In 1972, Polaroid introduced its iconic SX-70 camera. It was an evolutionary leap from the groundbreaking “Land Camera” invented in 1947 by Polaroid co-founder Edwin H. Land. These gorgeous SX-70 photos from a time when instant photography was still in the realm of magic. The shots were taken by
LIFE photographer Co Rentmeester who had a chance to put the SX-70 through its paces before it was available for purchase.
The SX-70 fully captured the imagination and the attention of photography buffs, industrial design aficionados and pop culture commentators alike. Far from a mere consumer product, the camera quickly became associated with, and in a sense helped to define, the early Seventies.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0viM1apWJ-nVwmlypq-0pWdwVPnTg5oa1xcTTxjFMJB5tjKERPueRuLp6B2rmquBAqaKb9mKjTbiyatpMkdaQoQHSS16tjNHG7jS0gnoR-LR8vCukxXQmrKu4hELYeOCn_YHNTGqImrl9cKdgZWy-zRkpGg64RfZxFA0gMdoMMJiwT-hX9jPFsl-1/w628-h640-rw/early-polaroid-1.jpg) |
Dancers photographed from above with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
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Dancers photographed from above with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VdsgLrh1EGwlXArlguxy5C5HK98ilQwYpNkIxynfXKJTSi7CT3h8YbMF_yLU7bToKex76Esas_M0ksJZKrRIsGnCJFPDkGaAn7Eq6xDmOwW1l7WgUUetfqDMIsbBi_VvQwq6C7tJQRaf3LWAUx0wGJXd2VptU4FHrEnV7XCv90rvxprb2Vmxw5qP/w634-h640-rw/early-polaroid-3.jpg) |
A study in motion featuring two dancers from the Joffrey Ballet, made with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZF_bs66_g7hdY3wgCkXiuWF5rlat3Hi9vaOdZTXKxYHzAVZWj5A4ZZJZksNdw_AK8vysKoQ7oxkOE1Baxzl7le8ribl6UIEEQ6AYMDV2KCBlWB2xm7OgEYZrnQGzk8JXUJXvLYR16TbOxV25CLTLSvXaM1bmSJxcRl8-LfmAw7w8oHf8x0i6DWuX/w634-h640-rw/early-polaroid-4.jpg) |
Portrait of a fashion model, made with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0nl1EHIv91xM-bM08okY7wkObA1gl6dTKRE_mfCaF9hTZYpKJQ79frv9t974Mr05h7RgbYhW4CDWjQvqVrIFg1DoPVxxteiGh1guCYwqKPK6yddOyhXCXtAZ_UcuyKEOoRxczYrI5i9nNi6QJFIJYYSIBctHeUBNqWoKZs4C_8oxnAC9WOaF1q6C/w628-h640-rw/early-polaroid-5.jpg) |
Nude photographed with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iqUgxu2SEE_NI-r9yVhor9Be24v0-HuxKpLkktRpY8_pX9z73_a09A0ItFxiOsW3oB3gI9Ux1S9eAm2O0eB6FJgiIENgiSdgwDcM5JGSrFApFFl2LOIrYgH8CYo9GZMQtIsVY6E5NZn6wtI4tuCuZy1BMb2-7QAPtOOErFhCL7fcE3eTkN3xhF41/w634-h640-rw/early-polaroid-6.jpg) |
Wood and flower, photographed with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
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A farm in Pennsylvania photographed with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
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Children at a school in Lancaster County, Penn., photographed with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
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Portrait of a child, made with a Polaroid SX-70 camera, 1972. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh437-PpmqtIUB_qV0ZbS2SXILx7t_xT_dUkHP0RyVGv5yWY3NqjgpZwGm4CK9oKgNnZuHh8WmInZngMoimwmjVhddlcRGg1ji-JM8WX_UQPVbBeB-u50VScP6VMOdSFSqbCtEaL1HhERcEZxnecaZ6gZUxhQf0sr6eGMyzwyjYqJQ9RI4Qpw3qFffE/w634-h640-rw/early-polaroid-10.jpg) |
Edwin H. Land used one of his own creations, a Polaroid Land Camera, in 1972. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeTv74muNE_xfqaj2WmNJWD-iRnt8gCQGoS9vyXGQlrPZrN7JHR0a9BLHj31yp_NFqlVrbpB082mMAIa7l9cH_EX6grNZ8CtL-xhD7OaNXcrUJnJ48Qn4313ubiqVYbKAbE4YLT5nyNYzKX2x_P-p2CHhhm4LsWpFsSEWxr5xIbJMwvOyTtC5DH7T/w506-h640-rw/early-polaroid-11.jpg) |
The October 27, 1972 cover of LIFE magazine, featuring Edwin Land. |
(Photos by Co Rentmeester/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
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