Just like its big brother, Impossible Project Color Film for SX-70 is a continuation of an already excellent line of color film. PX 70 Color Protection pioneered IP’s opacifier, making the film much easier to use for newbies and pros alike. 2013’s new generation changes up the naming system and adds back a bit of the brightness lost in previous generations. IP Color Film for SX-70 is constrained only by the limitations of the SX-70 format itself, where low ISO/ASA sensitivity prevents the film from working in anything but the brightest conditions.
Image Quality
In optimal conditions, the image quality of Color Film for SX-70 is excellent. The colors are a bit muted when compared to Color Film for 600, and I’ve noticed that there tends to be less details in the blacks. Much like the 600 variant, the film tends shift colors, but usually in pleasing ways. If you’re looking for accuracy, shoot digital or Fuji Instax. This film is for artists and people who want to have fun.
Usability
The Impossible Project’s Color Film for SX-70 is rated at 160 ISO/ASA, which makes it slightly more sensitive than the Polaroid film that it replaces. I recommend turning the exposure compensation dial a little to the dark side to keep things from being overexposed.
As I mentioned above, this low sensitivity is my main source of frustration with this film. SX-70 is an older format that Polaroid replaced with 600 type film, which is much faster and easier to use. At any rate, if you’re planning on using this or any SX-70 speed film, make sure you have plenty of light. I’m talking middle-of-a-bright-sunny-day kinds of light. Often my Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Sonar will simply fail if I try to take a photo with it in a relatively dim environment.
If you’re using a 600 type camera there’s no reason to get this film, as it will be too slow to expose correctly. Just get the great Color Film for 600 instead.
Durability
Unlike older generations of Impossible Project film, Color Film for SX-70 has no weird leakage defects and doesn’t have a blue haze corrupting the image. I haven’t had problems with chemical leakage or lizard skin defects either.
The opacifier does a great job at protecting the image, although it is still wise to use a dark slide and to protect images from light as they develop in order to get the best colors. The Impossible Project claims that the photos will develop within a half hour, but from my experience the wait is closer to an hour. It’s not a big issue, but it definitely takes away a bit of the ‘instant’ of instant film.
Recommendations
If you have an SX-70 camera, Color Film for SX-70 is pretty much the only thing out there to put in your camera. As of late 2013, the Impossible Project doesn’t manufacture a black and white film for SX-70 cameras, so I hope you really like color. Luckily, Color Film for SX-70 is excellent, and its only flaws are inherent in the SX-70 system itself.
If you haven’t yet purchased a Polaroid camera and are trying to decide whether to get a 600 or SX-70 type camera, definitely go for the 600 variant. Most likely it will be newer, less likely to be defective, and will work much better inside or in cloudy environments.
I recommend getting a flashbar for your SX-70 camera if you’re planning using this film. Many SX-70 cameras don’t have built in flashes, and it really takes a ton of light to make this film show its best colors and contrast.
Good luck and happy shooting!
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