GOLD SX-70 Sonar! - Refurb and 600 mod of two very rare cameras!

My name is Jake and I repair instant cameras! Got an SX-70 you want overhauled? Get in contact with me! Links below!
In the twelfth episode of The Instant Camera Guy, I service one of the rarest Polaroid SLR cameras ever produced!
Like what I do? Find this video helpful or entertaining?
Feel free to buy me a beer (or two!):
ko-fi.com/thei...
Getting artifacts in the video? For best quality, manually select 1080p quality, as depending on your bandwidth, UA-cam may default to 720p - and UA-cam's 720p compression looks like garbage
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The cameras featured in todays video belong to Irohas Photo Lab, and come from a collection of Polaroids they have on display.
Very little information online exists around the gold SX-70 Sonar cameras, other than that they were produced in limited numbers (apparently less than 1000) and were gifted to Polaroid employees.
Arriving to me in barely functional condition, my job was to overhaul and 600 modify each camera while keeping them looking completely stock!
In the end, I think I fulfilled the brief nicely!
Sadly I didn't capture it on video, but the first one I refurbished actually had a missing rear right hinge pin from the factory!
If you are in Melbourne, Australia, I recommend you check them out!
Links:
irohasphoto.com
/ irohasphoto
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Got a Polaroid that needs some love? Hit me up!
/ instantcameraguy
/ theinstantcameraguy
www.theinstant...

[@andrewhamop6665]

Geez, at first I thought I was seeing double with that thumbnail!
Lovely end result as always Jake. Glad to see you got some patients that were behaving themselves for a change...lol
The only gold SLRs I knew about were the limited edition ones that were commissioned by Mildred Scheel. Those were all serialized and stamped accordingly. They were not Sonar SX-70s either, so it's interesting to see how many different variations of the same idea Polaroid played around with. I saw one on eBay go for $1150! Nowadays you see all these "limited edition" collectable things that are straight e-waste or are only special because the production is limited. It's refreshing to see something that is not only well built, but functional and also desirable.
Here's to 400 more subscribers Jake!

[@theinstantcameraguy]

I'm seeing double here! 4 Sonars!

[@Penuuumbra]

This man talks about expensive solder like I talk about fine wine or marijuana 40:35

[@theinstantcameraguy]

Actually... I should really mention just how good Cardas solder smells
Utterly intoxicating

[@monochromebluess]

Fantastic restoration of the two gold camera’s. You need to change your user name to SX-70 Goldfinger ….

[@tonygraham6140]

Strange to a video of yours without any major issues Except for the pin attempting to escape. Talk about making it look easy.

[@theinstantcameraguy]

these were both VERY well behaved cameras!
My guess is because they were 'limited' they were never really used. Most of the issues related to long term storage I believe. Sad motors from oxidization and a sad sonar assembly for the same reason

[@tonygraham6140]

This video with cameras, lenses, etc. in great shape should convince the thrift store myth crowd that any 40--50 year old camera needs looking over at the very least. @@theinstantcameraguy

[@jamiew3074]

Hiya Jake, I really appreciate the time and effort to make this knowledge accessible. A question about the rubber bushings on the motor: The ones on my sonar model 2 were the type that just disintegrate when they’re touched. Should I be looking for replacements or can I do without?

[@theinstantcameraguy]

Replace them

[@Kwstr42]

funny watching your videos i look at my sonar and earlier i was wondering what the diagonal lines are on my lense when i look through the viewfinder and got my answer right away. though my 1980 sonar sounds like it might have the lower quality parts that need freshening up lol

[@ianbakke]

Now that I don’t have. I have a Chrome SLR 680 with the SX-70R manual control, but not a Gold Sonar 😅

[@theinstantcameraguy]

I'm gonna have to get my client to 1-up you then!

[@Markybug-Keira-Cody]

there are gold sx70 made for the west German prime minister wife (mildred scheel?) i think also?
the ones for employees were done in a few batches over the years i believe.

[@theinstantcameraguy]

Batches would totally check out given the different internals

[@TrinityCodex]

420 subs. nice

[@parkers.5776]

I do know retrospekt or bfc made a couple gold 680s I’m not sure if the original Polaroid or the new Polaroid did but I did see a gold 680 on eBay so take that for what it’s worth.

[@theinstantcameraguy]

Retrospekt made them by taking chrome body panels and electroplating them gold. This is expensive, but any electroplating service should be able to do it. Although the body panels are plastic on an SX-70, the metallic top coat IS made of real metal! I've seen people do all kinds of weird anodized finishes, including metallic pink!
The 680 I make later this week will possibly be the world's first using ORIGINAL Sonar panels though

[@hil-3000]

First!