Kevin J E.
There's no doubt you could find this item for less on eBay or its equivalent, but what made me go with Retrospekt is their incredible warranty.
The camera I was sent was in beautiful condition and took beautiful pictures. However, one of the components ended up failing within the first few days of use. Understandably I was at a loss. I reached out to the Retrospekt team and they took care of everything--from diagnosing the issue, to covering the cost of shipping it back, and of course the cost of the repair.
I've just received my camera back, and I swear it even looks better than I did when I sent it out. Special shout out to Jessica from the customer service team.
Some might wonder why I would rate five stars, after having difficulty with the camera I was sent. The thing is these cameras are forty years old and no longer in production. The fact that a company will stand by its work with that factor is admirable. Issues can happen whenever you're buying from anywhere--but it is how the company handles those issues that really show whether it's worth doing business with them. It is.
These cameras are truly something special--and there really is no comparison. The images that come out are so sharp, so colorful, and so truly special.
Definitely grateful to Retrospekt for being one of a handful of companies refurbishing these very unique cameras.
Attached is a picture of my beautiful roommate Shmoo.
Josef P.
Love this camera. I noticed an immediate difference in photo quality compared to my Polaroid one step close up 600 camera. The photos show much more depth, are sharper, & generally cooler temp.
I’ve had an SX-70 in the past and I thought I’d miss the manual focusing.. but I don’t. Shooting is a breeze & the sonar & flash get the focus right. I really like the nice condition the SLR 680 arrived in. First purchase from Retrospekt & I’m impressed!
Blake, Z.
Absolutely in love with this camera. It’s become my “go to” for all of my Polaroid projects. 10/10 would recommend
Arty J.
absolutely love it. I’ve never had a camera in better condition than this and the pictures it takes are breathtaking.
ERIK H.
After desiring this camera for over 20 years, I finally pulled the trigger. What can I say? This camera feels both brand new and a relic of the analogue past. Retrospekt delivers on the promise of making what is old new again. Packaging is top notch (the box makes a great storage case as well), with modern instructions and a little flair. The refurbishment process.... perfect. I do not know the condition of the camera before it reached Retrospekt techs, but in my hands I feel like a child in the 80s opening a new toy. The textures are all correct. This is a complex device, with the way it folds. Everything operates like it is brand new. I just completed my first cassette of film and the results are fabulous. If you love instant film and want to glean the utmost quality from the medium, this is your camera.
John M.
In the photograph I attached to this review you will see pictured the product I purchased for this review (The Polaroid SLR 680 SE with the black button) which is sitting next to the regular Polaroid SLR 680 I purchased a few months back with the clear injection moulded flash housing also through retrospekt. So needless to say I am an avid Polaroid collector and user now with many models from retrospekt , and my trusted source for securing certain models of Polaroid cameras I covet is now and will continue to be retrospekt. My love affair with retrospekt started when I received a limited edition Killer Acid Polaroid 600 box camera as a gift which until this day has to be one of my favoured cameras I own. Now I’ve spent quite a bit on rounding my collection myself through different models on the site . Let me elaborate as to why this is, so you can understand the foundation of my bias and maybe retrospekt can also be your trusted source for all things refurbished retro tech.
