Polaroid SONAR OneStep SX-70 Land Camera
Polaroid introduces sonar focusing-the ultimate in one-step photography That unexpected moment, that periect smile, will never again be lost whi Ie you pause to set the lens. The instant you see you r picture, just aim and shoot. With sonar focusing, the camera sets the lens instantly, automatically. Now, nothing interieres with seeing the shot and taking it. (See "How sonar focusing works " inside this foldout.
How sonar focusing works As you beg in to press the shutter button, your camera releases sound waves to the central part of the scene (approximate area marked in blue). The frequencies are far beyond our range of hearing and travel at the speed of sou nd (1 ,100 feet per second). The split second it takes for the sound to reach your subject and the echo to return is fed into a tiny electronic computer inside the camera.
Contents Call us, free Please spend a few minutes reading this·booklet. It could mean the difference between taking consistently good pictures or disappointing ones. If you ever have a question about your camera or your pictures, call us toll free .
Film and flash Features Your camera uses Polaroid SX-70 Land film and FlashBars. Each film pack provides ten color pictures and contains a battery that powers the camera. Each FlashBar has ten bulbs. New with sonar focusing: • Automatic and precise focusing in any light, even total darkness. You'll never waste a flash or film with this camera. It will not let a bulb fire when a film pack is empty and will not take a picture when all the bulbs on one side of the FlashBar have been fired.
To open and close the camera Opening: Hold the camera in the palm of your left hand. Lift the thin end of the viewfinder cap and pull it straight up until the cover support (A) locks. Closing: Push the cover support toward the rear of the camera. Press down on the viewfinder cap until both sides of the camera latch.
Camera parts 1 FlashBar socket 8 Picture exit slot 2 Transducer (sends the sound waves and receives the echo) 9 Sensor (for the "use flash or tripod" indicator inside the viewfinder) 3 Manual focus switch 4 Manual focus wheel 5 Shutter button 6 Lens (4 element, 116mm, f/8) 10 Lighten/Darken control (use only in special lighting situations; see page 26) 11 Electric eye 12 Film door 7 Distance scale 2 3 4 9 5 10 11 8 8
13 Viewfinder cap 17 Remote shutter button connector 14 Viewfinder eyepiece 15 Neckstrap connectors (follow the instructions on the neckstrap sleeve) 16 Picture counter (goes to 10when you load a new or partly used film pack into the camera; counts down to show how many pictures are left) 18 Yellow bar (opens film door) 19 Tripod socket (is on the bottom of the camera; accepts a standard tripod screw) 17 18 19 9
To load the film Push down on the yellow bar (A). The film door will drop open. Hold the film pack by its edges only. (Gripping the pack above and below the yellow tab may damage the film.) Push the film pack into the camera until the narrow strip (8) snaps open. Close the film door. The camera will eject the film cover. To remove an empty pack. pull the yellow tab.
To hold the camera Grip it firmly in the palm of your left hand. thumb and fingers behind the hinge (A). Place your right thumb on the semicircle. index finger on the shutter button. and curl the other fingers into your palm. It's important to hold the camera as shown. Then. when you squeeze the shutter button, your fingers wi II not press against the bellows or block the picture exit slot in front.
How sonar focusing lets you "preview" the picture To familiarize yourself with sonar focusing and "previewing," stand a few feet from your subject. Then look through the viewfinder. Notice that the scene appears unsharp. What you now see in the viewfinder is a "preview" of what the finished picture will look like.
To aim and shoot Bring your eye close to the viewfinder eyepiece so you can see all four corners of the black frame inside. Squeeze the shutter button all the way. Hold the camera steady until the film is ejected. Remove and handle the developing picture by its wide white border.
Use flash for most indoor pictures Insert a FlashBar into the FlashBar socket. Always do this with the camera pointing away from you . Indoors, you can take flash pictures of subjects 10.4 inches to 20 feet from the camera. 14 You'll get particularly good flash pictures of people when they are 4 to 6 feet away and near a colorful background. Flash pictures should not be taken where the atmosphere contains gases or dust that may be ignited by a spark.
