Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Model 3
Name/Title
Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Model 3Entry/Object ID
200Tags
WorkhorseDescription
Released in 1975 as a budget-friendly alternative to the original SX-70 SLR, the Model 3 utilizes the same folding body but replaces the complex SLR mirror system with a standard optical viewfinder. To use this camera, the photographer must estimate the distance to their subject and manually set the focus on the distance scale located on the lens dial. This design choice saved manufacturing costs but introduced the "parallax error" common in viewfinder cameras, where the image seen in the viewfinder is slightly different from what the lens captures at close distances. It features a black ABS plastic body traditionally covered in brown synthetic "Porvair" vinyl. The flash socket was moved to the top of the viewfinder housing to ensure the flash didn't obstruct the new viewing window. It still utilizes the 4-element 116mm glass lens found in higher-end models, meaning the image quality can be identical to an SLR version if the focus is estimated correctly.Category
Camera, Folding, Polaroid SX-70
Media Type