New Instax Wide camera: MiNT Instantkon RF70

grimp0teuthis · Feb 9, 2018

https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/02/09/mint-instantkon-rf70-shoots-instax-wide/

Looks like a new entrant into the instant photography world, using Instax Wide film. Further details available if you follow the link to MiNT's website and put in an email address.

It's going to be expensive: priced "a bit higher than" the MiNT SLR670 Noir, which currently sells for $729

Henning Serger · Feb 12, 2018

For years now I am hoping for a better, more sophisticated camera for Instax Wide film. Looks like this could be the right direction.......

By the way, here you can see the prototype of this MINT RF70 "in action":
The Analogue Photography Series: Film is Still Alive

Best regards,
Henning

RattyMouse · Feb 12, 2018

grimp0teuthis said:
https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/02/09/mint-instantkon-rf70-shoots-instax-wide/

Looks like a new entrant into the instant photography world, using Instax Wide film. Further details available if you follow the link to MiNT's website and put in an email address.

It's going to be expensive: priced "a bit higher than" the MiNT SLR670 Noir, which currently sells for $729

Looks just like a GF670. That would be astonishing if it had a similar lens. No portable instant camera has ever had glass with that level of quality.

macfred · Feb 12, 2018

https://mint-camera.com/about-instantkon-rf70

Henning Serger · Feb 12, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Looks just like a GF670. That would be astonishing if it had a similar lens. No portable instant camera has ever had glass with that level of quality.

The Fuji Fotorama FP-1 has had a very good glass lens.

Best regards,
Henning

RattyMouse · Feb 12, 2018

Henning Serger said:
The Fuji Fotorama FP-1 has had a very good glass lens.

Best regards,
Henning

I almost bought one of those several years ago. I'm glad I didnt because Fujifilm, in their infinite wisdom, discontinued all pack film.

ic-racer · Feb 12, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I almost bought one of those several years ago. I'm glad I didnt because Fujifilm, in their infinite wisdom, discontinued all pack film.

One of these cameras was designed (by coincidence) to expose Instax Mini....(it also is made of metal, has seven interchangeable focus cams, a Graflok back and cost LESS than the other)

Cholentpot · Feb 12, 2018

So one of these will cost an arm, leg and first born son. If no son, no dice.

ic-racer · Feb 12, 2018

I think that the 2x3" or 6x9cm or "Baby" technical cameras are currently at their lowest price point on the used market. They are way to difficult to operate for a 'hipster' film user and can't focus short lenses, making them useless to the 'sensor/image capture' crowd.

EdSawyer · Feb 12, 2018

There's been plenty of cameras that can shoot instant with an as-good-as or better lens than the GF670. Anything that could take a polaroid back for example (multiple options from Mamiya, to name one...)

EdSawyer · Feb 12, 2018

If anything, Fuji should just release an instanx-wide back, that could fit like a Polaroid 405 back does to anything that takes graflok.

Henning Serger · Feb 13, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I almost bought one of those several years ago. I'm glad I didnt because Fujifilm, in their infinite wisdom, discontinued all pack film.

Fujifilm had to discontinue pack film. Because the demand for this film type completely crashed several years ago.
The pack film market was a professional film market. With only two main customer groups:
1. Professional photograhers who used pack film in the studio for checks of arrangements and lighting. This demand stopped conpletely already over a decade ago, because digital replaced pack film for that purpose.
2. Professional photographers who used pack film for pass port and identity card photos. This market crashed a bit later, first in the industrialised countries, then in the developing countries. Also because of digital imaging replacing pack film.

The demand from amateurs / enthusiasts using pack film has always been tiny and negligible compared to the demand from professionals. And even that tiny demand further declined in the last years. With such a negligible demand it is impossible to keep such a complex and sophisticated production like pack film running.
It is a little miracle that Fujifilm kept on offering for so long despite the crashed demand. Kudos for that.
I am thankful that I've had (and still have, there is still film stock available) the opportunity to use these films for so long.
For comparison: Polaroid stopped their pack film production before 2008.

Best regards,
Henning

ic-racer · Feb 13, 2018

If no demand for the pack film, why does it sell so well?
Fuji stopped making it because Fuji wants to force photographers into the Instax market.

ic-racer · Feb 13, 2018

Henning Serger said:
Fujifilm had to discontinue pack film. Because the demand for this film type completely crashed several years ago.

I'd like to see your reference for that or did you make it up?

mshchem · Feb 13, 2018

EdSawyer said:
If anything, Fuji should just release an instanx-wide back, that could fit like a Polaroid 405 back does to anything that takes graflok.

YES,YES,YES! I'm going to try taping a individual sheet of Instax film into 4x5 film holder. Then figure out a way to run it through an old set of Polaroid rollers. Need to get a changing bag MiNT should adapt old MF polaroid backs. I have donor RZ and Bronica backs ready for conversion.

mshchem · Feb 13, 2018

ic-racer said:
I'd like to see your reference for that or did you make it up?

I suspect that the need for production of highly profitable Instax displaced the messy non-ECO friendly pack film. Hellva shame!! I still miss Polaroid 669 that stuff was beautiful. I had a Polaroid Big Shot Portrait camera and a bag of Magicubes, what an amazing film.

