Can You HEAR a Better Polaroid?
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2024
- Community conversation! When it comes to different instant cameras and films, does speed of ejection matter? We consider and compare the SX-70 modified by Chromatic Parts, the SX-70 modified by Mint, and the new i2 Polaroid.
#instantphotography #photography #polaroid #film #analog #analogfilm #developingfilm
I totally concur with your analysis. Occam's razor. I believe you have solved the problematic Polaroid image quality puzzle. Also, noticed the I2 images look soft ? Great stuff. 🌿Bless🕊
Your right,it totally makes sense,battery seem more powerful,rollers are working better on the developer!
That is quite interesting... I would be tempted to say that the uneven development possibly comes from not having an even layer of goop at those places (not enough developer), like if the new Polaroid film's reagent hardens much faster than that of the old Polaroid. This would make the ejection speed important. The only way to know for sure would be to cut open the prints and look inside at the goop dispersion.
Even then it would be hard to really know what good dispersion should be without a reference-‘old film which I have a lot of should not be a comparison as it’s not made - I would love to know more of the specs used for the motor and battery range on the i2- this of course does not solve the meter issue which I still hope Polaroid will address in a firmware upgrade.
Hi. Interesting indeed ! I assume you used the exact pack of film meaning you swapped the pack from one camera to the other for each shot.
Did you swap the roller door between sx70s and check if it does impact the picture quality? Rollers gap tolerance might be an explanation. The other thing is you are dealing with 3 different camera using different PCBs and certainly calibration is slightly different. Film ejection speed may be a reason but there could be so many other differences (frog tong, shutter calibration, rollers,…).
All 3 were the same emulsion production date so 3 separate packs as I did not want any issue with fog changing packs from camera to camera- the other issues you listed of course in a total scientific test would be needed but all 3 cameras are just purchased and such are at top manufacturers settings- exposures were calculated with a incident meter and set manual on all 3 cameras- there could be a difference but again all fresh from manufacture. Film ejection speed and battery power makes the most sense especially as it is a significant difference from camera to camera. If you process film and add developer slow or fast it changes the development - if you insert paper in the tray slow, fast, emulsion up or down causes changes- I do agree that there could be other issues at work here but I’m leaning harder and harder into the battery output power.
The SX70 drivetrain was spec'd to use 6.0 volts, and around 800mA while ejecting. Motors can be pushed to operate faster with an increase in voltage and this may be what's happening. If the powerbar is using 2X LiPo batteries, that would be 7.4v nominal, 8.4 fully charged volts, unless it uses a buck converter to reduce voltage.
I think one big factor that often is not thought of with image quality is the mirror inside the camera. The I-2 could have a high quality lens, but if the mirror is not as good as the SX-70 one, it will never achieve as good of an image. Of course, how clean the mirror is would affect image quality as well.
I'm not sure ejection speed would make a significant difference in image quality. I'm thinking that roller pressure could affect image quality, as the resulting thickness of the emulsion and how far the dyes need to diffuse to the surface could have a direct effect on sharpness. Manufacturing rollers is not a trivial task, as newlandcamera is finding out.
In order to do a definitive test, you would need to use the same set of rollers at different speeds. Try swapping the mint/CP rollers to see if that accounts for the difference between those 2 cameras.
With regard to the rollers both were just replace with “new” rollers at time of CLA and should be fine. MiNT vs Chromatic Parts is interesting but more is vs the new i2- and I believe the Power bar does have a buck converter to reduce power.
Hi,
As suggested you should try swapping the rollers door between both SX70 and check if the picture difference is still going the same way. This would rule out the rollers as a root cause.
Also i was thinking of connecting 2 internal pack film batteries in parallel to increase the current and see if this impact in anyway the picture quality. It should leave enough space for one frame. If increasing current is improving the picture one should get the same outcome.