The Polaroid Camera Sitting in Your Closet Could Be Worth $400 — Here's Exactly Which Models to Look For

Somewhere in Buffalo, there are closets holding cameras worth $200, $300, or more. The people who own them think they have junk. They're wrong.

The instant photography revival that started quietly around 2015 has turned into a full cultural movement — driven by younger buyers who grew up with smartphones and crave the tactile, imperfect, irreplaceable quality of a physical photograph that develops in your hands. Polaroid (as a brand, under new ownership) is thriving. Lomography sells new instant cameras. And vintage Polaroid cameras — the actual cameras made by the original company before it went bankrupt in 2001 — are in demand.

The values are real and documented. Understanding which models are worth money is the first step to knowing whether that old camera in your closet is worth $5 or $400.

The SX-70: The Camera Worth Finding

The Polaroid SX-70 is not just a camera. It is a design object — a collapsible, leather-covered, single-lens reflex instant camera that opened like a magic trick and was genuinely revolutionary when Edwin Land introduced it in 1972. It was featured on the cover of Life magazine. Artists, architects, and photographers carried them. Andy Warhol made them famous.

Today, working SX-70 cameras are among the most desired items in the instant photography market. Here's what they sell for:

• Basic working SX-70 in VG condition, no original case: $150–$250
• SX-70 with original tan or brown leather case in excellent condition: $200–$350
• SX-70 Model 2 or Alpha 1 in near-mint condition with accessories: $300–$400+
• Non-working SX-70 for parts: $40–$80

(Price ranges per ^[1])

The camera folds flat when closed and opens into its shooting position with a satisfying mechanical click. Original SX-70 cameras have a brown or silver-and-brown leather body. Later versions in black or with chrome accents exist but are less iconic.

How to tell if yours is an SX-70: Look for the "SX-70 Land Camera" name on the front. The camera should fold completely flat when closed. When open, the body extends upward into a pyramid-like shape.

How to test it: SX-70 film is currently made by Polaroid (polaroid.com) ^[2] and available at B&H Photo in New York City or online. A pack of 8 exposures costs approximately $20–$22. Open the camera, load a film pack, and take a test shot. If the film ejects and develops (even imperfectly), the camera is working. A working camera is worth dramatically more than a non-working one.

The OneStep 600: The Most Common Valuable Polaroid

The OneStep 600 (and its many variants under names like "Sun 600," "Cool Cam," "Impulse," and others) is the boxy, plastic Polaroid camera that defined the 1980s and early 1990s. These cameras use 600-speed film, which is still manufactured and widely available.

Values vary significantly depending on the specific variant and condition:

• Standard OneStep 600 or Sun 600, working: $40–$80
• OneStep Close-Up (has close-focus capability), working: $50–$90
• Special edition colors (red, blue, bold patterns), working: $60–$120
• Original Spirit or Time-Zero OneStep from the 1970s: up to $100 in VG+ condition

The 600-series cameras are the most likely to still be found in WNY closets and attics — they were the cameras at every family gathering in the 1980s. The film packs that come with the camera when you find it are almost certainly expired (film from before 2001 is not usable), but the camera itself may work perfectly.

Testing: 600 film is available at Walgreens, Urban Outfitters (Elmwood Ave. location in Buffalo), and online. ^[2] A pack of 8 exposures costs approximately $20. Insert, point, press — the camera does the rest.

The Spectra System: The Underrated Find

The Polaroid Spectra, introduced in 1986, is a sophisticated camera in a wide, angular body that many people don't immediately recognize as a Polaroid. It used Spectra film (also called Image film in some markets), which produced a wider, more rectangular image than the square 600 format.

What makes the Spectra interesting to collectors is that Polaroid (the current company) still manufactures Spectra/Image film, which means it can be tested and used. Working Spectra cameras with original case sell for $30–$80, with the Spectra Pro model (has manual control capabilities) fetching the higher end of that range.

Look for "Spectra System" or "Image System" on the camera body.

The Big Shot: The Rare Find

The Polaroid Big Shot (circa 1971–1973) is a fixed-focus portrait camera that looks unlike any other Polaroid — tall, boxy, with a large diffuser ring around the lens. It was designed specifically for close-up portraits, and it was Andy Warhol's preferred Polaroid camera.

The Big Shot does not use currently available film — it requires the discontinued Type 100/Packfilm format. However, collectors buy Big Shots as display objects and for specialty film projects (Polaroid Originals makes a limited run of packfilm sporadically). A working Big Shot with original flash bar holders sells for $100–$300 depending on condition and where you sell it.

What Makes One Camera Worth More Than Another

Beyond model type, several factors push a camera toward the high end of its value range:

• Original case or carrying bag: The factory leather or vinyl case can add $40–$100 to a camera's value, especially for the SX-70.
• Original box: The manufacturer's box with inserts significantly increases collector appeal. An SX-70 in original box with all inserts can command a premium of $50–$100 over box-free examples.
• Working electronic flash: Many 600-series cameras have built-in or pop-up flashes. Test that it fires. A non-working flash reduces value.
• Condition of the body: Cracks, deep scratches, and missing parts reduce value. Light wear is acceptable.
• Accessories: Original straps, film packs (even expired), and instruction booklets add collector interest.

Where to Sell in Buffalo

Rust Belt Market — 22 Bejou Ct., Buffalo

Vendors here sell vintage cameras regularly. You can rent a booth to sell directly, or find vendors who buy cameras outright. ^[3]

Facebook Marketplace

A strong local option. Search for "vintage camera" in the Buffalo marketplace to see current asking prices, then list yours. Local pickup eliminates shipping concerns.

eBay

For maximum reach and price, eBay ^[4] connects you with national and international buyers. Research completed listings before setting your price — look at what similar cameras actually sold for, not just what sellers are asking.

Fujifilm Instax Note

Fujifilm's Instax cameras (Mini, Wide, and Square formats) are a parallel instant photography market. Original Instax cameras from the early 2000s are also gaining collector value, though currently at lower price points than vintage Polaroids — typically $20–$60 for working early Instax models.