Since the Polaroid Time-Zero film is a thing of the past (okay maybe the Polaroid 600 is joining the Time-Zero in heaven soon 🙁 ), I had to modify a cheap SX-70 I found recently to take the 600 film.
Test photo after the modification
Having read about how to do it online, I decided to make the process slightly simpler when it comes to replacing the ND filter in front of the electric eye. Those guides online suggest using clear plastic pieces cut out from CD jewel cases. That may be a bit troublesome (or is it not?). I decided to use those easy-to-cut transparency sheets instead. First … using a small screwdriver, pry open the metal ring that holds down the ND filter in front of the electric eye. Be careful when doing this … you don’t wanna send the ring flying into your eyes. It should not take too much effort removing them. Here’s how they look like after being separated from the SX-70
Keep the ND filter in case you wanna put it back in future (why would you wanna do that?). Cut a small piece of transparency sheet, big enough to cover the electric eye. Then position and press down the metal ring you removed earlier. After doing so, carefully cut off the excess transparency sheet or just leave it there for the cool (?) factor. 😛
After doing this, I got myself a ND2 filter, cut it to the same size as the lens front … then using double-sided tape, stick the ND2 permanently in front of the lens.
It’s just that simple. Should you not want to cut a ND2 filter yourself, you can find some people selling stick-on ND filters for the SX-70 mod online. Have fun!
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