SX-70 Buyer’s Guide 2026: Which Polaroid Model Should You Buy?
The legendary folding Polaroid SLR — and how to choose the right one.
The Polaroid SX-70 arrived in 1972 and changed instant photography. It was the first folding SLR with through-the-lens viewing and a sharp four-element glass lens. Nothing else came close.
In 2026 it remains the most desirable folding instant camera you can own. The leather body collapses into a compact shape that slips into a bag. The manual focus feels precise and satisfying. Most important, that glass lens delivers clean detail and color that plastic-lens instant cameras have never matched.
These cameras are also more practical now than they have been in decades. 600 film is easy to find, and a straightforward conversion makes it reliable. A good restoration turns an SX-70 into a camera you can actually shoot with.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores and sells four main models: the Original, the Model 2, the Alpha 1, and the Sonar. They share the same core design but differ in ways that affect how they handle and what they cost.
How the Four Models Compare
The four main SX-70 models Brooklyn Film Camera restores share the same folding SLR body and sharp glass lens. They differ mainly in build refinements, focusing system, and a few practical upgrades.
Model
Years
Focusing
Key Features
Restored Price Range
Original
1972–1973
Manual
Chrome body, classic tan leather
$400–$450
Model 2
1974–1977
Manual
Most common version, simpler construction
$425–$450
Alpha 1
1977–1979
Manual
Brighter viewfinder, strap lugs, tripod socket
$500–$550
Sonar
1978–1981
Ultrasonic autofocus
Hands-free focusing
$475–$625
Prices are for professionally restored examples and vary with leather options and condition. The Sonar tends to sit at the higher end due to the autofocus system.
The Original
The original 1972 folding Polaroid SLR.
he Original is where the SX-70 story begins. Polaroid released it in 1972 and produced it through 1973.
It came with a chrome body and the classic tan leather covering. Brooklyn Film Camera restores both that traditional combination and a clean all-black version.
The camera has real presence when you unfold it. The leather feels substantial. The focusing ring turns with a solid, deliberate feel. You look through the viewfinder and line up the split-image focus until everything snaps together.
That four-element glass lens remains the highlight. It produces sharp, detailed images with color and depth that later instant cameras struggled to match. The results have a distinct character that is hard to replicate.
This model keeps things basic. No tripod socket. No strap lugs. Just the essential SX-70 design as it was first introduced.
Key Specs
Years1972–1973
FocusManual
Lens4-element glass
BodyChrome with leather
Quirk:Restored examples tend to sell quickly. When one comes available it rarely stays in stock for long.
The most common SX-70 model and a great starting point.
The Model 2 followed quickly after the Original and became the most widely produced SX-70.
Polaroid built it from 1974 through 1977. It uses the same folding body and sharp glass lens but features simpler internal construction that helped reduce the price.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores this model in three popular leather combinations: White Tan, Black Tan, and the sleek all-Black Black version.
The camera handles almost identically to the Original. The focusing ring turns with the same deliberate feel, and the split-image viewfinder works exactly as expected. It is slightly lighter in some examples, which some people prefer for longer shooting sessions.
This model gives you the complete SX-70 experience at a more accessible point. Many first-time buyers start here and never look back.
Key Specs
Years1974–1977
FocusManual
Lens4-element glass
BodyFolding SLR
Quirk:Restored Model 2 cameras tend to sell out quickly, particularly the Black Tan and White Tan versions.
Refined SX-70 with improved viewfinder and added mounting points.
The Alpha 1 appeared in 1977 and brought several practical upgrades to the SX-70 line.
Polaroid added a brighter matte viewfinder, strap lugs, and a standard tripod socket. These changes make the camera easier to carry and use without altering the core folding design or the sharp four-element glass lens.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores this model in a clean black-on-black leather finish.
The viewfinder feels noticeably clearer in different lighting. The strap lugs and tripod socket expand what you can do with it. Manual focus still operates with the same precise, deliberate feel as the earlier models.
Key Specs
Years1977–1979
FocusManual
Lens4-element glass
ExtrasTripod + strap lugs
Quirk:Many people land on the Alpha 1 as the best balance in the lineup. Restored examples sell out quickly when they become available.
The Sonar arrived in 1978 and introduced the only major technical change to the SX-70 line.
It uses an ultrasonic autofocus system that measures distance and sets the lens automatically. The four-element glass lens is unchanged.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores both the standard version and the black edition.
The camera sits heavier in the hand because of the added electronics. Autofocus works reliably in most situations. The shutter sound is different from the manual models.
Key Specs
Years1978–1981
FocusUltrasonic autofocus
Lens4-element glass
BodyFolding SLR
Quirk:Restored Sonar models tend to sell out quickly when they become available.
The SLR 680 arrived in 1981 as the final version of Polaroid’s folding instant cameras.
It shoots 600 film natively and adds a built-in electronic flash. The lens remains fast and sharp, while exposure metering improves over earlier models.
For photographers who want SX-70 image quality with modern convenience, the 680 is the most practical option.
