OpenSX70 Board: Why Every Polaroid SX-70 We Sell Has One
Posted by Griffin Malone posted on October 10, 2026
The Polaroid SX-70 is a folding instant SLR from 1972, and nearly all of it can still be serviced: rollers, gears, mirror, shutter, leather. The exception has always been the electronic control module sealed inside the body. When it fails, the camera stops working, and nobody makes new ones. Every SX-70 we sell now has that module replaced with an OpenSX70 board, which also lets the camera shoot 600 film.
This guide covers which SX-70 to buy, what the board changes, which film to use, and what our rebuild involves. Every camera mentioned is in our Polaroid SX-70 collection.
A restored SX-70 from our shelf, photographed in a Brooklyn park.
Which SX-70 to Buy
Every model below gets the same board, the same rebuild and the same warranty. The real choice is how you want to focus and which finish you like.
Prices are as of October 2026 and include the new board, a full restoration and a six-month warranty. Unserviced bodies sell for less elsewhere, but condition drives the price: clean rollers, light-tight bellows and working electronics are what you're paying for.
The Original is the 1972 design and the one to learn on. Focusing by eye at ten inches teaches you the camera quickly. The Model 2 and Alpha 1 Model 2 are later versions that focus the same way; pick between them and the Original mostly on finish.
The Sonar sends out an ultrasonic pulse and focuses for you. It's fast and accurate, but sound bounces off glass, so through a window it focuses on the window. That's what the manual switch is for. It's the easier camera to hand to someone else; the manual models suit slower portrait work.
The Board Inside Every One
What the 1972 module does
The SX-70 was the first instant SLR: a 116mm f/8 four-element glass lens that focuses from 10.4 inches to infinity, in a body that folds flat. The electronic control module Polaroid sealed inside runs all of it. It reads the light, sets the exposure, fires the shutter, drives the motor, moves the mirror and ejects the print.
Why the original board fails
That module has two problems. It assumes ISO 160 film, because that was the only pack that existed in 1972. And it wears out: solder joints crack, capacitors dry out, photocells degrade. There's no new stock and no practical component-level fix, so a good body with a dead module can't take pictures.
What OpenSX70 is
OpenSX70 is an open-source project started in 2017 by an engineer named Joaquín, with Zane and other contributors. Instead of repairing the 1972 board, it replaces it with a modern programmable one.
How it meters: analog, like the original
Our board measures light the same way Polaroid's 1972 board did, with an analog circuit. When you press the shutter button, the blades open and a light sensor starts measuring the light that actually reaches the film. That reading builds up in the circuit as the exposure goes on, and when it reaches the level set for the film you've loaded, the board closes the shutter. The exposure ends when the film has had enough light, however long that takes.
Digital metering works differently. It takes one reading before the shutter opens, works out an exposure time from that snapshot, and then runs a timer. If the light changes during the exposure, say a cloud moves or someone steps into the frame, the timer doesn't know.
Ours reacts to the real light as it arrives, so a change halfway through still counts, and flash is measured as it fires instead of estimated. That's why prints from our cameras look the way the SX-70 was designed to look. Ken Shirriff explained how the original circuit does this when he took apart the original Polaroid chips.
The board plus a full restoration
Our boards are made for us by Zane, one of the OpenSX70 contributors, and the project deserves the credit for the design. What we add is everything around it. A new board can't fix worn seals, a dirty gear train or a hazy mirror, so every camera gets a full restoration before the board goes in, then it's tested and covered by our warranty. The steps are in the rebuild checklist below.
What the Board Changes
Film choice. SX-70 film is ISO 160; Polaroid 600 is ISO 640. A stock SX-70 overexposes 600 film by two stops. The usual fix is a neutral density filter, which costs two stops of light on a lens that only opens to f/8. Our board switches the camera between ISO 160 and ISO 640 with no filter, and you can switch between packs.
Metering that holds. Old parts drift slowly, so prints come out a little light or dark and the owner assumes that's the camera's look. New parts measure correctly and keep doing so.
Hold to eject: keep the button down and the print stays in the camera until you let go, out of bright light.
Low light warning: an LED tells you before you take the shot that there isn't enough light.
Flash metering: the camera measures the flash exposure instead of assuming it.
At more than $3 a frame, knowing a shot won't work before you take it saves real money.
From our Summer 2026 shoot in a Brooklyn park.
Two limits don't change: the lens is f/8 and the fastest shutter speed is about 1/175. Manual shutter speeds, bulb and T modes, multiple exposures and strobe sync need a control add-on we're still developing. It will work with the board already in these cameras, but for now treat the camera as an automatic.
Which Film to Buy
SX-70 or 600. 600 is easier to find, comes in more editions and is faster; SX-70 film gives the original look. Both are on our Polaroid film shelf, and you set the camera for whichever pack you load. A pack of SX-70 color film is $26.99 for eight shots.
Don't buy i-Type for this camera. i-Type packs have no battery, and a vintage SX-70 runs on the battery inside the film pack. If the box doesn't say SX-70 or 600, it won't work.
