It’s been called the greatest instant camera ever made, the apex of the Polaroid folding line of cameras, and even the evil twin of the original SX-70 camera!

I am of course talking about the magnificent Polaroid SLR 680 camera. For me, this is the camera that started off my Polaroid obsession a few years ago, find out in this episode why I love this camera so much.
“The magic of Polaroids is their uniqueness. Traditional photographs are by definition reprints from a negative. Polaroids are a one-of-a-kind painting, produced by light, which might be why artists were so drawn to it.” Florian Kaps

Even Marshall Dalmatian loves the SLR 680 SE!

Episode 5 summary

  • Introduction
  • Brief history of the SX-70 line
  • Introduction of 600 speed film
  • Debut of Polaroid SLR 680 in 1982
  • Description of the camera in comparison to the SX-70
  • Description of the Polaroid SLR SE 680’s features and specs
  • Differences between the Polaroid SLR 680, Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid SLR 690 cameras
  • What it’s like to shoot
  • How I got my Polaroid SLR 680 SE
  • Why didn’t I shoot Polaroid photos back in the 90s?
  • Description of the images including information about blue marks (opacification failure) and pink colour cast on images (scroll down this page for images!)
  • Summer road trip stories with lots of cameras!
  • Special surprise from a generous fellow film photographer!

Shout outs

Buy Polaroid Originals Color 600 and Ice Cream Pastels film from Amazon US

Buy Polaroid Originals Color 600 and Ice Cream Pastels film from Amazon UK

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Matt Loves Cameras: film camera reviews, instant camera reviews, everything analogue photography related.

Images taken with the Polaroid 680 SLR SE

Sunflowers in south west Queensland. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Ice Cream Pastels Color 600 film. Flash turned off. Blue marks are opacification failure – read about this phenomenon via the link in the shoutouts!

 

Cows in south west Queensland. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Ice Cream Pastels Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

 

Sunflower field in south west Queensland. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Ice Cream Pastels Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

Farming scene in south west Queensland. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Ice Cream Pastels Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

Brisbane at midday. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

 

Candid wedding shot taken in Brisbane. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

 

Happy birthday! Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned on.

My daughter at Coohciemudlo Island. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned off. Note the pink colour cast in this and other images – read about this phenomenon via the link in the shoutouts!

My daughter at Coochiemudlo Island wearing sunglasses. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

 

My kids at Wellington Point. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned on.

My son at Coochiemudlo Island. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and expired Impossible Project B&W film. Flash turned off.

Coochiemudlo Island. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and expired Impossible Project B&W film. Flash turned off.

Coochiemudlo Island. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

One of my favourites! My kids at Coochiemudlo Island. Polaroid SLR 680 SE and Polaroid Originals Color 600 film. Flash turned off.

My daughter circa 2014-5 taken with Polaroid SLR 680 SE and expired Polaroid 600 film

My son circa 2014-5 taken with Polaroid SLR 680 SE and expired Polaroid 600 film

Yamba, New South Wales circa 2014-5 taken with Polaroid SLR 680 SE and expired Polaroid 600 film.

 

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