Key Specs
Film600
FocusAutofocus
FlashBuilt-in electronic
BodyFolding SLR
Quirk: Larger and more complex than earlier models. Strength lies in practicality — native 600 film and built-in flash.
The Model 2 is the best starting point for most buyers. It delivers the full SX-70 experience without extra cost.
The Alpha 1 improves usability with a brighter viewfinder and mounting points. The Original appeals to collectors and photographers who want the earliest version.
The Sonar adds autofocus convenience, while the SLR 680 offers the most practical modern operation with native 600 film and built-in flash.
Browse Brooklyn Film Camera’s restored SX-70 inventory.
SX-70 Buyer’s Guide 2026: Which Polaroid Model Should You Buy?
The legendary folding Polaroid SLR — and how to choose the right one.
The Polaroid SX-70 arrived in 1972 and changed instant photography. It was the first folding SLR with through-the-lens viewing and a sharp four-element glass lens. Nothing else came close.
In 2026 it remains the most desirable folding instant camera you can own. The leather body collapses into a compact shape that slips into a bag. The manual focus feels precise and satisfying. Most important, that glass lens delivers clean detail and color that plastic-lens instant cameras have never matched.
These cameras are also more practical now than they have been in decades. 600 film is easy to find, and a straightforward conversion makes it reliable. A good restoration turns an SX-70 into a camera you can actually shoot with.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores and sells four main models: the Original, the Model 2, the Alpha 1, and the Sonar. They share the same core design but differ in ways that affect how they handle and what they cost.
How the Four Models Compare
The four main SX-70 models Brooklyn Film Camera restores share the same folding SLR body and sharp glass lens. They differ mainly in build refinements, focusing system, and a few practical upgrades.
Prices are for professionally restored examples and vary with leather options and condition. The Sonar tends to sit at the higher end due to the autofocus system.
The Original
he Original is where the SX-70 story begins. Polaroid released it in 1972 and produced it through 1973.
It came with a chrome body and the classic tan leather covering. Brooklyn Film Camera restores both that traditional combination and a clean all-black version.
The camera has real presence when you unfold it. The leather feels substantial. The focusing ring turns with a solid, deliberate feel. You look through the viewfinder and line up the split-image focus until everything snaps together.
That four-element glass lens remains the highlight. It produces sharp, detailed images with color and depth that later instant cameras struggled to match. The results have a distinct character that is hard to replicate.
This model keeps things basic. No tripod socket. No strap lugs. Just the essential SX-70 design as it was first introduced.
Key Specs
The Model 2
The Model 2 followed quickly after the Original and became the most widely produced SX-70.
Polaroid built it from 1974 through 1977. It uses the same folding body and sharp glass lens but features simpler internal construction that helped reduce the price.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores this model in three popular leather combinations: White Tan, Black Tan, and the sleek all-Black Black version.
The camera handles almost identically to the Original. The focusing ring turns with the same deliberate feel, and the split-image viewfinder works exactly as expected. It is slightly lighter in some examples, which some people prefer for longer shooting sessions.
This model gives you the complete SX-70 experience at a more accessible point. Many first-time buyers start here and never look back.
Key Specs
The Alpha 1
The Alpha 1 appeared in 1977 and brought several practical upgrades to the SX-70 line.
Polaroid added a brighter matte viewfinder, strap lugs, and a standard tripod socket. These changes make the camera easier to carry and use without altering the core folding design or the sharp four-element glass lens.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores this model in a clean black-on-black leather finish.
The viewfinder feels noticeably clearer in different lighting. The strap lugs and tripod socket expand what you can do with it. Manual focus still operates with the same precise, deliberate feel as the earlier models.
Key Specs
The Sonar
The Sonar arrived in 1978 and introduced the only major technical change to the SX-70 line.
It uses an ultrasonic autofocus system that measures distance and sets the lens automatically. The four-element glass lens is unchanged.
Brooklyn Film Camera restores both the standard version and the black edition.
The camera sits heavier in the hand because of the added electronics. Autofocus works reliably in most situations. The shutter sound is different from the manual models.
Key Specs
The SLR 680 Alternative
The SLR 680 arrived in 1981 as the final version of Polaroid’s folding instant cameras.
It shoots 600 film natively and adds a built-in electronic flash. The lens remains fast and sharp, while exposure metering improves over earlier models.
For photographers who want SX-70 image quality with modern convenience, the 680 is the most practical option.
Key Specs
Strength lies in practicality — native 600 film and built-in flash.
Choosing the Right SX-70
The Model 2 is the best starting point for most buyers. It delivers the full SX-70 experience without extra cost.
The Alpha 1 improves usability with a brighter viewfinder and mounting points. The Original appeals to collectors and photographers who want the earliest version.
The Sonar adds autofocus convenience, while the SLR 680 offers the most practical modern operation with native 600 film and built-in flash.
Browse Brooklyn Film Camera’s restored SX-70 inventory.
Shop Restored Polaroid Cameras