If you miss having actual photographs to keep and give away, Fujifilm has a modern solution for you. Their Instax Wide Cameras are perfect for recording memories instantly in a hard copy format. Let’s take a look at both models to see which one is the best for you.
Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera combines the best of two worlds—vintage Polaroid photos with new technology. It uses ISO800 speed film cartridges to print instant pictures measuring 3.4 by 4.25 inches. Each photo has a white border just like the instant ones always had.
The film cartridges come in packs of ten shots each, but none is included with the camera. Instead, what you’ll get is a camera strap and 4 AA batteries. You’ll need to buy the Fujifilm Instax WIDE film separately.
The camera itself isn’t going to replace a digital camera because there’s no way to retain images. It’s just point, shoot, and print. On the bright side, you don’t have to wait more than a few seconds to have the image you just took develop right in your hand.
There is a built-in flash that fires whenever the camera detects that the light is too low. The Light and Dark control let you make adjustments to the photo before you take the shot. The images that print are vibrant and bright with a bit of a vintage Polaroid look to them.
The 95mm lens extends automatically when you turn on the camera. It has two focus zones to choose from, 0.9 meters to 3 meters and 3 meters to infinity. Since there’s no LCD display to help you frame the picture, you’ll want to use the built-in viewfinder that has a target spot to help you aim.
There’s no way to manually adjust shutter speed; it’s fixed between 1/64thand 1/200thof a second. That means action shots will look blurry and you can’t shoot long exposures. To help steady the camera, you can mount it on a tripod since it has a socket for that purpose. We like the 300 a bit more than the 210 we’ll discuss below simply because it has the tripod socket.
As you take photos, the camera will show you a countdown timer so you know when it’s time for a new film cartridge. Each print of the film is completely self-contained with dye inside; you don’t have to peel off any cover sheets. As long as the camera is used between 41 to 104 degrees F, the images will develop in seconds.
More features of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera:
- Comes with a close up lens attachment for selfies
- Fujifilm offers a 1-year warranty
Fujifilm INSTAX 210 Instant Wide Photo Camera
The Instax 210 Wide Camera is the first WIDE format that Fujifilm developed. It looks much more retro than the 300 we just reviewed above. Like the 300, it uses ISO800 speed film cartridges that come in a pack of ten. Each photo measures 3.4 by 4.25 inches with the classic white border everyone associates with the old Polaroid pictures.
The camera has a film countdown timer as part of an LCD display that also shows the focal distance. You can choose between close-up shots at 0.9 meters to 3 meters and photos focused at 3 meters and beyond.
The flash on the camera will fire automatically in low light conditions. The shutter speed is fixed at 1/64th and 1/200th of a second, so shots of people moving will look blurred. On the other hand, the majority of photos it prints are bright with a slightly vintage tone to them.
More features of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 210 camera:
- Comes with a close up lens attachment for selfies, a strap, and 4 AA alkaline batteries
- Fujifilm offers a 1-year warranty
Recommendation
If you like its retro look, the quality of its photos is equivalent to the 300. Just be aware that there is no tripod socket on the 210.
If you want the convenience of being able to mount your camera on a tripod, get the 300. It has an updated appearance with an enhanced viewfinder that has a target spot to help you aim.
Click here to purchase Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Fujifilm INSTAX 210 on Amazon.com!