Video: Polaroid SX-70 Commercial by Charles and Ray Eames x The Cramps

Here's a bizarre intersection of a certain subset of my friends and our interests: a retro commercial filmed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Polaroid SX-70, set by an unknown genius to The Cramps "Garbageman." (I'm in there for everything but The Cramps, but I'm coming around to them, too.)

The SX-70 was a folding SLR and the first to use Polaroid's automatic format integral film, which didn't need to be separated from its back after being removed from the camera.

A later model of the SX-70 line used an autofocus system that used sonar to determine the distance from the lens to the subject.

[via Kottke]

[#1 posted by Gilbert Wham , February 18, 2008 4:22 PM]

I have to say, that camera is a beautiful object. Also, in the brown leatherette & chrome trim, it also matches my hip-flask perfectly...

[#2 posted by Gilbert Wham , February 18, 2008 4:22 PM]

I have to say, that camera is a beautiful object. Also, in the brown leatherette & chrome trim, it matches my hip-flask perfectly...

[#3 posted by Jake0748 , February 18, 2008 5:18 PM]

Very cool. One of the better jobs I've seen in explaining how this bad boy works. I loved these cameras, and all Polaroid instant cameras (I've owned about 15 of them). I was so sad the other day that Polaroid is quitting production of all instant film. Get it while you can.

[#4 posted by Anonymous , February 19, 2008 6:46 AM]

That was fantastic -- a little like a Lewis Carroll-Roland Barthes lovechild.

[#5 posted by Patrick Austin , February 19, 2008 6:51 AM]

Beautiful ad. It has a vaguely Apple-like quality to it, especially with the music. Very "Here is our shiny, gorgeous gadget. Look how easy it is to use. And pretty. Always pretty."

Sad to see 'em go, but if people were buying the film they'd keep producing it. I'm sure some niche company will start producing the film for the large-but-still-niche market.

[#6 posted by Fnarf , February 19, 2008 6:16 PM]

Fuji already produces the bulk of instant pack film (the peel-apart kind), and theirs is better than Polaroid's. The stuff that's going to be missed is the integral kind, for Spectra and 600 cameras (successors to this SX-70). No word yet on a replacement provider, which is what has people worried and hoarding the stuff.

[#7 posted by velocity girl , February 22, 2008 2:29 AM]

I have one of these, it was my Dad's. I always thought it was lovely looking, which is why I have it sitting (open) on my dresser in my bedroom.

I always thought I'd would get some film and actually use it someday, instead of just appreciating it as a decorative object. This awesome video makes me want to use it even more...very cool. I guess I'd better get my hands on some film ASAP.

Thanks for the heads up!