Firstly I should say I am a neurotic camera buyer and my standards are extremely high for both form and function . With this 680se I stated within the notes section at checkout that my dream Polaroid body would be a 680 SE with the original flash housing and the black button to which I was elated to see in stock , and as a neurotic and particular collector I included a lot of questions pertaining to the cosmetic quality that if not met would be dealbreakers for me such as any cracks in the flash housing, any unintentional diagonal lines in the prism, Dust in the lens , significant cracks in the leather, a broken or stiff folding mechanism, etc. When I got the camera in person all of these requests were meticulously met with care. The leather was applied perfectly with no cracks , the body had no dents or abrasions and the enamel paint was all in tact as if it just left the factory . The lens had no dust whatsoever , the folding mechanism was snappy and the flash housing looked brand new even though it was the original plastic part. They even rebuild the meters and calibrate it perfectly to the iso 640 Polaroid 600 film. I found myself not needing to use the compensation dial much at all , save for extremely bright conditions where i’d reduce add a stop of light with the dial to Darken. All of my exposures on the slr 680se are near perfect and all I need to do to maintain these beautiful machines is to make sure to store them in the proper humidity controlled environments, devoid of dust , and cleaning the rollers every couple packs. The sonar is snappy and the motors sound new. Retrospekt even packages the cameras in new designed Apple-Esque magnetic boxes that make you feel like you’re opening a brand new revolutionary product. And the team at retrospekt included a shot blank Polaroid with writing in the frame that stated” I hope your new slr 680se lives up to your wildest dreams”. I felt seen and like they had specially listened to all of my notes and made my dream of owning a mint slr680se come true! And man did my dream come true. Couldn’t have asked for a better product. If you’re looking to buy the most cared for Polaroid cameras there is no one else in the market that takes as much care as retrospekt does in the refurbishing process. The price is worth it.
Kevin C.
I’ve owned a Polaroid Impulse AF before getting the SLR, and I'm truly shocked with how the SLR takes photos and how crisp the quality comes out. Im super happy with my purchase.
Jonathan M.
Love this camera! Retrospekt did a great job refurbishing it and it works just like new. And when I had an issue using it when I first got it the people at retrospekt were quick to help me out. Great camera and great service!!
alfonso c.
beautifully restored love it!!!
Ryan K.
I learned about retrospekt from a friend in LA who said the customer service and the cameras were great. I called and spoke with a very helpful person (I believe Lucy) and she sorted me out beautifully. The Polaroid 680 SE arrived early, in working order, in very cool packaging. I gave it to my partner as a gift and she loves it. I think that operations like Retrospekt are becoming rarer and rarer as consumer culture gets driven by companies with no real love for the products they sell. There are certain outfits that completely defy this impersonal model and Retrospekt is a great example. They are great people who do great work, doing what they love, and putting that love into the world so that customers can feel connected to where their money is spent, and more importantly, to the tools they purchase so that they can grow and experience life with them.
Kyle D.
Omg the quality of this camera is top notch! Highly recommend this company to anyone! Love how clean it is and it’s like I bought it new in the store! Love there custom packaging. Love they include stickers. Who don’t like company stickers LOL. Amazing customer service to boot. I will be a returning customer soon!
Joan W.
The package arrived promptly and in good order. The camera was refurbished good as new. I love it and would recommend this company to anyone looking for a reliable source for vintage cameras and/or their repair.
Cecelia E.
so happy I was able to grab this awesome camera while it was in stock. It’s amazing! Truly in love, the photos are crisp and have beautiful color saturation.
Yannick P.
Thanks a lot ! Perfect delivery ! Perfect Polaroid !
Yannick, from Paris !
Stephen J.
I recently bought a 680 and couldn't be happier with the whole experience. I had a few questions before hitting the 'buy' button so I called the number on the site and Adam himself (the co-owner) answered. He was incredibly gracious and helpful and with all of my questions, and the camera I bought was in absolutely prefect shape. Loving the camera and everything about Retrospekt. Will be shopping here again in the future.
Bret W.
I cannot be happier with this 680! So fresh and so clean, just like the packaging.
Andy M.
Looks practically brand new! Awesome all around camera.
Geneviève T.
Very good camera, well packed, fast shipped. Thank you so much !
Bruce H.
This is my first folding camera and upon receiving it I was not the least bit disappointed by the effort and attention to detail Retrospekt’s team put into the refurb. The unit is basically brand new! It functions perfectly and the results from my first few shots with a pack of B&W 600 film show just how much care they’ve put into the whole process, not just from the refurb but the packaging itself as well. The unit flew all the way from the states to Brisbane, Australia in pristine condition ✨ rather than risk an eBay purchase, I decided to pay that premium for the assurance knowing I’m getting exactly what I’m paying for.
Thank you for all the work you guys do! If ever I’m in need of a repair or a complete unit replacement, I will always go to you guys from hereon in. You’ve earned my trust.