The Rebuild Checklist
The board is the last step. A new board in a camera with worn seals and a dry gear train still wastes film, so every SX-70 we sell goes through the same sequence:
Full diagnostic of the mechanical and electronic systems before anything comes apart.
Isabelle is a painter and printmaker who often works from her own photographs. Every SX-70 we sell passes through her hands for the diagnostic, restoration, board install and testing before it ships.
Warranty, Repairs and Lenses
If an SX-70 you bought from us needs attention, it's covered by our warranty and goes back to the same technician. We aren't taking in outside SX-70s for restoration right now; join the waitlist on our Polaroid repairs page and we'll email you when spots open. Prisms, fisheyes and macro lenses that clip onto an SX-70 are in Instant Optics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OpenSX70?
An open-source project, started in 2017, that replaces the SX-70's original 1972 control module with a modern programmable board. Because the design is public, it can keep being built and improved. Our boards are made for us by Zane, one of its contributors.
Can an SX-70 shoot 600 film?
All of ours can. A stock SX-70 assumes ISO 160 and overexposes ISO 640 film by two stops. Our board switches between ISO 160 and ISO 640 with no filter, so you keep the full two stops of light.
Can it use i-Type film?
No. i-Type packs have no battery, and a vintage SX-70 is powered by the battery in the pack. Use SX-70 or 600 film.
Does the board give me manual shutter speeds?
Not yet. Manual speeds, bulb and T, multiple exposures and strobe sync need a control add-on that's still in development. It will work with the board already in these cameras.
Is this better than a filter conversion?
For most people, yes. A filter conversion costs less and works, but it handles film speed by giving up two stops on an f/8 lens. The board handles film speed electronically, replaces the module that fails, corrects drifted metering, and adds flash metering, the low light warning and hold to eject.
Can I send you my SX-70 for the board?
Not right now. We're only rebuilding cameras for our own shelf. Join the waitlist on the Polaroid repairs page and we'll email you when we open spots.
Where to Start
If you're happy to focus yourself, start with the SX-70 Original at $540, or a Model 2 if you prefer that finish. If you want autofocus, get the SX-70 Sonar from $665. All are rebuilt here, all have the OpenSX70 board, and all come with a six-month warranty.
Griffin does construction, project management, some photography, and bartending. When not working you may catch them playing pool, pinball, or biking around Brooklyn.
OpenSX70 Board: Why Every Polaroid SX-70 We Sell Has One
The Polaroid SX-70 is a folding instant SLR from 1972, and nearly all of it can still be serviced: rollers, gears, mirror, shutter, leather. The exception has always been the electronic control module sealed inside the body. When it fails, the camera stops working, and nobody makes new ones. Every SX-70 we sell now has that module replaced with an OpenSX70 board, which also lets the camera shoot 600 film.
This guide covers which SX-70 to buy, what the board changes, which film to use, and what our rebuild involves. Every camera mentioned is in our Polaroid SX-70 collection.
A restored SX-70 from our shelf, photographed in a Brooklyn park.
Which SX-70 to Buy
Every model below gets the same board, the same rebuild and the same warranty. The real choice is how you want to focus and which finish you like.
Prices are as of October 2026 and include the new board, a full restoration and a six-month warranty. Unserviced bodies sell for less elsewhere, but condition drives the price: clean rollers, light-tight bellows and working electronics are what you're paying for.
The Original is the 1972 design and the one to learn on. Focusing by eye at ten inches teaches you the camera quickly. The Model 2 and Alpha 1 Model 2 are later versions that focus the same way; pick between them and the Original mostly on finish.
The Sonar sends out an ultrasonic pulse and focuses for you. It's fast and accurate, but sound bounces off glass, so through a window it focuses on the window. That's what the manual switch is for. It's the easier camera to hand to someone else; the manual models suit slower portrait work.
The Board Inside Every One
What the 1972 module does
The SX-70 was the first instant SLR: a 116mm f/8 four-element glass lens that focuses from 10.4 inches to infinity, in a body that folds flat. The electronic control module Polaroid sealed inside runs all of it. It reads the light, sets the exposure, fires the shutter, drives the motor, moves the mirror and ejects the print.
Why the original board fails
That module has two problems. It assumes ISO 160 film, because that was the only pack that existed in 1972. And it wears out: solder joints crack, capacitors dry out, photocells degrade. There's no new stock and no practical component-level fix, so a good body with a dead module can't take pictures.
What OpenSX70 is
OpenSX70 is an open-source project started in 2017 by an engineer named Joaquín, with Zane and other contributors. Instead of repairing the 1972 board, it replaces it with a modern programmable one.
How it meters: analog, like the original
Our board measures light the same way Polaroid's 1972 board did, with an analog circuit. When you press the shutter button, the blades open and a light sensor starts measuring the light that actually reaches the film. That reading builds up in the circuit as the exposure goes on, and when it reaches the level set for the film you've loaded, the board closes the shutter. The exposure ends when the film has had enough light, however long that takes.
