What Polaroid to use?

I generally use digital SLRs or classic rangefinders when I'm out shooting, but

I recently played with a Polaroid One that I got from the thrift shop for $1.99.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pictures I took in bright,

outdoor light. All of this and the interesting post and subsequent info on the

classic camera forum regarding the Polaroid 250 made me want to explore

Polaroids more. I have a number of vintage Polaroid cameras, some of which don't

work, some do, but most seem to require odd batteries to function. What is a

good Polaroid to use that will yield high quality pictures, but that will also

be easy to use in terms of finding batteries or suitable film packs? Any info

would be greatly appreciated.

check out the landlist.org. Basically there are dozens of models with similar specs from the Pack-Film class. In general, I beleive the pack-film cameras are ALL better than the 600 cameras... even the ones with plastic lenses. The real question is what is your price range and what features do you REQUIRE. For instance, some of the lower tier packfilm cameras have scale focus and some of them only accept one or two speeds of film. All of the packfilm cameras require batteries you will have to order, but any of them can be had online for under $15.

If you want to shoot pack film The EE100, "Reporter", and ProPack models all use AA batteries available anywhere. They do not have a rangefinder, so you need to be pretty good at guessing distance, and they can have pretty leaky bellows. If a $15 battery is all thats keeping you from using a camera you already have, that might be the way to go.

Its probably a question more of what to avoid in the Polaroid world. A camera I would avoid is the SX-70. They are very expensive and theres only one film option. And the actual SX-70 film was discontinued and doesnt look like its ever coming back. What made it special was the ability to manipulate the image. The Swingers should also be avoided. The Swinger cameras took a film that is long long discontinued, and even when it was available these cameras are just smaller format version of the 600 cameras. The Swingers are somewhat collectible if you have the right color versions, but most of them are worth nothing. And lastly, unless you plan on doing major modifications the roll-film cameras should be avoided, that film is long long gone. These cameras CAN be converted to 120 film, or even 4x5 or pack-film. Just depends on how much work you are willing to do.

I happen to have a ProPack, but I bought it at Goodwill thinking that I'd only display it. I put fresh AA batteries in it the other day and it came to life. Is this a model that delivers decent quality in its images? I also have an SX-70 in very good condition...the film is back actually. Check out lordofthelens.net where you can order brand new film for your SX-70!

No, the "SX-70 Blend" film is just 600 film repackaged in SX-70 cartridges with an ND filter over the film so that is shoots at the slower SX-70 speed. It does not allow for manipulations and should not be considered any different than 600 film. Theres still only one flavor to put in the camera.

 

Cant remember if the propack has a glass lens, like I said, just check landlist.org and see which cameras have plastic lenses and which ones have glass lenses... thats pretty much the line in the sand as far as im concerned. JonB. says above that the propack doesnt have a rangefinder which means guessing focus distance, thats kinda a bummer!

Thanks Patrick for your helpful information. If I'd read further at landlist.org, I would've seen the same info on the SX-70 Blend film, and answers to just about every other question I have about Polaroids. I may get some film for the Propack anyway just for kicks; it'll be fun to use no matter what.

Cool, post images when you test out that ProPack Andy. I recommend the Fuji instant pack films from B&H, very good prices and quality control at Fuji seems to be a little higher than at Polaroid, but you get far less selection.

I converted an Automatic 250 that works great. I converted it to use 2x3 sheet film and it uses standard graphic holders as well as the graphmatic holder for six sheets. Also fitted it for series V filters. I have some pictures of it here:

 

http://perfectplanes.com/POLAROID.html