Polaroid 690 Limited Edition User Manual

LIMITED EDITIONLIMITED EDITION ANNIVERSARY

User's Guide

The Polaroid Limited Edition

690 Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Camera

50

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
FCC Notice

Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly

approved by the party responsible for compliance could void
the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules.

These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference with radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:

1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna of the radio
or television.

2. Increase the separation between the equipment and
the receiver.

3. Consult the dealer for help.

Table of Contents

❖ Introduction: Polaroid at Fifty 1
❖ Features of the Polaroid 690 SLR Camera 3
❖ Camera Parts

Frontal View 4
Rear View 5

❖ Opening the Camera 6
❖ Closing the Camera 7
❖ Compatible Films 8
❖ Loading Film 9-10
❖ Taking Photos 11-13
❖ Additional Camera Features

Flash Override 14
Manual Focus 15
Lighten/Darken Control 16-17
Aut omatic Time Exposure 18

❖ Special Maintenance Note 19
❖ Lifetime Product Warranty 20

Oftentimes, what inspires innovation originates from the
simple question “why can't this be done?” On Christmas
Eve Day in 1943, Dr. Edwin H. Land, the acclaimed
inventor and founder of Polaroid Corporation, was
enjoying an afternoon outing with his three-year-old
daughter, Jennifer.

At some point during this afternoon, little Jennifer asked
her father why she had to wait to see the photographs
he was taking.

Dr. Land contemplated his daughter's simple question.
Would it be possible to create an instantly developing
photograph? With his legendary inspiration and focus,
Dr. Land solidified his concept of instant photography
over several hours that same day.

The realization of his concept emerged over several
years of subsequent research and development at his
laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The breath­taking result of this experimentation—the world's first
instantly developing photograph—was revealed before

Dr. Edwin H. Land

(1911–1991)

Inventor of Instant Photography

&

Founder of Polaroid Corporation

Polaroid at Fifty:

Dr. Edwin H. Land and

His Dream of Instant Photography

1

Features of The Polaroid 690 SLR Camera

Congratulations! You are now the owner of the finest
single-lens reflex camera in the world. Some of the
important features of your 690 SLR camera include:

❖ accurate, through-the-lens previewing
❖ sonar-driven automatic flash and autofocus system
❖ 4-element coated glass lens
❖ close-up capabilities to 10.4 inches
❖ Lifetime Product Warranty

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the
features of your 690 SLR camera by reading the
instructions contained in this book. And please keep
this book for information about your Lifetime Product
Warranty.

If you would like to order a leather carrying case or
close-up lens, or if at any time you have any questions
about your 690 SLR camera, please contact Polaroid
Corporation toll-free at 1-800-432-5355, or log on to
our website at www.polaroid.com.

a meeting of the Optical Society of America in New York
City on February 21, 1947 before a speechless audience
of fellow scientists.

Dr. Land’s invention of Polaroid Instant Photography
made world headlines the next morning. The name
“Polaroid” now was forever synonymous with “instant
photography.”

Now, fifty years later, Polaroid commemorates the 50th
Anniversary of the advent of instant photography with a
numbered Limited Collector’s Edition of the SLR (Single
Lens Reflex) camera. The Polaroid 690 SLR camera is
simply the finest camera that Polaroid has ever produced.
Some would argue the Polaroid 690 SLR camera is the
finest camera available in the world. This Limited
Collector’s Edition faithfully recreates the allure and look
of the original SLR series, while integrating new tech­nological features such as a digitally-driven micro­processor exposure system.

We believe this Limited Collector’s Edition is a fitting
tribute to Polaroid's half-century of contributions to the
world of photography, and to the original daring
dream of Dr. Land.

Polaroid at Fifty

3

2

q

p

o

n

m

r

s

u
t

m Viewfinder cap
n Viewfinder eyepiece
o Neckstrap connectors
p Picture Counter
q Tripod socket (underside of camera)
r Film door release lever
s Thumb rest
t Flash control switch
u Flash indicator light

Camera Parts
Rear View

Camera Parts
Frontal V iew

a
b
c

d
e

f

g

i

j

k

h

a Built-in electronic flash
b Transducer (sends and receives sound waves)
c Manual focus switch
d Manual focus wheel
e Shutter button with automatic preview
f Automatic variable speed/aperture shutter system
g Four element, f/8, 116mm glass lens
h Distance scale
i Film door
j Photocell
k Lighten/darken control
l Cover support

l

54

Closing the Camera

Opening the Camera

grooved edges
of viewfinder cap

Pull the viewfinder cap
straight up until the
cover support locks.

cover
support

1

2

1

2

Press down on the viewfinder
cap until both sides of the
camera snap shut.

Hold the camera flat in the palm
of your left hand. With your right
hand, grip the grooved edges of
the viewfinder cap.

To close the camera,
push the cover support
toward the back of
the camera.

76

Loading Film

1

Holding the film pack by
the edges as shown, slide
the film pack all the way
into the camera.

Make sure to only
touch the edges of the film
pack.

First, make sure you are using an instant film that is
compatible with your 690 SLR Camera.

film
door lever

2

Push the yellow film door
lever down to open the
film door.

