A Chinese company has revealed a new version of one of the most successful instant cameras of all time – the Polaroid SX-70.
10Art.CC, which makes accessories such as new Polaroid backs for Hasselblad cameras, has announced the new camera – which is called the Pocket Fold 66 – on its website.
“I often ponder the ultimate form of a Polaroid camera. It must simultaneously meet the requirements of portability, image quality, reliability, ease of use, and aesthetics,” the announcement says.”So, here it is: the Pocket Fold 66, a foldable instant camera with an optical viewfinder and automatic metering. A complete all-in-one camera. Pf – a camera that folds into your pocket. 66 – uses instant square film.
“This camera pays tribute to Dr Land, inspired by the Polaroid SX70. I’m sure everyone agrees that among all instant cameras, this one is indispensable. It’s truly classic, yet incredibly timeless. It’s perfect, yet imperfect.’
The announcement says that the camera “isn’t a replica; it’s a re-creation. We’ve only retained its folding structure, as it’s the only way to achieve extreme compactness. I deeply admire Dr Land’s ingenuity. Respect!”
According to the specifications published on the announcement, the camera will feature:
- 110mm f/5.6 lens
- Focusing distance from 15cm (6in) to infinity
- Automatic exposure with EV adjustment
- Built in rechargeable lithium battery
- Uses Polaroid Square film
10Art.CC said details of the camera’s price and release date will be unveiled at a later date.
The Polaroid SX-70 was released in 1972 and remained in production until 1981. It’s innovative design – which included a collapsible frame and a complicated mirror system in the viewfinder – helped popularise instant photography. Despite being out of production for more than 40 years, the cameras are still highly prized; Hong Kong camera producer MiNT Camera modified SX-70s as the SLR670 so that they could shoot 600-series film, which is still in production.
10Art.CC’s announcement is not the only instant camera surprise to come from China this year. In February, TTArtisan revealed a new instant camera, seemingly based on the Seagull 203 folding camera. The Folding Instant Camera was unveiled at a trade show in Japan and will take Fuji Instax film.
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
Film photography is wonderful…but not Polaroids. These ever unsharp and dull snapshots. I didn’t understand them in 1990 and I don’t understand them now.