threaded bolt to fix a coffee maker some time ago. You could obviously use a file to do that but it would take longer. I think your use of a sponge as a spring and the de-soldering wick as a contact are pretty innovative, but I wonder if there is a better solution for the contact. Maybe using a strip of aluminum from a beer can as the contact? Or maybe you can find copper strips or sheets at a local hobby store or online. Again, thanks. Great video!

[@swishpan]

Custom square bit is great! Yes, even the springy feather steel in a used Polaroid cartridge could work. Just have to put pressure on the right spot.

[@matslvstrandberntsen8277]

Fantastisk!

[@andrewlara9685]

Hello, Thanks for the video It was very informative! I have some questions about the screwdriver you used to open the back of the lens/Shutter baseplate. Can the Torx 4 bit be used to unscrew the 1mm X 1mm square screws in the Sx70's?

[@swishpan]

You could try some torx heads, I basically tested all my flat and torx bits. Try T2 or T3. Some people even grinded their own square tool.

[@stian-reneespeland950]

Hvor mye skulle du hatt for å modifisere for meg? Jeg har ingen ferdigheter når det kommer til lodding. :(

[@swishpan]

Er det skruer med "firkantspor" på baksiden? Send meg evt mail til [e-mail], skal se om jeg har nye skruer evt.

[@perrysmith1104]

Thank you for the excellent tutorial! You mentioned that after changing the capacitor you may have to adjust the exposure. Are the photos over or underexposed? Also, could you use a different size capacitor to compensate for this difference? Thanks again.

[@swishpan]

Thank you for the feedback, glad it was helpful! My replacement capacitor was measured to be around 250 pF, which is good for the Alpha 1 model 2 that had about 1000 pF originally. But the silver model came with around 800pF, so a 250 pF is a little too much. Higher value is higher/longer exposure. But I didn´t have a 200 pF available. If you measure the original cap and the replacement cap and get more precisely 1/4 of the original (+- 10%) you should hit the exposure pretty well.

[@swishpan]

I read recommendations that the camera tends to over expose as well, so It’s my habit to under expose a notch.

[@GuitarHero3SH]

and what about the flash? would it still be compatible?

[@swishpan]

You will probably need to dim it. It can be done easily with some baking paper or thin white cloth over the flash head

[@swishpan]

The mint flash bar has a 600 setting. With flash, focus distance is controlling aperture, so should work even with the cap mod.

[@mvagusta6757]

Hi. Could someone tell me if it's possible to change from colour cartridge to a black & white cartridge half way through a cartridge? Will the light get into the remaining film in the cartridge that I have ejected from the camera?

[@swishpan]

You need to reinsert the black cardboard piece, might work just open the hatch and insert, or get a darkroom bag.

[@antonserigstad6118]

Hei. Takk for en god video. Jeg så i beskrivelsen din at du var fra norge. Hvor kan man få kjøpt en 250 pf kondensator her til lands?

[@swishpan]

Hei! Eneste jeg vet er Elfa, du finner flust av dem i gamle forsterkere, denne vil ha påskriften 251 eller 201 for 200 (siste siffer skal være 1). Ellers leverer jo Mouser, Farnell eller RS til Norge på kun 1-3 dager.

[@FoxintoshPlus]

Would a 220 pf cap work in a sx-70? since its kinda between 200 and 250?

[@swishpan]

Yes, but you might need to adjust exposure down a little. Depending on camera, some say 180 is better.

[@efrain6391]

Good tutorial! I just bought a Model 3 to try this. Once I am successfully on the model 3 then I will try it on my Model 1. Just a quick question.. Aside from the uF value, is there an specific voltage value I need to look for when ordering the capacitor?

[@swishpan]

Great to hear that! I can´t imagine the voltage being higher than 5V, but many caps can take 100v or more. To be sure, check that it have at least 10v tolerance.

[@bartoszgaczynski3829]

Hey. Can u still use sx70 films after 600upgrade? Appreciate your work Thanks

[@swishpan]

It will be under exposed, so not really recommended. I guess you could make a switch, but...

[@Fedbo]

Is there any way I could contact you to inquire about sending one camera your way for a mod? :)

[@swishpan]

From what country? There are services out there you might use.

[@Fedbo]

@@swishpan I'm in Germany (Berlin). Only thing I found so far are outside Europe (mainly in the US). Do you have any other place to recommend? (if you are not accepting commissions)

[@swishpan]

@@Fedbo I don't do it often but I'm considering it. Are we talking 600 conversion or I-type?

[@Fedbo]

@@swishpan hey I thought I answered but it didn't go through. I'm looking for the 600 mod on a sx 70 sonar. Do you have an email or instagram? Might be easier to talk

[@cristianrueda2055]

How much would you charge me to modify my camera?

[@swishpan]

What country are you in?

[@cristianrueda2055]

@@swishpan US- AZ

[@RicketyQuickity]

Hey, im in Arizona too and I can reccomend someone who can do it. Do you have instagram?

[@ivanyan1988]

Actually, 150pF may be much more suitable

[@swishpan]

Yes, depending on the camera.

[@SnowmansApartment]

i‘m by far no expert on electronics.. but shouldn‘t you use plastic tape? i feel like the kind of tape you use doesn‘t really do anything..

[@swishpan]

You can use vinyl, paper or any non-metal tape. I just found paper to be easier to tear in this situation. Take what you have :)

[@SnowmansApartment]

@@swishpan really great to know, thx!:)

[@smilerjon3670]

I was cringing and had to stop watching after about 8 minutes. It doesn't matter how slightly you bend the board, it can easily snap. Also remember there are old solder joints that can be disturbed too.

[@spoiltanic]

Can u do the same for polaroid land camera 1000