Watch for your camera's "use flash or tripod" indicator When you're not using flash , a red light may appear in the right side of the viewfinder as you beg in to press the shutter button. If you see the red light. release the shutter button . Then use flash or place the camera on a tripod for a time exposure. It warns that the lighting on the scene is not bright enough for hand-held picture taking . Outdoors, the red light will most likely appear when it is heavily overcast.
You can use flash in daylight This exciting feature, called "fill-flash," can correct lighting situations that might otherwise have produced disappointing results. Although you can use "fill-flash" when your subjects are 4 to 12 feet from the camera, you'll get particularly good results when they are 4 to 6 feet away. Here are the typical ways "fill-flash" can help in daylight: Strong sunlight can create harsh facial shadows. Flash can fill in the shadowed areas with even, flattering light.
Indoor flash hints Watch the background To assure that it will be well lit by the flash, the background should be colorful and near your subject.
Arrange groups carefully All the people in a group should be about the same distance from the camera. Then everyone will be lit evenly by the flash. To avoid a flash reflection When shooting toward a reflective object or background (mirror. window, eyeglasses, etc.). stand to one side of your subject and shoot from an angle to avoid a flash reflection in the picture (see below) .
Daylight picture hints It's easy to take beautiful daylight pictures. Just keep these points in mind : • In bright sunlight, stand so the sun is behind you or to the side. • Move in close. You'l l get part icularly good results when your subject is about 4 to 5 feet from the camera. Then important details fill the picture and backgrounds are less distra cting. • Don 'l just wait for a special occasion. Photograph your subjects when they least expect it.
, • Save action pictures for bright. sunl it days Then your camera 's shutter will work at top speed . And for best results, have your subjects move toward you rather than ac ross the picture • Give your subjects something to do. Then they'll feel relaxed, not stiff or posed.
Daylight picture hints continued • You don 't always need direct sunlight to get great results. This portrait was taken on a bright overcast day. Since the light is diffused , shadows are soft, making it a flattering light for close-ups. • Include color. Use props. Ask . your subjects to wear bold , solid colors or pose them near a colorful background. • When shooting scenics, include something in the foreground to serve as a natural frame orto show depth or scale. • Watch the background.
Close-ups Your camera is designed to open a new world of beautiful , exciting close-up pictures. You can take them in daylight or with flash and no other camera does it so easi Iy. With no accessories , you can come as close as 10.4 inches. Pictures taken at that distance wi II show your subject at half its actual size.
Time exposures Your camera can make automatic time exposures up to 14 seconds or more. Keep the camera steady by placing it on a firm support-a tripod is best -and use the Polaroid Remote Shutter Button #112. The tripod socket is on the bottom of the camera . To take the picture, press the shutter button for at least a second ; then release it. The camera will do the rest. For best re su lts indoors, stand so bright I ig hts are beh ind you or to the side.
Tips on outdoor lighting Outdoors, your camera's electric eye controls the lens opening and shutter speed to let just the right amount of Iight reach the fi 1m. The electric eye works best when the scene is evenly lit. It can be "fooled" by uneven lighting as described below. Bright backgrounds: Wh ite wall , sw imming poo l, beach or snow scenes, etc . When a bright background is a large part of the scene and reflects more I ight than your subject.
Dark backgrounds: Green foliage , dark wall . etc . When a dark background is a large part of the scene and reflects less light than your subject, the electric eye will again set the camera for the background. Now. your subject may appear too light (top right).
To set the lens manually A few special situations call for setting the lens manually: subject appears unsharp in the viewfinder, set the lens manually . • When shooting straight on through glass, it will block the sound waves from reaching your subject. The lens will focus on the glass and your subject may appear fuzzy. Screens or bars could cause the same result.
To use the focus wheel: Look at the most important part of the scene. Roll the focus wheel all the way in one direction, then all the way in the other. Notice that the image changes from fuzzy to sharp and back to fuzzy. Return the wheel to the point where your subject began to look sharp and clear. Now roll it a bit in each direction until you're sure your subject is as sharp and clear as possible.
