Why So Little Fujifilm Instax Talk Here?

RattyMouse · Jun 10, 2012

Seems odd that the Instax line of cameras from Fujifilm rarely get mentioned here. They must sell more instant film than anyone these days. And from what I hear, the image quality from their film is worlds better than Polaroid.

Why is that?

wildbill · Jun 10, 2012

1.the iphone screen is bigger.
2. instagram.

removed-user-1 · Jun 10, 2012

I use Fuji's peel-apart instant films, and used the Polaroid peel-apart films back when they were still available, but I've never had any real interest in the integral cameras (either Polaroid or Fuji).

Prof_Pixel · Jun 10, 2012

RattyMouse said:
Seems odd that the Instax line of cameras from Fujifilm rarely get mentioned here. They must sell more instant film than anyone these days. And from what I hear, the image quality from their film is worlds better than Polaroid.

Yup, Instax is much better than SX-70 ever was; of course, I may be biased because I spent 7 years at Kodak working on the Kodak Instant Film System.

Fuji licensed the technology from Kodak around 1980 and was never sued by Polaroid. For years it was available outside the US only. Now that Polaroid has gone 'belly-up' they can also sell it in the US. The technology involved is VERY different from that used by Polaroid.

Derek Lofgreen · Jun 10, 2012

Because the Film Photography Podcast talks about instant film enough for all of us at APUG.

D.

RattyMouse · Jun 10, 2012

wildbill said:
1.the iphone screen is bigger.
2. instagram.

Neither of which are film.

RattyMouse · Jun 10, 2012

Prof_Pixel said:
Yup, Instax is much better than SX-70 ever was; of course, I may be biased because I spent 7 years at Kodak working on the Kodak Instant Film System.

Fuji licensed the technology from Kodak around 1980 and was never sued by Polaroid. For years it was available outside the US only. Now that Polaroid has gone 'belly-up' they can also sell it in the US. The technology involved is VERY different from that used by Polaroid.

Interesting. I did not know that Fujifilm was selling a Kodak developed film. Might there be more of that in the future? (Ektar, Porta?) when Kodak finally shuts the door?

wildbill · Jun 10, 2012

RattyMouse said:
Neither of which are film.

Hey, you asked.

markbarendt · Jun 11, 2012

Went to a lecture by Phil Borges a few weeks back. He uses an Instax camera to "break the ice" wherever he travels.

Phil comes into a community, takes pictures of the kids with the Instax, gives the pictures to the kids, the kids show their parents, the parents want their own, & Phil gets to take the pictures he really wants. His camera broke on one trip and he said it crippled his ability to work big time.

My daughter is going to China on a summer college program and will be using a Polariod 210 to do something similar, she'll shoot one to give and one to keep on her travels. The keeper is being pasted into a journal then she'll add text. Imagine her being able to show her kids that book and tell her story.

CGW · Jun 11, 2012

Prof_Pixel said:
Yup, Instax is much better than SX-70 ever was; of course, I may be biased because I spent 7 years at Kodak working on the Kodak Instant Film System.

Fuji licensed the technology from Kodak around 1980 and was never sued by Polaroid. For years it was available outside the US only. Now that Polaroid has gone 'belly-up' they can also sell it in the US. The technology involved is VERY different from that used by Polaroid.

Wasn't Polaroid instant in its dying days actually a Fuji-made product?

hoffy · Jun 11, 2012

Derek Lofgreen said:
Because the Film Photography Podcast talks about instant film enough for all of us at APUG.

D.

Hah! This (but they are getting better)!

xya · Jun 11, 2012

because instax film is just giving superb results but the look of their cameras is a shame. so you enjoy the photos, hide the camera and don't talk about it.

Moopheus · Jun 11, 2012

CGW said:
Wasn't Polaroid instant in its dying days actually a Fuji-made product?

It's what they sell now. One of the new Polaroids is a rebranded Instax camera.

CGW · Jun 11, 2012

Moopheus said:
It's what they sell now. One of the new Polaroids is a rebranded Instax camera.

No. I'm talking rebranded Fuji FP-100B/C.

RattyMouse · Jun 11, 2012

xya said:
because instax film is just giving superb results but the look of their cameras is a shame. so you enjoy the photos, hide the camera and don't talk about it.

