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The Fuji Instax instant camera is made in Japan, and they also make amazing quality cartridges there. In Russia you can currently find more than 11 models of this camera. In addition to great functionality and ease of operation, the manufacturer pays great attention to style and design. There are many body colors available to users, from classic black to hot pink. Choose your color to highlight your personality and complement your look. Each camera has its own specifications , a set of options and design features. For example, Instax mini 9 is equipped with a light-sensitive sensor that automatically determines the required shooting mode. The optics allow you to focus at a distance of up to three meters. And the Instax Square SQ20 allows you to shoot short videos
and choose the frame you like for printing.
Instax will attract the attention of even the youngest users. The charming Instax Hello Kitty and Instax Minion have been developed especially for them. Choose an original gadget for yourself and your loved ones from our catalog.
Line of instant cameras
- In a convenient catalog you can buy inexpensive device models that differ not only in their technical features, but also in the size of the images. Instant printing cameras are available to you, which shoot in the following formats:
- MINI (This line includes models Instax mini 9, mini 7, Hello Kitty, mini 90, etc. The size of the pictures is 62 mm x 46 mm);
- SQUARE (Prominent representatives are Instax SQ20, SQ6, SQ10. Photo format - 62 mm x 62 mm);
The technical capabilities of gadgets are amazing. You can not only take pictures and immediately print them, but also apply various filters that will make your photos more atmospheric. Some models of instant cameras are equipped with the function of creating a collage or superimposing one frame on another. Find out more about the features of the devices, their capabilities and prices from the professionals in our online store.
Probably everyone who was born at least before the mid-nineties remembers this miracle - the first thing that appeared after film cameras was a healthy unit called “Polaroid”. Squeak, and the white rectangle darkens before our eyes, showing the outlines of a merry company captured (usually at a festive table). Then the first “digit” appeared, but it wasn’t the same. Clean technology. But instant photo printing seemed like real second-level magic. The second - because, undoubtedly, the first was the same process of drawing the outlines of the frame on paper, but in the “red room”.
The Polaroid in the house was incredibly cool. And the footage from it - albeit blurry and “soapy” - was valued more than film footage. Of course, there can be as many as 36 frames on film, and it cost a penny compared to cassettes for 10 photos. Then, in the era of digital cameras, this magic was a little forgotten, but instant cameras found a second wind relatively recently, when Fujifilm, along with the company that created this technology, began working on them.
A little history:
We have one American girl named Jennifer to thank for the appearance of the photograph. She was three years old, in 1944, she was walking with her dad around the town of Santa Fe and suddenly asked him why you can’t immediately see what you’re photographing. How many questions do little whys ask their parents and what do these questions usually lead to? At the most, to an explanation of this or that phenomenon, at a minimum - to an irritated “Leave me alone!” But Jenny's father was a certain Edwin Land, already a successful inventor and founder of Polaroid. What he answered to his daughter then is unknown, but three years later the first instant camera was born. Thank you Jennifer!
Edwin Land, who by the way was the idol of another technological genius, Steve Jobs, believed that patents would save, if not the world, then its exclusivity. 535 patents were recorded for him, more - only for the “inventor of the light bulb” Thomas Edison. And it was thanks to patents that Land first won a lawsuit against the Kodak company, which decided to produce its own similar cameras (even though it took 10 years to sue), and after a lawsuit with FujiFilm, he entered into a mutually beneficial deal. Thanks to Fuji, Land's company had the opportunity to produce video cassettes and floppy disks, and a new era began in the history of FujiFilm - the era of instant photos of the Instax line.
