Polaroid SLR680 Overhaul & Repair - Fixing one of the most over-rated instant cameras!
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Got an SLR680 that needs some love? I have been repairing Polaroid cameras for clients professionally as The Instant Camera Guy for over a decade. Get in contact with me! Links below!
In the sixth episode of The Instant Camera Guy, I tear apart and start the process of overhauling an SLR680. This video is the first part of what will likely become a series on this camera.
Like what I do? Feel free to buy me a beer (or two!):
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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 SLR680 is perhaps one of the most over-hyped instant cameras there is. Second only to the SLR690 for hype-factor (eventually I'll do a video on the hot-garbage that is the 690), the 680 is a good camera, but is it deserving of such a stellar reputation?
Search for reviews, forum posts and blog articles on this camera and you will often see it being referred to as "the best" Polaroid SLR camera one can buy. As such, prices for them have sky-rocketed in the last few years.
In this video, I offer a unique perspective on the 680 as a repairman and ask the viewer to answer the question 'what defines *BEST*".
We have a critical discussion about a camera with numerous inherent flaws - many of which are never spoken about.
Is the 680 for you? Well, if you absolutely MUST have auto-focus AND a flash built in, then the answer is yes.
But if you are just after the performance gains of 600 type film? I'd argue you are better off having a regular SX-70 refurbished and 600 converted. For the same price as some 680s sell for, you can purchase an SX-70, pay to have it refurbed by a tech like myself, AND still have money left over for a MiNT Flashbar 2.0 and some film!
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My apologies for the chaotic editing of this video. During teardown of the camera I had numerous interruptions. Ultimately I decided to still post the video though, since I believe this information is critical for public knowledge.
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Got a Polaroid that needs some love? Hit me up! I'm across social media as "the instant camera guy"!
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Yes it was two hours but so enjoyable to watch. Great breakdown and rebuild. Oh wait that damn Sonar. Onwards to part 2. You have mentioned that a camera may have never been repaired yet it has replacement parts in them that were clearly factory done. This was due to the flaws in those initial months and very early years. Bill McCune ( who took over from Dr Land ) revealed that 300,000 SX-70 cameras came back for repairs and alterations. In my working days at Polaroid we knew this - although not the numbers !
Thank you so much for making this. I recently purchased an 680 in rough (but working) shape for $250 which feels like an “ok” deal considering what some people pay for them. I’m a computer repair tech so I think I have the skill to do most of this, but I really can’t thank you enough for sharing the information. Absolute legend.
the only advice I can give is to not cut corners, and be prepared to accidentally break something if it's your first time!
These are hard things to work on
Also watch out for the flash capacitor! It will zap you!
25:00 If I saw your video yesterday, I wouldn't have 3 bandages on my left hand! lol...
Do you have the setup to convert a SLR680 to I-type?
I found a SLR680 at a flea market for 25€ but don’t like the battery packs on 600 film and the throw away mentality…
i-Type battery adapters are available from numerous manufactures at the time of this comment
Retrospekt, Polastudio, Rezivot etc are just some examples
If a client want's an i-type mod, I recommend they send the adapter in with the camera they want refurbished so I can fit it at the same time I do the overhaul :)
I always remove remaing glue by putting a piece of gaffer tape over it, rub it on real good and then pull it off again. It may take multiple times but the glue from the gaffer tape usually takes the remaining glue off with it.
Not a bad idea
I worry about removing the superficial plastic layer though by accident. They can be so flakey
"500USD for a poor condition one"
Yeesh, meanwhile I got mine for 80 bucks just a few years back (admittedly, cheaper than most as I did need to re-sit something and the seller was kind enough to offer a 50% refund for my trouble), and only ran into an issue this year where the flash stopped working after unreliably triggering for a couple months.
Curious, if you don't mind me asking, would you figure the flash not working being from a cracked solder joint or dead cap? The LED for the flash stays on longer than when I first got the camera, flashes on after it turns off when I half press for focus, but then nothing happens when I snap the picture? Perhaps you've seen this issue before and I wouldn't spit on the wisdom of someone much more knowledgeable than I am!
Either way, thanks a lot for some great ressources about those ol' beasts, a very nice video to sit along for the ride watching your whole process! Cheers!
@@Nomaxice my guess is your switch is bad/dirty
But it's very very hard to tell without seeing it in person
@@theinstantcameraguy I'll have to check it whenever I work on it, would be odd since it does seem to work and start the capacitor charge, but never know! Thanks for your response!
Hi, great video! My 680 has issue with the flash. It works fine if I keep it at in position. But if I turn it off and turn it back on it doesn’t fire. I have to pull out the film pack and put it back in to make the flash work again, which is super annoying. Do you know what is the issue?
