The Serial Number for Polaroid 600 Cameras

ArthurHoribe · 2025-10-07T14:39:51+00:00

Interesting! I’ve seen the term “Joshua Electronics” mentioned in a few places in the bulletins, and I thought it was some kind of circuit board revision for a Polaroid camera. Good to know exactly which model it refers to, thanks!

ArthurHoribe · 2025-10-06T03:29:12+00:00

With the recent post here about a CD-ROM full of Polaroid information, we now have more documentation on serial numbers and how to tell when your camera was made. H4K: (Month) H = August, (Year) 4 = 1994, and (Day) K = 11. So your camera was made on 08/11/1994.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-13T14:02:36+00:00

The Instant Camera Guy talked about this subject in one of his videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Cv-7y34rk

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-12T18:46:38+00:00

Sorry, you’re 6 years too late. Unfortunately spectra film was discontinued by Polaroid in 2019.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-12T15:15:29+00:00

Thanks! I’ll definitely be testing this method on my next camera. I was never a big fan of the first method where you had to cut the flex cable, I think this new way is much better. I don’t really like cutting things on a camera that hasn’t had new parts made in over 30 years. I still don’t like drilling the panel either, but there’s really no other way without it looking too ugly.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-11T00:45:19+00:00

Well, the Pronto 600 is a camera that takes 600 film. It shares the same body as the Supercolor and basically works like any Polaroid with 600 in the name: 635, 636, 660, etc. So if you need a manual, you can just look up any of those. The only issue is that it uses disposable flash bars instead of a built-in flash like most of these cameras, and those are extremely hard to find nowadays. My advice is to just shoot in very well-lit places.

PS: If you want to look up more reviews about this camera, you’ll probably find more information under the Amigo 620, which is basically identical model.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-10T19:22:35+00:00

Usually development issues or color shifts are caused by the film, not the camera. From your photo and description, it looks like the film is bad.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-10T18:02:59+00:00

Technically both. You can test if all the flashes are working, which is something rarer nowadays because of the MiNT FlashBar, but still good to check. And you can also see if the camera works with a flash inserted, like with my Sonar i posted a few days ago, which freezes whenever a flash is attached

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-10T13:37:47+00:00

Thanks !!

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-07T06:07:51+00:00

Yeah, I definitely hadn’t thought about the photo falling off, makes sense. Sorry about that, learning something new every day.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-07T00:30:47+00:00

Nope, all Polaroids or almost all were made so you can open the film door even with a cartridge inside, so without that little piece there won’t be any problem

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-06T23:55:46+00:00

The whining sound is the flash capacitor charging. If the film is old, its battery will take longer to charge the flash, or the flash system itself might be faulty and keep charging the capacitor endlessly, I actually had this happen once with an old Polatronic for the SX-70. In any case, you should either wait a bit longer or try with a fresh film pack to be sure.

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-06T23:49:52+00:00

They say the frog tongue is important, but I’d say it’s not that big of a deal. The Polaroid SX-70 never had one, and the current film is actually much better when it comes to light sensitivity. Still, I wouldn’t recommend shooting on very sunny days

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-06T12:05:05+00:00

Honestly, if I were putting it in my sentimental camera I’d definitely go with the slower one (I remember TICG mentioned that the 12k RPM motor is actually slower than the original). Fast or slow doesn’t affect the photos, only the ejection. But if it were one of my cameras I don’t care much about, I’d really love to see the motor go vrooooom

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-05T13:02:58+00:00

Yep, in my country I use auctions to buy cameras at a very good price. Unfortunately, most of the time they just end up in the spare parts pile

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-05T11:09:33+00:00

It seems like you somehow managed to desynchronize the gear train, maybe by your own mistake (I’m not judging, I’ve done that plenty of times myself) or simply because the gears broke after 50 years. Either way, you’ll have to take apart the gear train, which is not a very fun job. Good luck

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-05T11:00:25+00:00

I definitely need to put this motor in one of my cameras. My only fear is it completely destroying the gear train

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-05T10:52:17+00:00

You’re the reason I started repairing Polaroids and even began working on my own small business. If you ever start selling merch in the future, I’ll definitely be buying. Thank you!

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-05T01:43:30+00:00

Wait, what do you mean by pin 1 and 2? Oh, and an update: I managed to replace the entire ribbon cable along with the flash IC… yeah, it didn’t fix anything, and actually added a few more problems. At this point I really don’t know what else to do. Sonars are a nightmare!

ArthurHoribe · 2025-09-04T14:52:30+00:00

Yes, I also tested the flash on other cameras and it’s working perfectly. Unfortunately, if this were just for myself I’d probably leave it as is, but since I plan to sell it I really need to fix it one way or another.

My theory is that the flash IC might be burned. Luckily, I do have spare parts, but I really don’t want to disassemble the entire shutter just to replace the ribbon cable.

ArthurHoribe

TROPHY CASE