Now the line includes eight different models of Instax cameras, allowing you to take instant pictures in two formats: mini the size of a regular one business card and wide, a couple of centimeters more. This winter I got my hands on one of the most popular of Fuji’s “instant” models - Instax Mini 8.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Specifications:
Film used: FUJIFILM Instax Mini
Received photo size: 6.2 × 4.6 cm
Lens: fixed, two-element and two-component, f=60 mm, 1:12.7
Viewfinder: optical
Shooting distance: 60 cm - ∞
Shutter speed: 1/60
Flash: always on, recharges within 0.2-6 seconds, effective at a distance of up to 2.7 meters
Instax Mini 8 comes in seven colors, including classic black and white, as well as candy colors - pink, raspberry, purple, lemon and mint blue. To be honest, for such a hipster toy camera, I would have preferred one of these rich shades, they fit perfectly, but I still ended up with the black one.
In my" starter kit hipster photo" included the camera itself and two cassettes with instant film. The small box contains the gadget itself, a couple of batteries for it, a lanyard and instructions. If you want something additional, you can purchase it separately. Fortunately, the company has enough accessories: from cute handbags and covers and special photo albums for the size of Instax photos, to lens attachments and color filters.
I’m not raising the question of necessity here; they rather created their own ecosystem with a certain philosophy: “If you have a cute camera, then why not take it with a photo album and a stylish handbag, for a complete set?” From a marketing point of view, the perfect fit target audience And correct solution- creating an entire community around the product. On the website of the Instax line you can find news about entire art projects based on instant photographs (I remember a dress made from cards;)) - but I got distracted.
The camera itself cannot be called miniature, about 12 centimeters in height and length, almost 7 in width, it seems somewhat “puffy”, plump, thanks to its streamlined design. But it is light - about 300 grams in total, if you weigh it without batteries and a cassette. The body of the Instax Mini 8 is made of matte plastic, it feels very pleasant to the touch, but alas, it is easily soiled.
We are used to cameras being shaped like rectangles “on their sides,” but this one is more extended upward, and the viewfinder looks “placed on its butt” - this decision is due to the fact that the camera is mainly used in portrait mode. When shooting in landscape orientation, you need to rotate - they even demonstrate how to do this correctly in the user manual.
The camera's shutter button is located on the front panel - also unusual for everyone who usually looks for it from above. In addition to it, there is also a viewfinder window, a flash, two round windows - sensors for measuring light levels, as well as a lens with a power button: it activates the power and extends the lens. It slides in simply by hand, and the camera turns off. If you leave the camera alone without retracting the lens, it will turn off automatically after five minutes.
The photo of the back panel of the camera clearly shows what I talked about a couple of paragraphs above - the soiling of matte plastic. I don’t know how it is on color models (I think it’s less noticeable there), but on a black camera you can literally do fingerprinting without special equipment after just a few minutes of use - fingerprints remain very clear.
Here is the cassette compartment cover with a window in which you can see the presence of a cassette inside, a viewfinder and a frame counter.
On the left edge there is only a fastening element for the strap, on the right there is also a compartment for batteries. At the top there is a slot for feeding finished photographs. There is nothing interesting at the bottom, not even a tripod mount (that’s right, why does this camera need one?).
Each model has a different color strap. Well, here again everything is banal for me :)
The camera uses regular AA batteries; according to the company, they last for 100 pictures on average. During the entire testing period, the ones included in the original package worked for me.
We come to the most interesting part: use. As a child, I somehow didn’t have the opportunity to “refill Polaroids”; our parents did this for us all the time, so here I opened the cassette compartment with great curiosity. Everything turned out to be quite boring, except that I looked at the lens from the back.
Only branded Instax Mini cassettes work with this camera, and this (or more precisely, their cost :)) is the main problem. There are only 10 pictures in a cassette, and until recently the cost was about seven hundred rubles for a package with one cassette and about one thousand three hundred for a double. The other day the company lowered prices and they promise that now a package with one cassette will cost 500 rubles, and with two - 800. Of course, 40 rubles for a photo is not 70, but it’s also noticeable.
The cassettes are stored vacuum sealed; before use, it is important to remember to remove the foil packet and not to press on the moving parts of the housing.