I have a guess that the flash needs to be discharged in order to get charged. If I switch to no flash, while the flash is half charged. When I switch back to in it won’t get charged, so it doesn’t fire. This is only my guess.
@@MrHouse-om3jz hard to know without seeing it in person
That's a strange issue
Can you show a rebuild with a modern pcb?
You refer to the SX-70R PCB?
I might do a video eventually
Also, can anything be used to clean the Fresnel screen? I have a pretty dusty one that also has imprints of the inside bellows on them. I've been gently wiping with the "grain" of the Fresnel with no liquid of any kind. Is there something that can be used or should I just try to dust it with nothing on it?
@@revolverrr glass cleaner
Nothing will remove imprints though
Hey, I have a 680 that I'm planning to sell and would love to hear your opinion: So after some research and testing, it seems that the autofocus doesn't work; when I press the shutter down slightly, the lens doesn't autofocus. Also, I don't know if the camera works or not; should I purchase and test it with some Color Film 600? With these things in mind, would you recommend I fix it before selling it or should I sell it as-is? Any help is appreciated!
All 680 cameras need to be serviced right now
In its current state, it should sell for the low-end of the market, since whoever purchases it will need to have it fully refurbished
@@theinstantcameraguy I understand. Thank you for your input!
What plastic grease do you use for the viewfinder?
@@revolverrr just search for plastic grease on eBay
I’ve worked on many cameras but never a Polaroid slr , how much does something like this cost ? Minus the motor and reskinning
I recently got one of these with a broken/loose mirror as you stated in this video
I’ve reskinned a few of my personal SX-70 and sonar SX-70’s , even an ivory white one , but I’ve never done a mirror repair and like you said maybe it’s best to have a pro do it 😂
feel free to message me through social media etc
Ok but what is the MOST overrated instant camera in your humble opinion?
In my experience deskinning an Alpha 1 Model 2 with a chisel actually wasn't all that terrible. You just have to be patient and go with a slow rocking motion, and try and work it under the adhesive. I only had a blow dryer for heat, but was able to make do with that. Slr680's seem like a different beast though, and your heat gun tip is way underrated.
The MOST over-rated Polaroid is the SLR690. It is utter junk. Often described as the "Japanese 680", but in reality, comparisons are superficial. Electronically, they are completely different inside. Gone is all the analogue Polaroid circuitry, and in its place an NEC microcontroller and transistor arrays. Flimsy internal ribbon cables and the baffling design choice to provide constant power to the MDC03 transistor array (even when the camera is closed!) will ensure these cameras become bricked. They are annoying to repair, and it baffles me why people pay so much for them
As for re-skinning, while you might have had an easy time of it, a chisel should just simply never be used for sticky adhesive skins. End of discussion.
It's dangerous for both camera and technician.
It IS okay to use on crusty glue (such as under the door panel), because this has less chance of getting caught. See my Model 2 restoration video for this.
I say this because I've slipped. I've bled. I've ruined body panels. A decade ago every online guide suggested chisel use. After enough accidents I said "there must be a better way". Hence why I am trying to educate people on how to do it better.
My request has been accepted!
ask and ye shall receive
@@theinstantcameraguy Weird that Matthew 7:7 is my favorite passage
@@renguney the door will be opened to those who knock
1:54:20
Smoothing capacitors with batteries? Why?
To smooth the power delivery of course...
Kratax rechargeable AAA batteries make the Sonar AF behave crazy otherwise
i have a question ¿can use that flash in a normally sonar body? and use sonar Board? recently get slr-680 completely broken body, but front Is in perfect condition, supose need replace lateral arm, but need more work? or just are incompatible
Not without lots of notification
You'd basically need a spare camera to poach parts from, to convert your 680 into a standard sonar with flash socket
ummm basically is more easy just install 680 electronic in sonar body right? have another question ¿do you have video explain process to clean lens in sonar? both systems use same lens and are very dirty inside
The best one is the camera you are able to afford.
Nooo... you can't trash talk the SLR680... I built my identity around those 😭
Very interesting request from that client of yours. Personally I would keep a gold SX-70 Sonar 100% original and pristine, but that's just me.
Certainly looking forward to part two!
The customer is always right!
Honestly though... the camera could actually be reverted back at any time really. The shutter assembly can be swapped by a skilled technique without dismantling the body of the camera. So it's not quite as sacrilegious as one may assume
@@theinstantcameraguy True indeed. They said they wanted something unique, and this will certainly fit the bill.
Is the sonar in question one of the serialized limited runs, or a different golden model? I can't remember if there's multiple different iterations of golden units or not.
@@andrewhamop6665 I have no idea! And wont know until I see it
Damn who keeps giving you these whack ass broken cameras 👀👀👀👀
they sure are cursed!
Promo-SM 😪