Instax without Fujifilm Cameras

So, Tony (Mastadon) responded to a micro-blog post on the new Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo (review on PetaPixel), mentioning that the Fujifilm Instax cameras produce a slightly soft look.  Well, there are alternatives to Fujifilm cameras.  Leaving aside Polaroid, the original instant film company, there are a number of options for Instax instant film.

First is Lomography's Lomo’Instant Wide Glass.  Lomo themselves claim that its "brilliant 90 mm multi-coated glass lens delivers beautifully crisp images, superb depth of field, and smooth skin tones that make portraits shine."  At under $300 including lens cap that also works as a remote, splitzer attachment and flash gels, it is not breaking the bank.  If it lives up to the hype, this sounds like a nice option.

Lomography also has the LomoGraflok back that can attach to any 4x5 large format camera with Graflok attachments.  This gives one the choice of many cameras and lenses to choose from.  There is some inconvience that an adaptor has to be placed under the ground glass to focus.

The Chroma.Camera SnapShot InstantWide V2 is built for the LomoGraflok, but is a bit pricey once factoring in the cost of the back (not included).  The price for custom-built convenience.  Made to order, so one can configure the camera when ordering.  The camera focuses with an all-metal helicoid and uses the same nose cones as the Chroma Six9 cameras.  If you already have Chroma-brand cameras or are thinking of going medium format with their line of cameras, that might be a plus.

Last, but not least, is the MiNT Camera InstantKon RF70 Instant Camera.  A complete camera in one package with full manual to full automatic control.  A bit pricey, but MiNT does offer free film for life (see site for details).  VIPs (previous customers of MiNT) qualify for discounts on their next purchase.

Back to the Fujifilm Wide Evo, it is a hybrid camera.  It has a digital sensor and builtin Instax printer that prints the image.  Whether that leads to sharper images or not, no one has said.  There is magic in instant film even today, as there are still those whom have not seen a print pop out of a camera yet.  The novelty has not worn off for Your Blogger yet, either.

Thanks for reading Ag+ Process!

2024 Camera Wrap

Well, 2024 is over.  For the film photographer, there was lots of news about cameras.  New cameras, improved cameras and more.  Lets just list the cornucopia of cameras that will keep on giving into 2025.

• Intrepid Camera introduced a new electronic shutter and lens for large format cameras in a Kickstarter.
• Chroma Camera released the 2024 CubePan Advanced 35mm camera and a technical lens cone, with rise, fall and shift for the Chroma Six17 series camera. 
• MiNT introduced the Rollei 35AF 35mm camera, PetaPixel reviews this camera.
• Ricoh Imaging released the Pentax 17 half-frame camera, which Kosmo Foto reviews.
• Lomography introduced the Lomomatic 110 camera, in the subminiature 110 format.  Kosmo Foto has a review for this camera as well.  

With everything from subminiature to large format covered last year, there must be something for the film photographer to be happy about.  While the reviews may not be as glowing as one would hope, the fact is that usable cameras are being produced and if companies see a positive reaction from the market, revised and improved versions may follow.

Thank you for reading Ag+ Process.  Have a Happy New Year!