I place the cassette in the compartment so that the yellow mark on it matches the mark on the body. It is recommended to close the compartment immediately - otherwise there is a risk of exposing the film inside.
Those who like to change shutter speed and aperture are nervously smoking on the sidelines; the concept of ISO is generally not needed by Instax users. Here, as a maximum, you can set the shooting mode, depending on the lighting around. There are four options - home, cloudy, sunny or sunny.
The camera itself, thanks to the sensors, will tell you by blinking the diode which mode is more suitable at this particular moment, but you don’t have to listen to it - on the contrary, experienced users prefer to lower the exposure by one step... oh, sorry, choose the “darker” mode, This makes the photos more rich.
For lovers of saturation, there is also a fifth mode - Hi-Key, which allows you to take brighter and more contrasting photographs. But in any case, the best possible result is achieved by trial and error, which, unlike with a mirror (see the paragraph about the cost of the frame :)) is sometimes annoying. However, I gave myself permission in advance to completely screw up the first cassette while training, and I advise all new Instax owners to do the same.
The Instax Mini has a number of limitations: what cannot be done with the camera and film is clearly shown in the drawings from the instructions. From the quite obvious “don’t chew photos” and “don’t force a photo out of the camera” to the common mistake of covering the light sensors with your fingers and waving the card - so that it appears faster.
I would like to note two important features in using this camera:
1. What you see in the viewfinder and what you end up with in the photo are, as they say in Odessa, two big differences. Okay, not particularly big, but it’s important to know. The viewfinder here shows the scene a little to the right and higher than the lens “sees” it, so you also need to practice lining up the frame exactly. In the end, it’s done something like this: look, move the camera yourself literally a few centimeters to the left, or move the camera a centimeter or two and shoot.
2. Does everyone remember that Instax is called a “camera for hipsters”? What are hipsters afraid of in their sneakers and short tight pants? Right, Russian winter. Fuji Instax doesn’t react very well to frost; at subzero temperatures, the photo simply won’t develop, and you’ll add “White Rectangle” to the “Black Square” masterpiece in the world’s collection. If you want to fully cosplay Malevich, you need to shoot in heat above 40 degrees - high temperatures They can, on the contrary, make a dark spot instead of a frame. For this reason, in winter, take the camera out into the cold immediately before shooting, and then promptly put it in a warm place, along with the resulting print, or shoot from a window or a warm car :)
In general, of course, I had a lot of fun taking photographs with this camera, even when I tested it on cats or tried to photograph the New Year's illumination (naive, in low light conditions we again return to Malevich. In general, the ideal use of the camera is shooting portraits or landscapes in good illumination. A fairly narrow field of application, of course, but there are several situations in which Instax will be indispensable.
First, a moment of magic - video development of photographs, and then I will tell you about them.
So, the first cool options for using an Instax camera that came to my mind:
1. You take a photo hugging a departing friend at the airport. Immediately write to him in the photo good wishes and give the photo as a souvenir. Or vice versa - a selfie with a star and immediately an autograph across your happy face :)
2. A child of the 21st century, incredibly far from turning on the red lamp in the bathroom, with the help of such a camera learns to appreciate shots, build a composition and try to shoot - immediately getting results (this is important for children, you know). Maybe there's a chance that later he won't take 503 selfies in one trip to a restaurant, hmm? :)
3. Grandma is tired of asking you to print her pictures from the next family gathering. You give her a similar camera and duplicate the photo from the digital camera with a photo on it. The cassette will last for a year, I think.
4. The most beloved and interesting option- When instant photos are woven into some kind of art project, starting from the dress I already mentioned above from photographs and embroidery in photographs and ending with the use of instant photographs in further shooting.
So, one of the photographers who achieved great success on this wave is, by the way, also a Khabarovsk resident - Maxim Zavyalov on his Instagram @mzаviаlov shows very beautiful pictures in this style. His submission even received its own name and the author’s hashtag #timethroughphoto, which many others later began to use, showing similar pictures.
