For your TLR and Instax pleasure...The InstantFlex TL70

mooseontheloose · Mar 28, 2015

MiNT Cameras, based in Hong Kong, have recently released a new camera, a TLR that shoots instax film, the InstantFlex TL70. Price: $324.

I like the idea, but was disappointed by several things - the use of mini instax film (although I guess it makes sense since it does seem to be the most popular and available of the instant films out there), and, I have to say it, the extremely plain look of the TLR (although again, probably to keep the price down). That being said, it does seem to be popular with the younger demographic it seems to be aimed at.

I think I'll save my dollars for the SLR670m, now that Impossible is beginning to release their second generation of films.

gone · Mar 29, 2015

Wonderful ideas. I'm not OK w/ the prices, but the engineering appears to be spot on. Myself, I like the bare bones look of that TLR. 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 prints don't do it for me, but it might appeal to a lot of other people. Thanks for posting this. Not only is film not dead, companies are putting time and money into improving the cameras as well. Wow.

baachitraka · Mar 29, 2015

Very neat idea...I like the look of the face, with 3-optical elements it may not a bad camera.

They may try and introduce a instax back for popular TLRs such as Rollei and Yashica.

ciniframe · Mar 29, 2015

Full manual control over shutter and aperture is a must. Lack of that feature alone kills it for me. I would like to see a Instax Wide camera with a 100mm f3.5 lens mounted in a leaf shutter, with a PC 'X' sync and speeds of 1/2sec to 1/500 sec+'B' and RF focusing to 3 feet. Of course that would have a price of at least $800+ so I couldn't afford it anyway. But that is the sort of instant camera I would like to use.

MattKrull · Mar 29, 2015

I like the idea, I like the look. I'm even okay with the film choice. I just wish the price was in line with other instax cameras. I'd love to have that along with me on street shooting and give strangers copies of the photo I took - I just don't want to spend $300 to do it.

walliswizard · Mar 29, 2015

I think it's fantastic that there are people out there doing stuff like this.

Me? I'd LOVE one of these. I just wish it was a tiny bit cheaper (but can understand the price I guess, it's not likely to be a mass-market), and I do wish the instant film was cheaper. Still, it's fun and that's what it is all about in this case.

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 29, 2015

Yeah neat-o, I guess. But the whole "reinventing the classical instant camera" with the TLR-look is just not accurate. Reads too much into that hipster crap and lacks credibility when they don't know what they're talking about: calling the TLR a "classical instant camera" when the TLR's never were anything of the sort. And I think they mean classic, not classical.

Moopheus · Mar 29, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Yeah neat-o, I guess. But the whole "reinventing the classical instant camera" with the TLR-look is just not accurate.

And we know how much marketing guys are sticklers for accuracy.

As for the price, I guess it seems pricey for an instax camera, but what would a real new TLR cost now? A lot more.

baachitraka · Mar 29, 2015

A triplet cost just 1/5th of that price...

Are there any Polaroid's back for a TLR?

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 29, 2015

Moopheus said:
...but what would a real new TLR cost now? A lot more.

$8,885.00...

Rolleiflex 2.8 FX TLR

:eek:

Ken

RattyMouse · Mar 30, 2015

Geeze.....$324 is too much for a new camera? Really people?

I seriously doubt that whoever is making this camera is getting crazy rich, or even rich at all.

MattKrull · Mar 30, 2015

RattyMouse said:
Geeze.....$324 is too much for a new camera? Really people?

I seriously doubt that whoever is making this camera is getting crazy rich, or even rich at all.

I'm not saying the price isn't justified. I am saying that $300 is more than I can justify for an instax camera, no matter how nifty. There's only so much I am willing to pay for the joy of carrying an additional camera to give away prints. For $200 I could carry a Fuji Instax retro which serves the same purpose (but in a p&s shooting style). Or I could get a zink printer and carry that with me (if I'm carrying two cameras, one is probably digital).

Now, if there was a type-55 equivalent that gave me print I could give away and a negative I could keep and enlarge, then the instax format would become far more interesting to me, and I'd be willing to pay more to have a nicer instax camera.

I don't think there is anyone on this forum who isn't aware that we are in a golden age of buying utterly amazing used equipment for pennies on the dollar of what it would cost to be made today. That puts the manufactureres of new equipment in a difficult spot.

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 30, 2015

RattyMouse said:
Geeze.....$324 is too much for a new camera? Really people?

I seriously doubt that whoever is making this camera is getting crazy rich, or even rich at all.

Yes. For that camera it's more than I'd ever pay whether they're making money or not.

Brac · May 11, 2015

I think for what it offers - full automation, large range of shutter speeds, built-in flash & a tlr body, the price is not unreasonable. It will be interesting to see how it sells. If I can find the money I would certainly be interested.

AgX · Jul 30, 2015

mooseontheloose said:
MiNT Cameras, based in Hong Kong, have recently released a new camera,

It still is not delivered.

The manufacturer:

Estimated delivery: July 2015 (maybe August if there are hiccups in production

Oren Grad · Sep 26, 2015

At last, the website says that the TL70 has started shipping:

https://mint-camera.com/TL70/preorder/

Xmas · Sep 26, 2015

People are buying lubitel 166 at more than I paid for a canon P and lens...

Why worry a Leica M is even more again?

Theo Sulphate · Sep 26, 2015

mooseontheloose said:
I think I'll save my dollars for the SLR670m, now that Impossible is beginning to release their second generation of films.

Wow - I like that device.

Fixcinater · Sep 27, 2015

ciniframe said:
Full manual control over shutter and aperture is a must. Lack of that feature alone kills it for me. I would like to see a Instax Wide camera with a 100mm f3.5 lens mounted in a leaf shutter, with a PC 'X' sync and speeds of 1/2sec to 1/500 sec+'B' and RF focusing to 3 feet. Of course that would have a price of at least $800+ so I couldn't afford it anyway. But that is the sort of instant camera I would like to use.

Speed Graphic.

For your TLR and Instax pleasure...The InstantFlex TL70

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