Polaroid SX-70 User Guide

SX-70 Cameras

Folding Models

• SX-70, SX-70 Model 2

• SX-70 Alpha, SX-70 Alpha Models 1 & 2

• SX-70 Model 3

• SX-70 Sonar/Autofocus

For additional information about SX-70 cameras and other Polaroid products, contact Americas Business Center toll-free at
1-800-343-5000, 8am to 8 pm EST, Mon - Fri (USA and Canada only) or visit www.polaroid.com.

User Guide

Opening & closing the camera

A

Hold the camera in the palm of
your left hand. Grasp the sides
of the viewfinder cap at the
rear (ribbed surfaces).

To close the camera, push
cover support to the rear. Press
down on the viewfinder cap
until both sides latch.

Lift straight up until cover
support (A) locks.

Loading & unloading film

All SX-70 cameras use
Polaroid Time-Zero SX-70
film.

Push the film door latch
(A) down to open the film
door.

Hold the film pack by its

A

Note that the film counter on the back of the camera sets to ten. It
counts backwards indicating the number of shots remaining.

After shooting ten pictures, remove the film pack by opening the
film door and pulling the pack out by the little tab.

edges and push it into the
camera. With your fingers
away from the picture exit
slot, close the film door.
The motor will run and
eject the film cover.

Holding the camera

Hold camera in your left
hand with your thumb and
fingers behind the hinge (A).
Fingers must not block the
exit slot and thumb should
not touch the bellows.

Raise the camera so your eye
is close to the viewfinder.

A

Taking the picture

Look through the center of the eyepiece.
Rest your thumb on the back of the shut­ter housing, with your right forefinger on
the shutter button. Curl the other fingers
into your palm.

Bring your eye close to the viewfinder so
you can see all four corners of the black
frame inside. Hold the camera steady.
After focusing, squeeze the shutter button
all the way down until the picture exits.

Focusing the camera

Your SX-70 camera has a split-image circle in the center
of the viewfinder image. Aim camera so that the split
circle is over a vertical line or edge that you want sharp
in your picture. Turn the focus wheel until the vertical
line in the top half circle lines up with the line in the
lower half circle.

The split circle helps you focus, not frame or view. It is placed low
in the viewfinder so it won’t interfere with viewing. This means you
may have to reframe your picture after you focus. When you
reframe, don’t change your distance from the subject. Simply point
the camera down or to one side until you see in the viewfinder
exactly what you want in the picture.

The SX-70 Model 3 is not a single lens
reflex camera. To focus, estimate the dis­tance from the lens to your subject (if closer
than 3 feet, measure it), then turn the focus
wheel until the correct distance is opposite
the white line. Outdoors with subject more
than 15 feet away, set lens at infinity mark.

Sonar/Autofocus

SX-70 Sonar/Autofocus models focus auto­matically using sound wave technology.

Simply aim the camera at your subject,
press the shutter button and hold the camera steady until the picture
ejects.

Using FlashBars

Note that FlashBars are no longer manu­factured. For information about third­party vendors, call Americas Business
Center, 1-800-343-5000, or visit
www.polaroid.com.

These Sonar/Autofocus models let you preview your picture.
Lightly press the shutter button part way down to see what your
picture will look like. Then either press the button all the way down
to take the picture, or release it and change your position or the
camera angle and preview again.

CAUTION: If there’s a window pane, glass display case, wall hang­ing, etc. in front of your subject, the sonar may be fooled and reflect
an incorrect focus distance. Preview your picture in the viewfinder to
be sure the sonar provides proper focus. If it doesn’t, disconnect the
sonar by pressing on the switch above the focus wheel until the red
line shows. Then use the focus wheel to set your camera manually to
the correct lens-to-subject distance until the image is clear. Don’t
forget to turn the automatic sonar focusing feature back on for later
pictures; just press the top of the switch or close the camera.

Lighten/Darken control

If subject is too light or too dark in daylight pictures, compensate by
turning the Lighten/Darken control one mark and shoot again in
the same place with the same lighting. White area lightens picture,
dark area darkens.

Cleaning the rollers

Open film door, depress light shield (A),
and rotate the rollers. Wipe rollers with a
moist cloth—never scrape them. Use only
water to clean rollers.

A

Flash must be used for indoor pictures.

Effective FlashBar ranges are 10.4
inches to 20 feet.

Insert a FlashBar into the socket in the
camera and push in firmly. (On SX-70
Model 3 with socket on the top of the
viewfinder, depress viewfinder cap all
the way as FlashBar is inserted, then release it slowly.) On other
models, the FlashBar socket is on the top front of the camera body
above the lens or sonar.

When all five bulbs on one side are used, remove the FlashBar and
turn it around for the remaining five bulbs.

IMPORTANT FLASH REMINDERS

• Set the focus distance carefully—setting affects exposure.

• Place subject close to a colorful background, if possible.

• In group pictures, have everyone about the same distance from
the flash for even lighting.

• Avoid hot spots and reflections from mirrors, windows, artwork,
eyeglasses, etc. reflecting the flash. Shoot at an angle rather than
head-on.

Minimum lens-subject distance

To produce clear pictures, do not place your subject closer than 10.4
inches to the camera.

Image manipulation

Image manipulation is a creative technique using Time-Zero SX-70
film. Artists apply pressure to the images after the pictures eject
from the camera. They use a variety of tools, including pen caps,
popsicle sticks, clay modeling tools and dental instruments to
achieve different results.

For more information about image or emulsion transfer and other
creative uses for Time-Zero SX-70 film, call Americas Business
Center, 1-800-343-5000, or visit www.polaroid.com.

Additional information

We have a staff of Polaroid photography experts whose job is to
help you take good pictures. Direct your camera, film and picture
questions to Americas Business Center.

Call toll-free, 1-800-343-5000, 8am to 8 pm EST, Mon - Fri (USA
and Canada only) or visit www.polaroid.com.