To sum it up, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 is undoubtedly a niche toy, but a fun toy. You shouldn’t expect super quality from these photographs (although looking at the photo of the same Maxim one can argue about this), but these photographs are valuable to others.
And you know, even though I immediately gave the camera to a friend after testing, I no longer... no, I don’t regret the gift, I love making them, but I catch myself thinking that I want one again. Or a similar one from the same line. And maybe I’ll buy it, I’d like to shoot “frame within a frame” in the summer.
Traditional digital cameras of compact size have firmly established themselves in the entry-level segment of photographic equipment. Users appreciate such devices for their mobility, ease of use and good image quality. The class representing Polaroids is not so popular. Fujifilm is supporting it by improving its Instax family of instant cameras. The next modification of this line is represented by the Instax mini 8 device, which has a modest size and decent functionality for its class.
Construction and design
In developing the device, the creators adhered to the previous concept of a lightweight and easy-to-use camera. The modification even surpassed the previous version in compactness. For example, a camera with instant printing in this design can be easily placed in a pocket or worn with a lanyard on the wrist.
The form factor itself has not changed. Only the controls were revised and moved to the front of the small structure. The device is also turned on by extending the lens, but there are some differences from the previous variation. Now, to start the instant camera, you need to press a special button. It is also worth noting here the important technical feature This modification - the lens rotates, allowing you to manually adjust the focus.
Specifications
The Polaroids segment is quite narrow, so deviations from the main direction of development of such devices often lead to the appearance of original, even one-piece goods. In part, this includes an instant camera from Fujifilm, the characteristics of which are presented below:
- Dimensions - 116 mm - width, 118.3 mm - height and 68.2 mm - thickness.
- Weight - 307 g without accessories.
- Photo parameters: 62 x 46 mm.
- Battery life is enough for 10 cassettes.
- The delivery set includes the device, a wrist strap and two batteries.
- Functionality - Hi-Key mode, designed to control contrast and increase brightness.
Functionality
The model received an active exposure meter, which significantly expanded the shooting capabilities. Exposure is adjusted automatically, but the operator also requires certain skills in using this option. In turn, the device also acts as an assistant to the process, selecting optimal personnel. The red light found on the mini 8 instant camera lights up when target objects are captured in optimal lighting conditions. This means that the best parameters for the photo have been selected. There is also space for the full realization of the operator’s creative abilities. The new High-Key operating mode eliminates the need for an automatic tuner and prompts. By activating it, the user can also use original effects for portrait photography.
Cassettes for Polaroid
To operate the device, you must purchase special cassettes with film material. One standard set is designed for 20 photographs. Actually, thanks to this consumables and instant printing is performed. Branded cartridges for instant cameras from Fujifilm are distinguished by high clarity and contrast reproduction. Also, if you skillfully use the device settings, the photograph will reflect natural color rendition and brightness. The cassettes are made in a reliable casing, and thanks to the new technology for creating an emulsion, the user can take photographs in temperature regime from -5 °C to +40 °C.
Positive reviews about the model
Users praise the model for its ease of control and overall good form factor. If the previous representatives of the series pleased owners with their compact dimensions and light weight, then in this device the same qualities were enhanced, which, of course, evokes admiring reviews. Also, many emphasize the quality of the case. Reliability of assembly and durability of the plastic used - these advantages are especially appreciated by lovers of travel and tourism. The functionality of the Japanese instant camera also deserves high marks. Of course, there are more productive models on the market with extensive capabilities, but this already applies to the higher class, where the prices are higher and the design is more massive. According to users, the developers have provided the model with successful tools with four shooting modes and a viewfinder.
