Polaroid SX-70

InstantISO 160

Characteristics

  • Grain: fine
  • Contrast: medium
  • Latitude: narrow
  • Formats available: instant

Polaroid SX-70 Film is the modern integral instant film for Polaroid SX-70 cameras — manufactured by Polaroid (the post-2017 brand, formerly Impossible Project / Polaroid Originals) since the 2010 relaunch following the original Polaroid Corporation's 2008 cessation of all instant film production. SX-70 film produces 79×79mm prints with a distinctive square format and the iconic white border that defines the Polaroid aesthetic.

Key features

  • ISO 160 (rated; the modern formulation differs from the original 1972 ISO 150)
  • 79×79mm pack with 79×79mm visible image area + iconic white border
  • Color integral instant film; B&W variant also available
  • Compatible with original SX-70 cameras (1972-1981) AND the modern Polaroid Now SX-70 reissue
  • NOT compatible with Polaroid 600 cameras without a dark slide / ND filter modification
  • Current production by Polaroid (the modern brand)

Workflow

  • Insert pack into compatible SX-70 camera
  • Expose; print ejects
  • Shield from light immediately during the first 30 seconds of development (early Polaroid Originals formulations were extremely light-sensitive during development; current is improved but caution still advised)
  • Wait 15-30 minutes for full color development (much slower than original Polaroid SX-70 film, which developed in ~5 minutes)

Practical notes

  • The Polaroid Originals / modern Polaroid SX-70 film does NOT match the original 1970s formulation in color rendering or development time — it's softer, more pastel, slower-developing
  • Higher cost per print than Fujifilm Instax (~$2-3 per print vs Instax's ~$1)
  • Cold storage extends shelf life; expired modern Polaroid SX-70 produces unpredictable color shifts
  • The iconic look + larger image area are the reasons photographers still choose Polaroid over Instax

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