RattyMouse · Feb 13, 2018

Henning Serger said:
Fujifilm had to discontinue pack film. Because the demand for this film type completely crashed several years ago.
The pack film market was a professional film market. With only two main customer groups:
1. Professional photograhers who used pack film in the studio for checks of arrangements and lighting. This demand stopped conpletely already over a decade ago, because digital replaced pack film for that purpose.
2. Professional photographers who used pack film for pass port and identity card photos. This market crashed a bit later, first in the industrialised countries, then in the developing countries. Also because of digital imaging replacing pack film.

The demand from amateurs / enthusiasts using pack film has always been tiny and negligible compared to the demand from professionals. And even that tiny demand further declined in the last years. With such a negligible demand it is impossible to keep such a complex and sophisticated production like pack film running.
It is a little miracle that Fujifilm kept on offering for so long despite the crashed demand. Kudos for that.
I am thankful that I've had (and still have, there is still film stock available) the opportunity to use these films for so long.
For comparison: Polaroid stopped their pack film production before 2008.

Best regards,
Henning

I am not impressed at all with Fujifilm and now shoot far less of their film because of their lack of commitment to film. I believed their claptrap. As The Who said long ago: Won't Get Fooled Again.

Henning Serger · Feb 14, 2018

ic-racer said:
If no demand for the pack film, why does it sell so well?

It did not sell well, not at all!
Demand has crashed because of the reasons I explained above (I've been involved in market analysis of the photo markets for quite a long time now. I know the numbers).
That is also the reason why Polaroid stopped their production already about a decade ago, and axed pack film before axing integral film.

And, by the way, when New55 stopped their instant pack film project they also said very clearly that they had almost no support from amateurs / enthusiasts.

There are also some assessments in the industry that Fujifilm had to stop production because of environmental regulations and soon banned substances / raw materials. But so far there is no 100% proof / confirmation for that.

ic-racer said:
Fuji stopped making it because Fuji wants to force photographers into the Instax market.

Definitely not.
Fujifilm has double digit demand increases with Instax for years. In their last fiscal year they sold about 6.5 million Instax cameras. In their current fiscal year they probably sell about 7.5 million Instax cameras. The total number of current Instax users worldwide is in the 25 - 30 million users range.
Wether a tiny amount of several thousand (potential) additional users (former pack film users) is using Instax or not.....well, it absolutely makes no difference for them.

Best regards,
Henning

Richard Man · Feb 14, 2018

It's almost tragic that Fujifilm gets such a bad rep among some film users. "Fool me once, blah blah blah." If enough people buy the damned things, they will make them. It's no rocket science.

mweintraub · Feb 14, 2018

EdSawyer said:
If anything, Fuji should just release an instanx-wide back, that could fit like a Polaroid 405 back does to anything that takes graflok.

OMFG yes.

mshchem said:
YES,YES,YES! I'm going to try taping a individual sheet of Instax film into 4x5 film holder. Then figure out a way to run it through an old set of Polaroid rollers. Need to get a changing bag MiNT should adapt old MF polaroid backs. I have donor RZ and Bronica backs ready for conversion.

I've done it but had problems with proper coating. But you'll need a changing bag, a 545 back, and a file folder. Cut the file folder to fit in the holder the put the exposed film in the folder and process it just like you would have Type 55. I have photos of how I did this. I've been meanign to write an article for www.Returntofilm.com about this. I guess with all the interest I'll put a rush on it.

Or you can just buy a cheap Instax Mini body to process it as you'll get the best results.

maximumPhoto · Feb 15, 2018

ic-racer said:
If no demand for the pack film, why does it sell so well?
Fuji stopped making it because Fuji wants to force photographers into the Instax market.

I felt the same for a while, but then when you look at when the last production runs of FP-3000B and 100C were, which were limited runs, there is still available stock years later. It really doesn't sell well, it would have ran out completely by now if it did. Though yes Instax did have a lot to do with it.

maximumPhoto · Feb 15, 2018

I can't say the shots I have seen from this RF70 are better than what I am getting off of an Instax Wide 300 with Mamiya press lenses. At $730+ I am really disappointed. The camera looks damn sexy though!

mweintraub · Feb 16, 2018

maximumPhoto said:
I can't say the shots I have seen from this RF70 are better than what I am getting off of an Instax Wide 300 with Mamiya press lenses. At $730+ I am really disappointed. The camera looks damn sexy though!

For $730, nope. You're right. The quality didn't attracted me. I know the film can produce better shots that the existing Wide body lenses can produce, but but I don't see paying over $300-400 for anything like this quality.

horacekenneth · Feb 16, 2018

Henning Serger said:
And, by the way, when New55 stopped their instant pack film project they also said very clearly that they had almost no support from amateurs / enthusiasts.

vdonovan · Feb 16, 2018

maximumPhoto said:
I felt the same for a while, but then when you look at when the last production runs of FP-3000B and 100C were, which were limited runs, there is still available stock years later. It really doesn't sell well, it would have ran out completely by now if it did. Though yes Instax did have a lot to do with it.

Your statement here matches my own understanding of the market, what I learned in talking to the Fujifilm rep, and various others involved in trying to save pack film. Florian "Impossible Project" Kaps himself said that the market was just too small. He estimated sales to be less than a million units per year. Even at a wholesale price of about $10/unit (it used to be $5), there would be barely enough revenue to pay for the raw materials and the electricity to operate the machines.

New Instax Wide camera: MiNT Instantkon RF70

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