Polaroid I-2 vs Mint SLR-670S (and the Polaroid SX-70) 

I had the same thought about the slr670 shutter speed 😅 I was impressed that they had managed to increase shutter speed. I swear the I-2 needs to stop tempting me, trying to jerry rig my own off camera handheld flash situation with my sx-70 and results have been mixed but some really great ones. I don’t need an I-2 is what I keep telling myself

Plus more than anything, I like present Matt vs future Matt with the 2 haircuts :)

For me, the SLR aspect of the SX-70 is the one thing I just found I love more than anything else, especially with the cost of film. Framing is key. If I were to do it all over and have no Polaroid camera, but with the knowledge of how I like shooting, etc., I'd go with the Retrospekt Model B for $350 instead of the I-2, and then spend the rest of my money on film. But like you said, ya gotta weigh what's important to YOU to decide. I'm just thrilled we actually HAVE new options and refurbed options for Polaroid!

I plan to get the Polaroid I-2. They just released a firmware update that makes the auto exposure more accurate.

Mint also makes a Time Machine with external flash synch. I have one, it’s the SLR670-X

Polaroid problem today is not the cameras, it is the film quality and price… Instax film is much better (but Instax cameras are not good enough…)

The sx-70 also has a lot of accesories over the I-2 that only work because it's an SLR camera such as the telephoto attachment, microscope adapter, and the sx-37 which enables you to use fish eye lenses and macro lenses. I think if you value creativity and portable design then the sx-70 would be the way to go. I think the I-2 as an everyday camera, studio work, and professional camera it beats out the sx-70 in every other aspect but hey nothing is stopping anyone from owning both if you have the funds to do so

Unfortunately, the I-2 I bought has a very erratic and mostly wrong light meter, by three or four stops. And the one decent photo that came out, isn’t as sharp or as well exposed as yours and it leaves me wondering whether the cameras sent to reviewers are specially selected. I’m exchanging it tomorrow, hopefully for one with a better meter.

the killer mike photo is still undefeated

I love my SX-70s so much, but that i-2 is certainly impressive!

Thank you for this review!! It was very much needed! J.

great video matt , could you maybe get a response from mint re the time machine ? i have a slr670s myself

When I see the pics -I think the best is my Fujifilm Instax wide 300 - I love it. Has similar results to I-2 and is much much cheaper.

Thanks Matt for the nice comparison review! I love my I-2 so far! I can still get beautiful images at f/8 in the middle of the day with a 49mm ND filter. It’s a little bit bulky for my 5L sling bag, but it’s very enjoyable camera. ❤️

Hello Matt, thanks for your interesting review. Two questions: 1) how does it come that you are very happy with the light metering on all your pictures, while in other reviews photographers are complaining about the crappy light meter? 2) If one screw a telephoto lens on the I-2 lens, is the I-2 then still capable to get the sharpest shots? Thanks for insights! Werner

Great video! Thanks for this

Hi Matt, can you please explain how you got high quality scans of your polaroid shots in the video? Just bought an I2 yesterday and would like to digitize and preserve some shots. Thanks, great video!

Has the SX70 ever blurred a photograph due to mirror shake (which the I-2 won’t suffer)?

I-2 is so cool, i love the controls but its so expensive for a plastic body and a non glass lens

The sx-70 wins automatically the new polaroid has really bad film despite how much i like the new camera it holds the i-2 back so much

bro just cut his hair as for the mistake. Respect on that brother.

FOR THAT KIND OF DOUGH YOU OUGHT ALEAT GET F4

Man and I just ordered the Mint Ming. How disappointing to find out that you really can’t control the shutter speed. My order gets delivered tomorrow 10/1/23. Makes me wish I could get a refund. I feel that Mint has lied and misrepresented the product. Damn disappointing. i2 is the way to go and just have an non converted SX70. Where’s my lawyer.

made the big mistake of starting off shooting polaroids with an sx 70

another fake review

Historically speaking, the sx-70 is the greatest Polaroid camera of all time. It shot the worlds first integral film (no darkroom needed), shot 10 Polaroids rather than 8, features a collapsible design, is an SLR, and it has a glass lens. The I2 is a great camera of today but the SX-70 is a work of art in itself. I can only imagine what it was like when original film was still available. Thank you Edwin Land

Interesting conclusion, and I get why you would feel that way. I also have an I-2 and an SLR-670S and have lots of SX-70s and an SLR-680. I also love the I-2, and I'm not getting rid of it, but I think if I had to pick one, it would still be the Mint. In fact, I just yesterday purchased one of the SLR-670X's that takes I-Type film, because I have a project I want to do that requires being able to shoot close up on a film that's only available in I-Type format. As much as I love the I-2, it will never be able to shoot close like the SX-70 and its derivatives, especially with the close-up attachment that lets me get in as close as 5 inches. The lack of manual focus on the I-2 and the LiDAR focus mechanism means that it will never be able to compensate for an attached close-up filter. I find the resolution of Polaroid film limited and like to work with broad shapes and colors rather than fine details to take best advantage of what it does well, and for me that means shooting up close most of the time. And the fact that the I-2 is not an SLR means dealing with parallax, and if you're not at 0.4 m or > 8.0 m, that means your framing will be a crap shoot, with framing somewhere in between the lines in the viewfinder.