Compatible Films

You may use any of the following instant films with
your Polaroid 690 SLR camera:

98

Taking Photos

3

Close the film door.
The camera will automatically
eject the film cover and
the electronic flash will
begin to charge.

The picture counter will
display “10.” Each pack of
film contains 10 photos.

To remove an empty film
pack, pull the colored tab
on the lower front of
the film cartridge.

picture counter

1

Grasp the camera in your
left hand, making sure to
keep your fingers behind
the film door.

Place your right thumb
on the thumb rest with
your index finger on
the shutter button.
Curl your other fingers
into your palm.

To preview your shot, look
through the viewfinder.
The scene will appear
out of focus.

Lightly press the shutter
button and hold it there.
If the flash bursts and a
photo is ejected, the shutter
button was pressed too firmly.

1110

Use the electronic flash for every photo, both
outdoors and indoors. The flash automatically
corrects common lighting problems encountered in
both environments. For best results, position your
subject(s) anywhere from 10 inches to 14 feet away
from the camera.

Maintain a clear path between the camera and your
subject. The camera uses sound waves to determine
the distance between the camera and the photo
subject, and any obstructions will cause your photo
to be incorrectly exposed.

Make sure to keep the sun or other source of light
behind you, or at your side.

Holding the camera steady, press the shutter button
firmly. Continue to hold the camera steady until the
photo has ejected from the camera. Release the
shutter button to recharge the flash unit.

Do not shake or expose developing photos to direct
sunlight. Make sure to hold the developing photo by
its white border edges. If the temperature is below
55° F, place the photo immediately in a warm pocket
or other warm location to develop.

While keeping the shutter button lightly pressed down,
the lens will spin and set, bringing your scene into
sharp focus. If the camera pauses briefly before
focusing the lens, the flash is momentarily charging.
After the lens is brought into focus an accurate preview
of the scene is visible.

You may preview as often as you choose without
depleting the camera’s battery. The battery that powers
the camera is located inside the film pack and is
sufficient to take many previews per each pack of film.

2

shutter
button

Taking Photos

1312

To override the camera’s
automatic focus, push the
manual focus switch down
so that the red portion of
the switch is visible.

Turn the manual focus
control dial until your
scene is in clear focus.

To take a photo, press and
release the shutter button.

Press the manual focus
switch up to return the
camera to automatic focus.

manual
focus
switch

manual
focus
control

Manual FocusAdditional Camera Features

Flash Override

In certain circumstances, such
as taking a photograph through
a window or photographing a
metallic surface, it may be
necessary to override the
automatic flash.

To do this, slide the flash
control switch to the right.
The automatic flash is
disabled. You can now take a
photo without the flash by
pressing the shutter button.

flash control
switch in OFF
position

flash control
switch

1514

To darken a photo, move
the control dial so that the
white/black area of the
dial is directly beneath the
black line. This is the
standard darken setting.

Begin with this standard
darken setting. To darken
a photo even more, move
the white/black area of
the dial to the left of the
black line.

Always be sure to return
the control to the normal
setting position before
taking your next photo.

darken setting

lighten/
darken
control

normal setting

lighten setting

Lighten/Darken Control

17

The lighten/darken control
feature is located on the
front of your camera.

Only use this feature
when retaking a photo to
make it lighter or darker
than the original.

To lighten a photo, move
the control dial so that the
white/black area of the
dial is directly beneath the
white line. This is the
standard lighten setting.

Begin with this standard
lighten setting. To lighten
a photo even more, move
the white/black area of
the dial to the right of the
white line.

16

The spots seen on the
photo to the right have
been caused by dirty
developer rollers.

Dirty developer rollers may
cause repeating spots or
banding to appear on
photos. If this occurs,
thoroughly clean the
developer rollers.

The developer rollers are
located inside the film
door. To clean, dampen a
lint-free cloth with water
and gently wipe both sets
of rollers.

developer
rollers

If there is film in the camera,
clean the developer rollers in a
dimly-lit area.

Special Maintenance Note

Your 690 SLR camera has the
ability to make automatic time
exposures for up to 13 seconds.

For best results, keep the camera
steady while making the exposure
by using a tripod (tripod socket is
located on underside of camera).

Slide the flash control switch to
the OFF position. Press the
shutter button for at least one
second, then release it. Your
camera will automatically make
an exposure appropriate for
the environmental settings.

Automatic Time Exposure

flash
control
switch in
OFF
position

1918

Lifetime Product Warranty

Lifetime Warranty Terms: If your camera proves to be

defective in manufacture, labeling or packaging, Polaroid will
without charge repair it or, at our option, replace it with a
camera of the same or equivalent model.

This warranty does not cover damage caused by accident,
misuse, tampering or unauthorized repairs, and a charge will be
made for such repairs. This warranty excludes all

consequential damages except in jurisdictions not
allowing the exclusion of consequential damages,so the
foregoing may not apply to you.

For warranty service, the camera must be returned to and
repaired by an authorized Polaroid Service Center.Return the
camera to a Polaroid camera dealer or call or write Polaroid
Corporation at:

Polaroid National Technical Support Operations
201 Burlington Rd.1-2A
Bedford, MA 01730

(toll free) 1-800-432-5355
Monday - Friday 8 am to 8 pm (EST)

www.polaroid.com

PU20300M-0 8/98

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