How do I install a Power Pack on my SX-70 or SLR 680 folding camera?
Notes prior to assembly:
- The Power Pack must be installed with the bottom leather skins removed from your camera. You only need to remove the one leather piece on the part that will mate with the Power Pack. Follow our deskinning guide here.
- While this guide shows the steps of installing a Power Pack, the same steps can be followed to install the non-powered tripod mount and strap lugs accessory.
Inside the Power Pack kit, you will find the following items:
- The Power Pack
- An optional attachment for adding strap lugs
- A plug that must be installed if you choose not to install the strap lugs
- A screwdriver with both 1mm square and Torx 4 bits
- 4x screws
- 4x AAA batteries
- 2x ND filters
The attachments for the screwdriver head can be found inside the yellow screwdriver handle. Simply remove the top cap to access the two heads inside. Both the square and torx heads are provided because Polaroid used both styles of screws on cameras. You will likely need one or the other. To discern which one you need, look at the four screws found on the deskinned bottom cover of your camera.
Use the appropriate screwdriver head to remove the four screws located on the bottom cover of the camera. It is important to retain these screws if you ever wish to remove the Power Pack from your camera, so make sure to store them in a safe space (and label them!)
At this point, if you would like to include the strap attachment, add that to your power pack. Please note that this part is not symmetrical, and there is only one orientation to install it. If it is not aligning properly, flip it around.
If you wish to forgo the strap attachment, install the plug that fills the holes where the strap attachment would otherwise be.
Open the back cover of the Power Pack and place it onto the bottom cover of your camera. The side with the power switch should be aligned with the very back of your camera. There are four holes that will align with the screw holes you removed from your camera in previous steps. Use the four provided screws (these are Torx 4 drive-type, so use the provided bit) to attach the Power Pack to your camera. Do not use the original screws on your camera, as they are not long enough to properly fasten the Power Pack to the camera. There is no need to attach the screws tightly, fasten them until they are snug and no further.
Once the Power Pack is secured to your camera, you can install the 4 provided AAA batteries and close the Power Pack door.
If there is no film in the camera but you turn the Power Pack on, the camera will run its darkslide ejection cycle. When that occurs, the shutter blades will be closed at the end of the cycle, causing the viewfinder to be dark. The camera will remain in this state until you shut off the Power Pack or insert a film pack.
You can either install a film pack and then turn the Power Pack on, or you can turn the Power Pack on and then insert the film pack. Both outcomes will lead to the darkslide ejection and allow you to shoot normally.
Important! If you plan to use i-Type film in an SX-70 calibrated camera, you will need to install a provided ND filter onto the top of the i-Type film pack. If you are using i-Type film in an SLR 680 or 690, or a camera that has been calibrated to shoot 600 film, the ND filter should not be used.
I-Type film has a special notch in the film cartridge that prevents users from installing it into vintage Polaroid cameras.
While this notch could simply be shaved off, it is easier to use a darkslide (or the instruction card provided) to help the film pack overcome the block. Insert the darkslide or instruction card about an inch into your camera, laying on what would be the bottom cavity of the interior body.
Insert the film pack about halfway into the camera and then remove the card. If done correctly, the film pack notch will overcome the pack spring and will not block the film pack from entering the camera.
You are now ready to shoot with your new Power Pack! To preserve battery life, shut the Power Pack off when not in use.
Should any questions arise, do not hesitate to email us at service@retrospekt.com.
