I saw this art form for the first time on CBS Sunday. I am fascinated and definitely a neophyte. I called my local camera shop and they were not sure if I need the camera or just the xs70 film. Any advice on how to start this work would be very welcome

-- Diane Dorman (dddor@idt.net), January 19, 2001

Answers

You need sx-70 (time zero) film and the way to expose it:

• sx-70 camera - you can buy a used one only, e-bay is a good source, there are several models available
• you can adapt some other Polaroid cameras (600 series) to use sx-70 film
• you can project slides to sx-70 film using Daylab slide printer with sx-70 base

-- Marek Uliasz (uliasz@frii.com), January 20, 2001.

The camera conversion kit as well as how-to video on SX-70 are available online at www.monetmiracle.com . Comes with a tool and travelling warmer box too, which are handy. Otherwise you can block the light sensor of the 600 series camera with a small piece of2 stop ND (neutral density) filter. Then you can kind of "shoe horn" the SX-70 film in with a piece of flexible cardbord or plstic - like the dark slide that pops out when you put in a new pack of film.

-- Joan Emm (joanemm@mcn.org), January 20, 2001.