I can totally agree with that. Why Fuji made such dumb looking cameras is a mystery.

epp · Jun 11, 2012

RattyMouse said:
Interesting. I did not know that Fujifilm was selling a Kodak developed film. Might there be more of that in the future? (Ektar, Porta?) whenKodak finally shuts the door?

http://www.kodak.com/ek/uploadedFil...ransforms/Kodak_Focuses_Consumer_Business.pdf

It doesn't sound like they're shutting the door on film...

Ektagraphic · Jun 16, 2012

Well...I'll jump in and be the first to say that I use the Instax system and I really enjoy it. It is fun at parties and such. It's just fun to use integral instant film and watch a print appear before your eyes. The Instax mini (I have both) is not really worth it in my opinion. With the film cost being so close, it's so much more worth it for the regular wide format Instax. It would be cool to see an SX-70 or SLR600 type of camera for this film but I can't complain about the Instax camera. It's large and it is fun because it is that large. It's enjoyable to handle. The only thing that I would really, really like to see is Black and White Instax film. That would be really awesome. The only things I wish the cameras had is a tripod mount, a self timer, and a way to shut the flash off. Nonetheless, they are quite fun and the image quality is surprisingly great.

Psyence33 · Jun 16, 2012

Ektagraphic said:
The only thing that I would really, really like to see is Black and White Instax film.

Second this! Really wish they would make some bw too. As I can see instax are selling really well recently especially with younger people and the film (instax mini) are cheap.

I'd like to add I own a few instax stuff and my favourite is the instax 10, the pictures are lighter and more vintage and you can set the flash OFF when you don't want it only flaw is the looks (ugly and fat compared to the instax 25), noisy, no timer.
Instax 7s is rubbish
Instax 25 is good looking but can't turn flash off although they is a self timer

I also have the instant back for the Diana F+ which is really fun especially since you can change lenses and use different flash. I use mine with the ringflash and the fisheye or super wide lens and the main advantage for the Diana F+ setup is that you can do multiple exposures with it as well as long exposures! A lot more fun! Disadvantage: not as compact?

I am now looking at the instant back for the LCA so.... there are plenty of people that still uses instax XD Just that they're not as pro looking

Ektagraphic · Jun 16, 2012

Well, they sell the "Polaroid" version of the Instax mini film and camera at Target. That's a plus but the film works out to be $1 per shot there. Not the greatest price.

Mike Wilde · Jun 17, 2012

I had the rare Instax Wide auto camera , and it decided to stop listening to the film eject clear sensor. God I hate cameras with microprocessors in them. Then had a 210 (I think) and I might have sold it at the last swap meet or still have it packed in the unsold surplus gear. The images were good, but it was such a clunky camera to pack and use I decide there are other imaging options in life. Film, at a dollar a shot or more was a drag.

DesertNate · Jun 18, 2012

I've been thinking of getting the Diana Instax back and machining it to fit my Bronica ETRS. It should be rather interesting if I can make it fit. Hope I don't lose infinity focus.

Joe VanCleave · Jun 18, 2012

I have the Instax 210 that takes the 16:9 aspect ratio wide film. Yes, the camera looks clunky, but it works. And you can turn off the flash using the side control panel flash arrow button. It also comes with the close up lens attachment that has a plastic protrusion that you sight through from the viewfinder to compensate for close up parallax error. Considering what the camera costs, it does fine, though in build quality it's no SX-70; but in today's dollars a newly built SX-70 would be very expensive. I do wish there was B/W film available. Thanks for starting this thread.

-Joe

studioesper · Jul 1, 2012

actually fuji photo was sued by polaroid.

Bromo33333 · Jul 4, 2012

wildbill said:
1.the iphone screen is bigger.
2. instagram.

1. The iPhone isn't bigger than the Instamax 210. But in any event the iPhone isn't relevant to APUG. I don't see people here discussing the latest screen sizes of iPhones?
2. Instagram is a digital FX program used to post to Facebook, etc. Not sure this would apply to APUG.

Prof_Pixel · Jul 4, 2012

studioesper said:
actually fuji photo was sued by polaroid.

See http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...MhGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QfgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1060,4754310

Why So Little Fujifilm Instax Talk Here?

removed-user-1

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency