LEGO Review – Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera 21345

One of the LEGO sets we were most looking forward to buying in January was the Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera 21345 – a buildable model of one of the world’s first truly instant SLR cameras.

The brainchild of LEGO Ideas member Minibrick Productions, the original IDEAS entry aimed to remain faithful to the camera’s aesthetics, including a working interactive film development function. At first glance, the final LEGO model remains similar, with the usual tweaks and refinements.

Join us for a short review of this vintage-inspired LEGO set as we journey back to the nostalgic age of instant photography when smartphone cameras and digital pictures were a distant dream…

A Short History of the Polaroid OneStep SX-70

The Polaroid OneStep SX-70 camera, introduced in 1972, revolutionised instant photography. Designed by Edwin Land, it became iconic for its ease of use among non-photography professionals who found a sense of “magic” in the instant prints, which avoided the need for time-consuming film development. Its foldable design and innovative technology made it immensely popular, shaping the future of instant photography for decades to come.

First Impressions

Visually, the Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera 21345 is a stunning LEGO brick copy of the iconic camera, with all the front exterior features accurately reproduced. Stand-out elements include the Polaroid branding rainbow stripe running along the front, the clicker button, and the inclusion of the ‘Polaroid Land Camera’ and ‘OneStep’ text decals.

The model can easily be mistaken for the real thing even when viewed at a close distance, making it a fun set to display at home to create talking points for visiting friends and family.

Best Features

The Time-Zero Supercolour pack is almost as iconic as the Polaroid camera, especially as film in general is fast becoming an antique of a bygone age. The film pack’s inclusion in LEGO brick form is a nice touch, making for excellent display opportunities when placed beside the camera. The three illustrated photos are also highly charming, showing LEGO Minifigures (including Polaroid inventor Edwin Land) and the famous LEGO House in Billund.

The interactive camera function is one of the set highlights, and we lost track of how many times we reloaded the film and used the red shutter button to eject it. Expect your friends, family and office colleagues to cover your shiny new set in fresh fingerprints if you let them near it!

Design Flaws

Despite the set's initial charm, it is quite telling that the official product photos from the LEGO listing avoid focusing on the rear of the model, as this is where the (until now) stunning quality of the set sadly falls flat.

As seen in the images above, the design layout leaves several obvious tell-tale gaps between the studded plates, revealing the inner workings of the camera mechanism. This is certainly not something you would have seen on the real camera, which was known for its sturdiness and ability to be knocked around in rucksacks on family trips. All the plates also connect very loosely to the rest of the model, held on by only a few studs. This makes them prone to falling off, and they can be difficult to reconnect.

The interactive camera shutter, while enjoyable, can also be temperamental. On several occasions, the photographs became partly stuck inside the camera after we pressed the red button.

We also suspect that the final design may have been initially intended to include the camera strap, an integral part of the original product. Compared with our modern-day Polaroid camera below, you can see similar slots where the strap may have been placed. The original IDEAS entry also refers to the inclusion of a strap, leaving us to wonder what could have been.

Final Score

Ultimately, the LEGO Polaroid One-Step Camera feels like two sides of a coin, specifically the front and the back of the model.

As discussed above, the satisfyingly accurate and stylish front exterior combines neatly with the interactive functions to create a brick-built camera that is fun for both play and display. On the other hand, the fragile rear design lets the set down, and it does feel like something that could have easily been improved before the product was signed off.

If you plan to showcase the set on a shelf or similar space where the back remains out of direct view, this is not an issue. However, those exhibiting it on an open, flat surface will find the view spoiled by the gaps and loose elements.

Our final score, taking into account all aspects of the model –

7.5/10

How To Display The Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera 21345

We recommend storing the LEGO Polaroid Camera in the clear acrylic display case above, which includes room for all the accessories and comes with a choice of a black or white base. Both colours neatly complement the model, and the case will keep the set dust-free and protect the loose sections from knocks.