SX-70

SX-70
source
Name	SX-70
Maker	Polaroid Corporation
Type	Folding SLR
Lens	116mm f/8 4-element
Film	Integral instant film
Focus	Sonar Autofocus (Model 2/3)
Flash	Electronic flashbar
Production	1972–1981

SX-70. The Polaroid SX-70 is a landmark folding single-lens reflex camera introduced in 1972, representing a revolutionary advance in instant photography. Conceived under the direction of Edwin H. Land, it was the first camera to use fully integrated, self-developing SX-70 film, ejecting a dry, sealed print that developed in minutes before the user's eyes. Its elegant, collapsible design and sophisticated optical-mechanical system made it an icon of industrial design and consumer technology.

History and development

The project was spearheaded by Polaroid Corporation founder Edwin H. Land, who envisioned a completely new, clean instant photography system to succeed the earlier peel-apart film used in models like the Polaroid Swinger. Key development work occurred at Polaroid's headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, involving a large team of engineers and chemists to create both the camera and its proprietary film. The camera was famously unveiled at the 1972 annual meeting of Polaroid shareholders, where Land demonstrated its operation. The development process faced immense challenges in chemistry, optics, and precision mechanics, requiring innovations in motorized film ejection, flat battery design, and complex mirror systems, with significant contributions from designers like Henry Dreyfuss Associates.

Design and features

The SX-70's design is distinguished by its sleek, brushed stainless steel and leather-clad body that folds into a compact rectangular form, famously described as fitting into a blazer pocket. Its core innovation is a complex SLR viewing system using a unique, dynamically counterbalanced Fresnel lens and a folding mirror that directs light to the eyepiece, providing a bright, accurate through-the-lens image. Upon pressing the shutter, the mirror flips up, the film is exposed, and a print is automatically ejected by a quiet electric motor powered by a flat battery integrated into each film pack. Later models, like the SX-70 Model 2 and Model 3, incorporated a sonar autofocus system developed with help from the research firm AS&E, which used ultrasonic pulses to measure distance.

Film and imaging system

The camera used dedicated SX-70 film, a radical departure from all previous instant film formats. Each film pack contained a flat battery and ten sheets of film, with each sheet comprising multiple integrated layers for developing chemicals, dyes, and a transparent plastic window. Upon ejection, the print developed in ambient light through a diffusion-transfer process, with timing controlled by a viscous reagent and opacifiers that initially shielded the image. The film produced a unique square-format color print with a characteristic white border, known for its saturated colors and sometimes unpredictable, artistic development artifacts. The chemistry was later adapted for other cameras, including the Polaroid 600 series, though with a higher film speed.

Cultural impact and legacy

The SX-70 quickly became a cultural status symbol, embraced by celebrities like Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams, with the latter publishing a book of images made with the camera. Its ability to produce a finished, tangible photograph instantly influenced artistic practice, documentary work, and amateur photography, fostering a unique aesthetic. The camera's design is held in the permanent collections of institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Institution. Its legacy persists in the continued revival of instant photography by The Impossible Project (later Polaroid B.V.) and modern companies like Polaroid Originals, which have reintroduced updated versions of integral film for vintage SX-70 cameras.

Variants and models

The original production model, the SX-70 Model 1, was followed by several variants. The SX-70 Model 2 offered a simplified, less expensive body with a fixed-focus lens, while the SX-70 Model 3 was a basic, non-folding version with a molded plastic body. The most advanced variant was the SX-70 Alpha 1, which added a tripod socket and a modified flash socket, and is highly sought after by collectors. The SX-70 Sonar OneStep (Model 2 with sonar autofocus) was the final major variant, featuring the distinctive "golden trumpet" of the sonar rangefinder. Special editions were also produced, including a model with a genuine Louis Vuitton leather case.

Category:Instant cameras Category:Polaroid cameras Category:Products introduced in 1972