Instant cameras , tell me about them ?

BADGER.BRAD

BADGER.BRAD

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Hello all,

I never got to use Polaroid cameras in the good old days but the other week when we were in Whitby for the Goth festival and in the pub ( you cannot beat Old Peculiar) a young couple who had sat next to us and were enjoying the Yorkshire spirit of friendliness produced a Instax mini camera and took a couple of photos of us then promptly gave them to my wife. Unfortunately for me Mrs Badger now wants one ! This is quite useful because I would also like one so I have a chance here of buying her something ( lots of brownie points) that I can also use. I want a film camera rather than one of the hybrids but other than that I haven't a clue ( the mini prints seemed a little small).

What would you go for ?

Thanks all.
 
Place the dessicated camera in a decent sized mug

Boil the kettle

Pour water into the mug

Stir well and wait three minutes

(take care, may be hot)
 
I Googled and was amazed to see that these are still produced, and are not cheap !

I honestly thought you would need to scout around Ebay but not the case.

Are there any comparison guides to give you an idea what to choose?
 
The images they produce have a certain set of characteristics one either loves or hates. Like musicman, I'd probably pour boiling water over them. ;)
 
Instax has three formats. Mini - credit-card-ish size prints (46 mm × 62 mm). Square - bigger than the Mini, but not as big as a Polaroid (62 mm × 62 mm). Wide - the biggest of the three (99 mm × 62 mm), so it depends on what size results you want. The prices of film tend to be higher for the bigger formats, as you'd expect.

The Mini and Square cameras look pretty neat. The Wide cameras (if mine is anything to go by) are a massive hunk of plastic that look like a child's toy.

I've got a mini and a wide and tend to use them for taking pictures at occasions or around the house and I like to stick the pictures on the side of the fridge. They're really nice for that sort of thing.
 
I have the Fuji Instax 90 so mini/credit card sized prints. I like it, it's fun. Each shot isn't cheap at 75p but the packs of 10 shots are widely available from mainstream retailers inc Argos.
 
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For me, the novelty wears off just looking at the price of film.

If I felt the need to produce a photo at the restaurant table, I think I would take it on a smartphone, then print it on a ZINK printer.
They are pocketable, better quality and at least half the price per photo/print, (and less to buy than the camera) plus I still would be able to print better quality at a later time.

My daughter has had an Instax for quite a few years, she has a specific use, and uses it for fun sometimes, but it has never appealed to me.
I never bought a Polaroid either :)
 
Sangoma said:
For me, the novelty wears off just looking at the price of film.

If I felt the need to produce a photo at the restaurant table, I think I would take it on a smartphone, then print it on a ZINK printer.
They are pocketable, better quality and at least half the price per photo/print, (and less to buy than the camera) plus I still would be able to print better quality at a later time.

My daughter has had an Instax for quite a few years, she has a specific use, and uses it for fun sometimes, but it has never appealed to me.
I never bought a Polaroid either :)
Click to expand...


https://www.7dayshop.com/fuji-insta...i-instant-cameras-etc-20-shot-pack?search=ins £1/shot for a credit card sized print...
 
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Sangoma said:
better quality
Click to expand...

The essence of instant photos is that the quality is always garbage, and that's the charm as well as having a print in your hand. It's kind of an effect, like using a Holga camera.
 
I picked up a used Instax Wide at auction that came with three packs of 10 shots. I used a couple at home but where it really shone was at a company event where I just wandered around with it taking pictures of people and handing them the image. The joy they showed was so rewarding, many had never seen a 'polaroid' style image before.
 
FishyFish said:
I've got a mini and a wide and tend to use them for taking pictures at occasions or around the house and I like to stick the pictures on the side of the fridge. They're really nice for that sort of thing
Click to expand...
That's the sort of thing see wants to do with one Nige.

I didn't know about the zinc printers has anyone any suggestions as to which ones to look at ?
 
I quite fancy a Lomographloc (sp?) Instax wide back, ok not full 5x4 put close and would amuse some of my more arty friends at BBQ's and other gatherings during the summer.
But then I would need a Linhof or a Speed Graphic to make use of it, and thus sets in a massive bought of GAS....

Why not just an Instax wide? Because that would be just too easy!
 
Crotal Bell said:
I Googled and was amazed to see that these are still produced, and are not cheap !
Click to expand...
The New Polaroid story is quite amazing Keith with it being rescued from the grave with them not knowing how to get the instant film to work. Their original name was the impossible project which says it all. It's worth looking at on Youtube.
 
BADGER.BRAD said:
That's the sort of thing see wants to do with one Nige.

I didn't know about the zinc printers has anyone any suggestions as to which ones to look at ?
Click to expand...
Years ago we did a photowalk after which we all sat in a pub chimping to find the best shots to print on one of the Canon portable printers which was kind of fun but not in the make every shot count way of true instant photography.
 
I have a Polaroid One Step+. It's definitely fun, but the quality really isn't there for me and focus can be very hit and miss. I've been nosing around for something that doesn't look like a toy and has a decent lens, but I couldn't find anything that was at a price point that was comfortable for me. Instax mini is too tiny. Square or Wide would be my preference. Sadly, I was also naive enough to back the Jollylook Square (I was drunk at the time) which still hasn't materialised.

I keep looking at Instax square backs for my 503CW to get a decent camera on the front of it, but the price is very sphincter clenching.
 
I looked at this subject a while back as a gift for my teenage daughter - in the end I bought her a Canon Zelphy printer.
Costs per print were substantially lower but it's not portable.
She takes A LOT of pictures with her iPhone and I suspect a separate camera wouldn't make it in her bag when she's out with her friends.
I did some cost comparisons etc.
www.talkphotography.co.uk

Instant printers e.g. Canon Selphy, Polaroid Zip, Canon Zoemini, HP Sprocket, Instax share...

My 16 year old daughter is a keen iPhone photographer, her pictures are selfies, her cat and her friends etc. She's had a few pictures printed at Photobox - she liked the results but didn't like the wait or the cost of P+P She'd like a photo printer for Christmas so she can quickly print a photo...
www.talkphotography.co.uk www.talkphotography.co.uk

I still like the idea of an instant camera, Canon did some Zink cameras with built in printers as did the owners of the Kodak name.

Cheap and cheerful?

Might be of interest
www.digitalcameraworld.com

Best digital instant cameras: hybrid instant cameras and printers

If you're after a digital instant camera that can also print photos from your phone look no further
www.digitalcameraworld.com www.digitalcameraworld.com
 
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