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Need help? Call Customer Service II you ever have a question about your camera or your pictures, call us toll Iree . .. 800-225-1384 Irom anywhere in the continental U.S.A. except Massachusetts and Alaska. From those states, call collect - (617) 864-4568. In Canada, call toll Iree-800-261-6970. Our Customer Service representatives can be reached every weekday Irom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., your local time. Or, write to Polaroid Corporation, Customer Service, Cambridge, Mass.
Troubleshooting Repeated spots: If a repeated spot or bar pattern appears on the picture, the rollers inside the camera need cleaning. It's best to check the rollers each time you load film. To clean the rollers: In dim light, open the film door and depress the light shield (A). Rotate the rollers (8). Remove any specks of dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth, moistened with water if necessary. Check the raised ends (C) on the top roller; dirt can collect there too.
Part of the picture is missing: This happens when you damage the film by squeezing the pack above and below the yellow tab . As you load the camera, remember to hold the fi lm pack by its edges Part of the picture is fogged: If you press again st the bellows whil e taking a picture, you may block the movement of parts inside the came ra. The next picture you take could be partially or totally wh ite or could have streaky light patterns. Hold the camera as shown on page 11.
Fuzzy pictures can be caused by ... Moving the camera during picture taking . It is important to hold the camera steady until the film is ejected from the camera. 2 Shooting through glass. The glass will block the sound waves from reaching your subject and the lens will focus on the glass. Set the lens manually (see page 28) . 3 The sound waves striking a foreground object and noi reaching your subject. As you press the shutter button, the sound waves travel to the central part of the scene (see page 3).
If the camera doesn't eject the film cover or film • The battery in your film pack may be dead or weak. Try a fresh pack. If the film cover doesn't come out of the second pack, the camera may need repair. See the next page. • If you press the shutter button for a flash picture and nothing happens, all the bulbs on the front side of the FlashBar may have been fired. Change the FlashBar. If the camera doesn 't work when an unused side faces front, turn the FlashBar around or insert a new one.
If your camera needs repair If you believe your camera needs repair, before you send it to us please call Customer SeNice (see page 31) and explain the problem. We just may be able to save you the time and trouble of returning it. Your Polaroid Land camera dealer wi II be happy to return your camera for repair. Or if you prefer, you may bring the camera to a Polaroid SeNice Center, which offers walk-in seNice. Many repairs can be made while you wait.
Care of your system The camera Treat your camera with care. Rough handling may damage delicate parts. Keep the camera closed when not in use. The lens and viewfinder will seldom need cleaning. If they do, blow off any dust, then wipe them gently with a clean, lint-free cloth. From time to time, clean the rollers inside the film door with a similar cloth, moistened with water if necessary (see page 32). The film Polaroid SX-70 Land film, like all film, should be kept cool.
Electronic flash Your camera was designed to use FlashBars and with a FlashBar it will produce well exposed pictures over the full flash range from about 10 in. to 20 ft. Because of the special electronic circuitry in SONAR OneStep cameras, an electronic flash unit must have matching electronic characteristics in order to give good picture results with this camera. As of August, 1978, such electronic flash units were not available.
Accessories Picture taking can be even more fun with the accesso ries listed below, available from your camera dealer. • Polaroid #112 • Polaroid • Polaroid • Polaroid Remote Shutter Button #119A Tele 1.
Full one-year warranty If your camera proves to be defective within the warranty period we wi II repair it or at our option replace it with a similar camera without charge. The warranty applies whether you do or do not return a registration card to us. The warranty period is one year from the original date of purchase. To verify the warranty period, you should keep the sales slip or other proof of the purchase date. Without this information .
Polaroid service centers and offices California Polaroid Corporation 2040 E. Maple Avenue E I Segundo 90245 Telephone : (2t3) 322-6206 Additional Service Centenl : Besides Polaroid's own Service Centers listed here. lhere are many other authorized Service Centers in Ihe U.SA To locale Ihe one closesl to you. ca ll Customer Service (see page3t). Australia Polaroid Australia Pty. Ltd. Eden Park Eslale 3t Waterloo Road Georgia North Ryde . N.
