You can’t see it, but there’s a Polaroid SLR 680 in that thing.
The Polaroid SLR 680/690 is my absolute favorite instant film camera, but it’s also an absolute pain to transport safely. When folded flat, the grafted-on flashbar/autofocus unit feels like it could easily snap off if put loose in a bag – because it easily can. This thing is fragile.
The very expensive and rare purpose-built SLR 680 case.
For a blissful second, the Impossible Project made a fantastic case for the SLR 680. This thing was stupid expensive, but since there was nothing else like it out there, I considered it an essential piece of equipment if you wanted to safely shoot an SLR 680 out of the studio. In the years since, I’ve gotten many emails and messages from people trying to buy mine off of me because there simply isn’t anything that replaced it. I’ve been looking for alternatives, but haven’t been able to find anything suitable to the SLR 680’s weird shape.
Well, finally, at long last, an unexpected savior has arrived, and that savior is the Nintendo Switch 2.
The SLR 680 making itself at home in a Switch 2 case.
The Switch 2 is also a very large flat object that needs protection when transporting, and it turns out that many of the mass-produced cases for the Switch 2 also fit the SLR 680 perfectly. The ones that are just a hair roomier like this cheap 16 buck case are ideal: https://amzn.to/4iJePnF
There is an entire ecosystem of handheld PCs like the Steam Deck, but I’ve found that the Nintendo Switch 2’s taller screen results in cases that fit better for the wider Polaroid 680. Also, make sure you get the thicker cases like in the link above – look for ones that are designed to carry an extra charger or joy-con (and don’t be fooled by sellers’ terrible photoshop jobs).
I use all kinds of cases meant for video games for storing all kinds of things, including a trusty external SSD case that goes everywhere with me that was once meant to carry a Miyoo Mini. These cases are mass produced to be very affordable, so photographers take note. With a little experimenting, you can find great cases that fit film rolls, cartridges, cameras, and more, all without the hobby tax that many photo accessories come with.
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