Digital metering works differently. It takes one reading before the shutter opens, works out an exposure time from that snapshot, and then runs a timer. If the light changes during the exposure, say a cloud moves or someone steps into the frame, the timer doesn't know.
Ours reacts to the real light as it arrives, so a change halfway through still counts, and flash is measured as it fires instead of estimated. That's why prints from our cameras look the way the SX-70 was designed to look. Ken Shirriff explained how the original circuit does this when he took apart the original Polaroid chips.
The board plus a full restoration
Our boards are made for us by Zane, one of the OpenSX70 contributors, and the project deserves the credit for the design. What we add is everything around it. A new board can't fix worn seals, a dirty gear train or a hazy mirror, so every camera gets a full restoration before the board goes in, then it's tested and covered by our warranty. The steps are in the rebuild checklist below.
What the Board Changes
Film choice. SX-70 film is ISO 160; Polaroid 600 is ISO 640. A stock SX-70 overexposes 600 film by two stops. The usual fix is a neutral density filter, which costs two stops of light on a lens that only opens to f/8. Our board switches the camera between ISO 160 and ISO 640 with no filter, and you can switch between packs.
Metering that holds. Old parts drift slowly, so prints come out a little light or dark and the owner assumes that's the camera's look. New parts measure correctly and keep doing so.
At more than $3 a frame, knowing a shot won't work before you take it saves real money.
From our Summer 2026 shoot in a Brooklyn park.
Two limits don't change: the lens is f/8 and the fastest shutter speed is about 1/175. Manual shutter speeds, bulb and T modes, multiple exposures and strobe sync need a control add-on we're still developing. It will work with the board already in these cameras, but for now treat the camera as an automatic.
Which Film to Buy
SX-70 or 600. 600 is easier to find, comes in more editions and is faster; SX-70 film gives the original look. Both are on our Polaroid film shelf, and you set the camera for whichever pack you load. A pack of SX-70 color film is $26.99 for eight shots.
Don't buy i-Type for this camera. i-Type packs have no battery, and a vintage SX-70 runs on the battery inside the film pack. If the box doesn't say SX-70 or 600, it won't work.
The Rebuild Checklist
The board is the last step. A new board in a camera with worn seals and a dry gear train still wastes film, so every SX-70 we sell goes through the same sequence:
Polaroid SX-70 Original
$540
View ProductYour First Pack: Four Tips
Our two-and-a-half-minute video, How to use Brooklyn Film Camera restored SX-70 cameras, shows a restored body: loading a pack, switching between SX-70 and 600, hold-to-eject, and the low light warning.
Your technician: Isabelle, SX-70 Lead Tech
Isabelle is a painter and printmaker who often works from her own photographs. Every SX-70 we sell passes through her hands for the diagnostic, restoration, board install and testing before it ships.
Warranty, Repairs and Lenses
If an SX-70 you bought from us needs attention, it's covered by our warranty and goes back to the same technician. We aren't taking in outside SX-70s for restoration right now; join the waitlist on our Polaroid repairs page and we'll email you when spots open. Prisms, fisheyes and macro lenses that clip onto an SX-70 are in Instant Optics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OpenSX70?
An open-source project, started in 2017, that replaces the SX-70's original 1972 control module with a modern programmable board. Because the design is public, it can keep being built and improved. Our boards are made for us by Zane, one of its contributors.
Can an SX-70 shoot 600 film?
All of ours can. A stock SX-70 assumes ISO 160 and overexposes ISO 640 film by two stops. Our board switches between ISO 160 and ISO 640 with no filter, so you keep the full two stops of light.
Can it use i-Type film?
No. i-Type packs have no battery, and a vintage SX-70 is powered by the battery in the pack. Use SX-70 or 600 film.
Does the board give me manual shutter speeds?
Not yet. Manual speeds, bulb and T, multiple exposures and strobe sync need a control add-on that's still in development. It will work with the board already in these cameras.
Is this better than a filter conversion?
For most people, yes. A filter conversion costs less and works, but it handles film speed by giving up two stops on an f/8 lens. The board handles film speed electronically, replaces the module that fails, corrects drifted metering, and adds flash metering, the low light warning and hold to eject.
Can I send you my SX-70 for the board?
Not right now. We're only rebuilding cameras for our own shelf. Join the waitlist on the Polaroid repairs page and we'll email you when we open spots.
Where to Start
If you're happy to focus yourself, start with the SX-70 Original at $540, or a Model 2 if you prefer that finish. If you want autofocus, get the SX-70 Sonar from $665. All are rebuilt here, all have the OpenSX70 board, and all come with a six-month warranty.
Load any of them from our Polaroid film shelf, compare our Polaroid 600 cameras if you only plan to shoot 600, or browse all our Polaroid cameras.
Share Your Shots
Tag your SX-70 prints with #BFCsx70
Griffin Malone
Griffin does construction, project management, some photography, and bartending. When not working you may catch them playing pool, pinball, or biking around Brooklyn.
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