Why Isn't My Polaroid Camera Spitting Out The Darkslide?

[Johnny Martyr]

Hi Kyrena,

I'm sorry that you're having difficulty with your Polaroid camera. Unfortunately, without knowing the particular model, it's more problematic to guess at the specific issue.

If it's an SX-70 model and you loaded it with 600 size film, for example, this is the kind of problem that could occur.

First thing you could do is put the whole camera in a film changing bag (if you don't own one but plan on using film cameras, you really should buy one) or go into a windowless room, shove a towel around the bottom of the door and turn off the light. Then attempt to remove the film pack and replace it. I suggest doing this in the dark because the darkslide may be pulled slightly out of the pack so any light on the pack would ruin at least the first image.

I would further recommend that you join a Polaroid and/or instant film social group on Facebook or Flickr. Very specific questions like this often are better answered by people who use cameras like this extensively. Here at Y!A, you will be more likely to get trolls like the other answer-er.

You may have a broken camera too. Just because it worked for someone else, particularly if it's very old, doesn't mean it's not going to suddenly breakdown. That is the risk you take when using vintage cameras unless you come to learn to study their mechanics.

That is about all I have got to suggest and hope its useful! Best of luck on your photographic journeys!