Today Fujifilm announced its first Instax Mini camera in over two years: the Instax Mini LiPlay.
Unlike the analogue Mini 9, this new instant camera employs a number of digital features such as a 1/5 inch digital image sensor, a 2.7 inch 230k-dot LCD screen, internal memory storage and a micro SD card slot. In fact, it bears a stronger resemblance to the hybrid Instax Square SQ10 and SQ20 than any of the Mini models, albeit in a smaller, more compact form.
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Today Fujifilm announced its first new Instax model of 2018 – the Instax SQUARE SQ6 – and it’s one I’m super excited about. Why? Because it’s the first analog Instax camera to print in the square format!
Although I love the advantages of the Mini format, such as the fact you can store it inside a business card holder for example, I really grew to appreciate the larger, more traditional size of the 1:1 Square format while using the SHARE SP-3 printer last month.
So, besides the squareness of the prints, what else is new about the Instax SQ6? Well, as we mentioned above, it’s a proper analog camera unlike the SQUARE SQ10 that came before it, which was essentially a digital camera and film printer rolled into one.
It comes in three colour combinations – blush gold, graphite grey and pearl white – and quite simply, they’re all stunning. If I had to choose, I’d probably go for the gold version but it would be a tough call. The design crew at Instax definitely deserves a big pat on the back!
As could only be expected, it comes with many of the modes found on the Instax Mini 70 and 90 such as selfie, macro, landscape, double exposure, self timer and light/dark. There is also automatic exposure control that brightens both the subject and background in dark rooms and at night. The handy selfie mirror on the lens has made its return too, which is great to see.
Included in the SQ6 pack are three new strobe colour filters that you can attach directly to the flash to change the colour and mood of the scene.
Unfortunately it looks like Fujifilm has gone with the same CR2 type batteries it used for the Mini 70, which aren’t as easy to find as the standard AA type. I had kind of hoped they would start giving their Instax cameras rechargeable batteries like the one used inside the Polaroid OneStep2 but it wasn’t to be, at least not on this model.
The Fujifilm Instax SQUARE SQ6 will be available on May 25th 2018 at the approximate retail price of $129.95. As always, I’ll do my best to get my hands on one as soon as possible to review!
The original Polaroid OneStep was launched 40 years ago and made a decisive contribution in the popularity of instant film. With the rise of the digital age, instant film inevitably declined and as a result, Polaroid stopped producing cameras and film ten years ago. Their iconic products survived thanks to the Impossible Project, a Dutch company that continued to make film and then released their own camera in 2016, the I-1.
In the meantime, instant film experienced a massive comeback thanks to Fujifilm and its Instax series. Today, the Impossible Project officially took the name ‘Polaroid Originals‘ and released the OneStep 2 camera after the company’s largest shareholder acquired the brand and intellectual property of the original Polaroid corporation.
The OneStep 2 has a classic design that Polaroid users will immediately recognise. It is available in white or graphite, features a self timer mode and has an internal battery that can be charged via USB with a 60-day lifespan. There is a 106mm lens (approx. 40mm equivalent in 35mm/full frame format terms) with a focus range of 0.6m to infinity and a powerful flash.
The new camera is compatible with 600mm film and the new i-Type film that comes in both colour and monochrome. This new film doesn’t work on vintage models because it has been specifically optimised for the OneStep 2 camera and the I-1. Each pack contains 8 shots and costs around $16 ($20 for the 600 type) but there is a bundle available with three packs as well.
The OneStep 2 is available for pre-order at $99 / £110 / €120 and is expected to ship in mid-October 2017. Polaroid Originals will continue to produce film for the 600, SX-70, Spectra and 8×10 cameras.
Personally I am quite happy to see that the Polaroid name is back, even if there is a different company under the hood. When you think about instant film, you often, if not always, think of Polaroid first, especially if you’re part of the generation that witnessed and used these cameras in the 70s, 80s and 90s. The name was so popular that it became the standard moniker for all instant film cameras, regardless of the brand.
In today’s digital era in which we have thousands of photos locked away on our smartphones and hard drives, the second coming of instant cameras is a breath of fresh air, as is the survival of film in general. I personally can’t wait to try this new camera and have a board full of instant Polaroid photos on my wall!
