Putting the band back together again
Indeed!
We are putting the band back together again!
Yes, you heard right!! After a “long, cold, lonely, winter” as he song says we are back, and this time we mean business!
I started the openSX70 project with the aim to investigate as much as I could about how the SX-70 camera, how it worked,and, that was in part done by trying to replicate with an arduino based replacement PCB and in part with raw investigation: trying to find as much technical information about how the camera was designed, repaired. That endeavor, in part, culminated with the research trip to Harvard, Massachusetts Baker Library where we dug, with gusto in the Polaroid archive.
Holding pictures and notes written by Dr. Land or Ansel Adams is indescribable. Maybe we should write a post about that trip. We were the Boston trio: Jeremy Campos “Dr. SX70”, Zane Pollard and me, sharing a room at the Charles Hotel that looked like a dorm room.
The band
I might have started the project but I would be nowhere without the amazing people I have found along the journey. Aside the now core “Boston trio” I have so many people to mention that I hope I don’t forget anyone
Santi Pladellorens (aka as Analogueworks) designer and specialist in injection molding
Francesc Romani, engineer, he leads the autofoto.barcelona (labour of love of keeping alive analog photobooths all over Barcelona). Long time SX-70 fan, newcomer to the project.
Nick Cundari, an amazing person, a lawyer like me, has designed the digital counter for the SX70 which is one of the most amazing projects I have ever seen regarding the camera.
Matt Widmann, no introduction needed, I love you just for being there and we want to see you even more involved in the project.
the Boston trio (including myself of course)
Jeremy Campos (aka Dr. SX70) in my opinion the best SX70 technician in the US, he might have the knowledge, he might have the tools, but what he really has is the passion for what he does.
Zane Pollard, the true hero of this tale, has designed the most advanced PCB for the SX70, and almost everything is new in this (for the moment) under wraps wonder.
We are proud to have had the ball rolling with the project, and even though we almost threw the towel
Now I feel confident that we have bar none the best solution.
Here’s the master plan in a nutshell:
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Open source (non-commercial) electronics and code
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We are non profit
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Premium dongle injection molded plus special editions, aluminium wheel.
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Authorised installers and key partners:
- Zane Pollard, Santi Pladellorens, Jeremy aka Dr. SX70, Matt Widman, Poladress, Jun Yasue/Mitsubado, Jake aka Instant Camera Guy, La Pinza…
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New concept: dongle-ready repairs: can you feel the difference?
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Camera equalizer
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Low light indicator
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Dual ISO out of the box
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Reliable and reversible
We will be informing about the project through here, instagram of course @opensx70.
If you have a talent that you think could add to the project please contact us at opensx70@opensx70.com
But in a nutshell here’s we we are now:
-New main board (ECM) will behave like original but add seamless dual ISO functionality.
-it will be really cheap, so it will be used for repairs
-those cameras will be dongle-ready
-we will manufacture a high quality dongle named CommandModule
-complete set camera + CommandModule will be sold by our technicians/retailers making this combo the ultimate SX70.
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