Best current instax camera and film

[Donald Qualls]

I've seen the "free film" offer -- to me, it looked like the kind of offers you never actually qualify for. You have to shoot the (fairly expensive) Instax film, scan, post to social media, then notify them, and only get replacement of the actual posted frames (which might be one in four you actually shoot due to focus and exposure errors). I'd call it not worth bothering, like playing punchboards or pulltabs in a bar.

The images I've seen from the Mint cameras weren't horrible -- but they were scans, in low resolution on the Web, and likely the best of one or more packs. I'll hold out for my Lomograflok; at least with that, I'll have ground glass to focus on and manual control of exposure, and a good lens (Tessar, Componon, Angulon, etc.). Aside from reciprocity limits, the Instax color film is very good.

 

[Foto Ludens]

The problem with the free film offer is that you must post photos of the camera, rather than photos taken with the camera, use the appropriate hashtags, and get a minimum amount of "likes" on social media (something like 40 or so). For every 4 such photos you post, you get a pack of film for free, IIRC. In other words, you must become one of those insufferable "influencers" in order to qualify. Donald is right; it is not worth the bother.

 

[PerTulip]

The problem with the free film offer is that you must post photos of the camera, rather than photos taken with the camera, use the appropriate hashtags, and get a minimum amount of "likes" on social media (something like 40 or so). For every 4 such photos you post, you get a pack of film for free, IIRC. In other words, you must become one of those insufferable "influencers" in order to qualify. Donald is right; it is not worth the bother.

Nothing is "free". You get film by working as a promotor of the company and investing time and effort.

 

[ericB&W]

I bought an Instax wide 300 last year, when was announced the end
of production of Polaroid originals film for my Polaroid image/spectra.
Anyway i didn't like the Polaroid originals quality , nothing compared
to the real old Polaroids film that were sharp and reliable.
I'm quite satisfied with the quality of Instax wide, is sharp and the results are not
casual .
I'm considering the LomoGraflock , but i should buy also a 4x5 camera that at moment
don't have, to use it .
I don't know if it's worth the expense in terms of difference of quality with a simple
Instax wide camera.

 

[eli griggs]

You can use the "square" Instax in a Hasselblad Polaroid back, by taking one or three empty Polaroid film cassettes and using some gaffers tape, etc, to mark a stop for loading that film in a dark bag or room.

You could also do similar with "wide" film or just keep using the same empty pack, marked for Square, but since those cameras have no glass plate to press against, you'll also have to fix the corners to the film holder.

Using wide in large format should prove interesting too, but remember, Instax Film, all of it I believe, is ISO 800, so you may want to use ND filters or, for b&w film, colour contrast filters on, say a Polaroid 100, like I have or other auto exposure or fixed shutter speed cameras, like the Argus 75.

Cheers.

 

[Cholentpot]

I've shot instax in my Crown Graphic. I loaded the sheets onto used cut sheets and loaded up in the dark. I loaded them back into the holder and instax camera and had the camera develop the film. It came out great, razor sharp great contrast and great colors.

I ordered the instagodizilla back for 4x5 and it'll get here...someday...

 

[choiliefan]

I've been doing the same thing with Instax Mini in Century and Graflex XL cameras.
I've slowly been rounding up parts to cobble together a 3X4 back and holders to use Instax Wide in the XL.
The Graflex XL was designed to avail itself of peel-apart Polaroid back in the day and seems an ideal conversion to me.

 

[Brian B Bednarek]

What are the best current instax products available.

Film size, quality, resolution? Camera quality and ease of use?

Analog or digital process?

My favorite Instax camera is the Neo 90, very shar, but i am also a big user of the Lomo Instant Automat because of the exposure ... excellent in dim light!!!

 

[Arthurwg]

I can't stand this "Polaroid" company being called ... Polaroid. Too bad there are no laws preventing wannabes from being called what they are not, nor will they ever be. Worse, looking now at their website, one can't even see how they came to being called that. Those who were born after original company went kaput have no idea what this is about.

Recently saw a show of Andy Warhol's Polaroid portraits. The only thing I got from it was how much better the real Polaroid was than what we have today.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Recently saw a show of Andy Warhol's Polaroid portraits. The only thing I got from it was how much better the real Polaroid was than what we have today.

I still have an unopened box of 55 but I’ll keep it to show grand grand kids one day as proof there were better times on this planet.

 

[Brian B Bednarek]

Some people in Mexico were selling a back, sold out in a matter of hours. I've been watching but so far have seen no indication that they'll ever be available again. And their website is currently "down for maintenance", though you can find them on facebook and instagram.

Where there's a will, there's a way, but it's not as simple as just spending money.
View attachment 250840

I have that back and love it!!! I feel that the good glass on a Mamiya really makes the Instax shine!!!

 

[richyd]

The best camera is hands down an SX-70, either by mint or polaroid.
The best film is fuji instax wide.
If only you could put the two together.

You can. After a fashion.
You can load Instax Wide lengthways in an empty film pack being careful to keep it clear from the track where the hook mechanism sildes to push exposed film out (some tape this over). After an exposure - compensating with ND filter - back in the dark remove the sheet and place it in a Wide camera, expose covering the lens. It's a pain but nice result. I've loaded up to 3 sheets then in a dark bag after each exposure paplace the sheet in a box then later transfer to Instax camera to process in one go.

 

[Nicholas W]

What are the best current instax products available.

Film size, quality, resolution? Camera quality and ease of use?

Analog or digital process?

I like the Wide the best, especially given the Lomograflok.

 

[Nicholas W]

I can't stand this "Polaroid" company being called ... Polaroid. Too bad there are no laws preventing wannabes from being called what they are not, nor will they ever be. Worse, looking now at their website, one can't even see how they came to being called that. Those who were born after original company went kaput have no idea what this is about.

They came to be called that by buying the company and its IP rights - lol