Negative reviews
Not all owners share positive opinions regarding the operation of the viewfinder. Critical reviews addressed to him mainly concern the location of the device. The inconvenience is especially felt after switching from the usual digital camera. The viewfinder is located in the upper left corner, so at first it is possible to take pictures that do not correspond to the originally intended frame. There are also complaints about the quality of the pictures taken by this instant camera. Reviews indicate that good photo, in principle, it is possible to obtain, but only with proper dexterity and the ability to use the functions of this device. In the hands of an inexperienced user, such pictures can be rare. The main problem in this regard is choosing the optimal lighting and adjusting the focus.
Separately, the model is criticized for its high cost. Camera on Russian market available for an average of 5-6 thousand rubles. If you add a little, you can get the opportunity to create higher-quality images through a device of a higher level. Instax Polaroid cassettes are also expensive. In particular, a cartridge for 10 pictures is estimated at 300-400 rubles.
Conclusion
In general, the model adequately coped with the task of continuing the concept of instant printing machines. It is obvious that compared to previous devices of this family, the model has taken several steps towards improving ergonomics and functionality. But at the same time, the Instax mini 8 instant camera is an expensive accessory that lacks practicality. This is largely due to the high cost of the camera itself and consumables in the form of cassettes. Such costs can be forgiven if you obtain truly high-quality images. But even here the camera does not inspire confidence, since even experienced users do not always take successful pictures. This is to say nothing of the fact that the format of pictures the size of a plastic card in itself does not seem so attractive. True, Polaroids lovers find their beauty in this feature, which deserves overpayment.
In many countries, Polaroid cameras have now become fashionable, which are distinguished by the fact that they print it immediately after the photo is taken. Development takes literally 1-2 minutes and does not depend on the amount of solar color. In this article we will describe the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S camera.
Advantages of the device
Among the advantages, many include the fact that the camera immediately prints photos. Many people like to admire the process of developing a photograph - it creates a feeling of magic. At first the picture comes out of the camera empty, and after a few minutes the moment appears. Children and adults who lived in will definitely feel nostalgic and remember their film cameras.
Camera Disadvantages
Expensive cartridges and poor image quality are common complaints from Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S buyers. Due to the small size of the photo, many avoid this device, as people want larger options.
General reviews
Many people win this model in competitions. However, after the cartridge that comes with the kit runs out (and it is designed for 10 frames), it is immediately put aside in a distant drawer. As noted above, the device has a drawback in the cost of this part: the price is off the charts - from 400 rubles to 2 thousand. Of course, cheaper models are created by Chinese manufacturers, more expensive - branded and official ones. On this moment You can, in principle, find options for 250 rubles if you look hard enough. Small photos The Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S is slightly larger than a typical business card. You can put them in your passport or any album, and after a while you can admire the memorable moments.
Hobbyists who take pictures every day, but do not like, or due to lack of time and other factors cannot print them all the time, note that such a camera is ideal. Many people write that they don’t want to go develop photos just for 1-2 photos, but great amount It's a lot for the money. Because of this, masterpieces have to be viewed on computers and stored on digital media: flash drives and so on.
Results
Many are completely satisfied with their purchase. The device is extremely convenient and easy to use. You just need to insert the cassette and release the shutter. After this, you should pick up the photo that comes out of the tray, shake it a little - and that’s it. Such a camera will be able to give a person pictures with real emotions, because it is no longer possible to edit or replace the picture.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S camera, the characteristics of which are described in the article, has the function of day and night shooting. In a special window on the body you can keep track of how many pictures are left. Many people call the size of the cards a disadvantage, but it’s still a matter of taste - some people like it, others want more. Due to their small size, you can paste them over a mirror or make a collage.
Please remember that cartridges are expensive. Most often they are sold 2 cassettes per pack. Each has 10 cards, so you will have to limit yourself. This item is perfect for capturing pleasant moments.
After inserting the cartridge, you need to press the shutter so that it comes out protective covering cards. It protects the part from sunlight. Thanks to this, they do not spoil.