I modded the sx-70 to use I-type film and if you do that then buy a flash they are pretty much the same

For your close up needs; one thing you didn’t mention as an advantage of the I-2 is it has a universal 49mm thread mount for filters. You could try some 49mm macro or close up filters and see how of that works for you

Hey Matt, thanks for sharing your views on the I-2 vs SX-70. Could you please share more I-2 photos? Thank you!!!

MiNT now has an SLR670-I that also accepts I-Type film. The price as far I found is 1149 USD.

It is a breath of fresh air to see a video on someone who has experience shooting polaroid film and giving a realistic perspective of the new Polaroid I2... cool that you had the Mint to compare it to. Thanks for the video/sharing!

I would much compare the I2 with an SX-70 SLR680 which I think would be more comparable,I still will go with the SX-70

I bet they’ll have a macro adapter for it! Then you’ll be able to get closer Matt 💯

Mate- you lost some hair on your review journey! - hope it wasn't thaaat stressful a video and cheers!

fAkE rEvIeW

I will have to give a look to this camera. My SX-70 died some 2 years ago and I quite miss it. Since you shot SX-70 a lot and now you say that I2 is pretty good I´m inclined to believe you.

Surprising! Interesting comparison.

Have you played with the Leica SOFORT 2? Wondering how it compares to the Polaroid I-2.

I was wondering how you would meter for this camera! I have an SLR 680 with a Manual Control Mod that allows you to control the shutter speed from Bulb, 30", to 1/8000 through in app in a similar way the bar does on the Mint SLR. It seems the answer is to "Meter as if you were shooting in f8" although you will rarely be shooting in f8 because the shutter speed and aperture are integral to one another. Very valuable info on the Metering! Thanks Matt.

Lol going back and forth between these hairstyle threw me way off.

The way his hair just vanished

MiNT should 100% change their verbiage and knob as it’s a total lie. Disappointing. They literally say it has the fastest shutter speed of any Polaroid.

The I-2..is very nice..but I wish Polaroid would have a wide format camera like the FUJIFILM INSTAX Wide 300..this is a nicer option than the classic "polaroid square"..format..why hasn't Polaroid made a wide camera after all these years?..do they just not care haha wide still works great for portraits and everything else in between..guess its that classic choice for photographer do I either shoot "portrait orientation" or "landscape ordination".for my composition..haha

An interesting comparison, with the bonus of knowledge about the Mint 670-S shutter speeds that I didn't know either. I own a 670-S and am suitably disappointed that the shutter speed dial is not what I thought it was. As a Polaroid enthusiast I know that I will buy the I-2, but seeing somebody who really knows what they are doing with Polaroid cameras give such a positive verdict on Polaroid's newest release is encouraging. And as another comment suggests, I hope Polaroid do bring out accessories for the I-2 that include a close-up lens adaptor. Nice job Matt, keep the I-2 opinions coming.

Two different guards used for your haircut holy moly who did that to you 😂😆

Really don’t understand all the negativity surrounding this new camera. I watched this review when it was first uploaded and before pulling the trigger on the I-2 a few weeks ago. I was looking at both the Mint 680 and I-2 but the initial negative/meh reviews on the I-2 had given me pause. In the end I decided to take the chance on the I-2 and am so glad I did. People/FanBoys/FujiTrolls. Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble but your either coping, delusional, aren’t using this camera correctly to get the full potential out of it, you got a lemon or the $600 buck price tag has clouded your judgement because you think it’s way overpriced. The plastic lens is better then the one on the SX70/680 cameras that’s just a fact. The LIDAR auto focus is superb, manual controls means you can shoot in a much broader lighting range, option of using an app to access and control the camera or just using the controls built into the camera. It’s such a feature rich instant camera. With practice and following some simple tips and tricks you can take absolutely gorgeous Polaroids in various less then optimal lighting scenarios were a point and shoot won’t cut it. That said it does work as good or better in Auto mode as any Polaroid camera that’s come down the pike. If your a hardcore Polaroid user, perhaps you have a SX70 or a Mint and don’t think this heavily marketed/hyped camera can compare, get your hands on one and try it out first before passing judgement. I will say that you have to have a pretty good understanding of manual photography and how basic camera functionality works. As stated the I-2 is aimed at professionals and hardcore enthusiasts. People new to instant photography are much better off getting a $100 Polaroid Now gen 2 point and shoot rather then jumping right into the deep end with a $600 buck I-2. If your already a General Polaroid user and ready to up your game then this camera will certainly allow you to do so.

I’ve got a 670-S and after watching I realized I want BOTH cameras!