Common Questions and Help

Info / Casual


Quick details about visiting, orders, returns, warranty, and services.

Visit

Visit & Hours

Open every day 11:00–8:00. Find us at 855 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211. Get directions.

Pickup

Order Pickup

Pickup is available during all open hours. We’ll email you when your order is fulfilled and ready.

Policy

Returns, Exchanges & Warranty

See our full returns and exchanges policy here. Polaroid cameras include a 6-month warranty, all other cameras 3 months; excludes body damage, drops, and water/moisture damage.

Help

Camera Issues & Support

If your camera develops an issue within warranty, we’ll repair or exchange it after assessment. Contact SX70@brooklynfilmcamera.com.

Shipping

Shipping Worldwide

We ship internationally to most regions.

Lab

Film Development & Scanning

In-store drop-off during open hours (no mail-ins). Learn more.

Repairs

Repair Coverage

We service most cameras through two departments: Polaroid and Everything Else (mostly 35mm & Medium Format)

Buyback

Sell Us Your Gear

Sell in person at our Brooklyn location. Please email photos first to hello@brooklynfilmcamera.com.

Polaroid Restoration FAQ


FAQ

Turnaround Time

Typical turnaround is 5–12 days from receipt. Submit a repair order to see current estimates.

FAQ

I shipped you my camera! Did you get it?

If tracking shows delivered, it should be with us. For assurance, include your order number in your account or reply to order emails.

FAQ

New Issue After Servicing

All cameras are fully serviced. If something unexpected occurs afterward, contact us so we can assess and resolve it quickly. All of our services come with warranty.

FAQ

Repair Warranty Details

Covers additional repairs within 6 months of the repair date. It does not cover body damage, impact/drops, or water/moisture damage.

FAQ

If a Repair Isn’t Possible

If a repair isn’t feasible, we’ll reach out to discuss next steps with you.

FAQ

Why We Don’t Repair 600

Due to price point and aging plastic parts, 600-series repairs typically aren’t practical.

SX-70 Troubleshooting


Tips

Clean Your SX-70

Keep the exterior clean and rollers spotless to prevent streaks, incomplete spread, or ejection issues.

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Fix

Won’t Power On

Often the film-pack battery. Try a fresh pack, clean contacts, and reseat the pack to jump-start.

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Fix

Exposure Too Dark/Light

May indicate a meter needing service. Learn your camera’s tendencies and use the lighten/darken wheel to compensate.

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Fix

Won’t Close Fully

Usually a mirror stuck mid-cycle. Carefully reset by cycling the mechanism; don’t force the panels shut.

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How-To

Open & Close

Follow the correct sequence to protect hinges and keep the linkage aligned.

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Fix

Flash Bar Issues

Clean the flash-port contacts and ensure a firm seat. Oxidation can block communication.

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Why

Light Leaks

Often from bellows wear. Inspect in a dark room with a small flashlight inside the bellows to locate leaks.

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Modifications


Upgrade

600 Film Mod

Lets your SX-70 shoot Polaroid 600 film (faster ISO, widely available). This is a permanent board-level change.

Upgrade

Replacement Board Projects

Still in development.

Non-Polaroid Repairs FAQ


Warranty

Warranty Coverage

All cameras and lenses include a 3-month warranty. For issues, contact Repairs@brooklynfilmcamera.com.

Process

Repair Process

Order a repair quote and drop off your camera. Many repairs are completed in about a week.

What

What We Repair

We repair most camera types. See details in our repair coverage blog post.

Polaroid & Other FAQ

Cameras & Film


Polaroid

SX-70 vs 600 Film

SX-70 film has an ISO of 160, while 600 film has an ISO of 640, meaning images will only properly expose in cameras designed for them. SX-70 film has higher contrast, richer saturation, and finer grain, but is only compatible with SX-70 folding and box cameras. 600 film is compatible with all other integral Polaroid cameras as well as the SLR 680.

Polaroid

Benefits of 600 Mod

Better Low-light: 600 film allows more settings without flash.
Easier to Find: Stocked widely, easier to source than SX-70.
Special Editions: Polaroid releases many special 600 films, while SX-70 is limited to core Color and B&W.

Polaroid

SX-70 vs 600 Cameras

Most Polaroid 600 cameras have plastic lenses and fixed focal zones. The SX-70 is a higher-end tool with glass optics and precise manual focusing. The exception is the SLR 680, which combines SX-70 features with 600 film compatibility.

Polaroid

Exposure Compensation

Adjust toward white to increase exposure, toward black for darker exposures. Useful when backlighting tricks the meter into underexposing your subject.

Polaroid

Why Modern Film Looks Different

The original Polaroid went bankrupt in 2008. The Impossible Project (now Polaroid) revived film with different chemistry due to supply and environmental restrictions. Today’s film is constantly improving but won’t exactly match 70s–90s stock.

Polaroid

Shielding Film

Modern film is more light-sensitive after ejection. Shield from strong light for at least 5 minutes to avoid burns, shifts, or fading.

Polaroid

Instax in Polaroid?

No — Instax film is designed for Fujifilm Instax cameras only and cannot be used in Polaroid bodies.

Polaroid

Do You Sell New Polaroid Cameras?

Yes, we sell all current Polaroid models.

Other Cameras

Yashica TLR Models

Yashica A: 1/25–1/300s, f/3.5–f/22.
Yashica C: Bulb–1/300s, f/3.5–f/22.
Yashica D: 1–1/500s + bulb, lock and ergonomic upgrades.
Yashica Mat-124: Modeled after Rolleiflex, 4-element lens, built-in meter (now unreliable).
Yashica Mat-124G: Final TLR, cosmetic updates, 1–1/500s shutter, unreliable internal meter.

Other Cameras

Do You Sell SLRs?

Yes! We stock models like the Pentax K1000, Nikon F3, and more. Inventory updates often, so check back regularly.

Film

Film Development & Scanning

Yes, we offer film drop-off services during open hours. Services are in-store only (no mail-ins). Learn more.

Film

I Shot a Blank Roll

Common causes include:
• Film not advancing properly
• Damaged/misaligned mirror or mechanisms
• Degraded light seals exposing the roll