Surely among the readers of our reviews there are many who know about Polaroid camera with instant printing, for some time this topic ceased to be popular and disappeared from visibility. Last year we were reminded of it at the Wargaming festival, when our editors got the Fujifilm instax mini 8, actually the same idea with snapshots. The camera was interesting, but it had a number of shortcomings, which ultimately resulted in the camera being sent to gather dust on editorial shelves. In the summer of 2017, a new generation came to our attention - Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10, the most advanced this moment instant camera.
We took it for detailed study, and now we are pleased to present it for the first time detailed review in Russian. Now it is already available in our stores with a recommended price of 17,990 rubles.
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 review
Equipment
We have a limited set available, including one camera cartridge and a set of documentation. Important point, which is worth noting right away, the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 will require the purchase of cartridges during operation. 1 cassette will cost 620 rubles, 10 photographs, 1 photograph excluding camera costs will cost 62 rubles.Appearance
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 design resembles a social media icon Instagram networks, which has become the most popular network with an emphasis on photography. By the way, even the format of the photos from the camera and on this network is similar (62 by 62 mm).
The camera dimensions are 119 x 47 x 127 mm and weighs 450 grams with the cassette installed. The black version will be tested, most likely, other colors will be released.
Appearance of Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10
Outwardly, she became stricter and more harmonious. The location of key controls has been revised. According to my feelings and personal experience, interaction with the camera has become easier.
Fujifilm instax mini 8 had two main problems: zero information content and an inconvenient viewfinder. The second problem has also migrated to the SQ10: the peephole is very small, visibility is poor and, moreover, it is blocked by the fingers due to the close location of the button.
But here the problem became less critical due to the advent of a 3-inch TFT display. If previously, after releasing the shutter, printing began immediately, now you can pre-edit and preview the frame. Considering the high cost of one photograph, this is relevant.
In the center of the front side is a lens with a chrome trim. Along the edges of it there is one mechanical button. There is an LED flash in the center.
There are lugs at the ends on the right and left, which can be used to hook a strap to comfortably carry the camera around your neck.
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 camera has a memory card slot, which can be useful for storing captured images or downloading files.
On the user side, under the display, there is a control unit with several buttons, a four-way joystick and a central menu button. It’s not difficult to figure it out, they are all marked.
There is a lid lock on top, as you might guess, and underneath there is a compartment for installing a cartridge. The replacement is quick and everything is intuitive.
Menus, tests and controls
The appearance of the display in the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 made it possible to customize the camera's operation. Russian language is not available at the time of publication of the review. Before shooting, you can adjust exposure, shutter speed, and select a color profile. After shooting, you can process the photo by adding frames, filters, and additionally adjust brightness and contrast. There is a possibility of framing.Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 menu
An interesting option is to combine several images, allowing you to make a collage from the captured photos. There is a semblance of macro from a distance of 10 cm. From creative modes Let's note the combination of two frames, when the first acts as a background for the second.
The internal memory is enough for about 50 pictures, which can be expanded using a memory card up to 32 GB.
Aperture F/2.4, focal length fixed, equivalent to a 35mm lens. ISO is adjustable from 100 to 1600.
For autonomous Fujifilm work The Instax Square SQ10 has an NP-50 battery, in theory it is enough for 160 shots, but during the tests we were not able to discharge it.
When sending for printing, additional visualization of the movement of photo paper inside the body is displayed on the display. The frame emerges from the cutout in the upper part of the body. Full development takes approximately 2-3 minutes.
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 tests
The photographs themselves look unusual, and the camera aroused curiosity among most of those who were nearby during testing and shooting. This is partly due to the fact that the proliferation of tablets and smartphones, social networks, reduced the activity of printing, captured photographs. Now this is a novelty.
We have only one complaint about the quality of photographic paper and photographs; it feels like there is not enough brightness and color, the picture looks a little faded. For those who are afraid of fading, we can say that we have had our first Instax photographs for about a year now, and no visual changes have appeared. Small dimensions allow you to record such pictures at your workplace or refrigerator.
Photos from Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10
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