Now that the Polaroid, as it was known and loved (to one degree or another), is no longer there, Fujifilm remains the only major manufacturer of instant printing cameras. And this is not surprising. Fujifilm is also the only remaining manufacturer of the supplies required.
Model history
Instax series cameras are cheap, have a lightweight plastic case, a minimum set of shooting management tools and are designed to provide the user with an instant and satisfactory result. But many owners of cameras of this line, who passed the old Polaroid school, were surprised by their miniature dimensions - only 62 x 46 mm (like a credit card) compared to 79 x 79 mm for the Polaroid SX70.
Therefore, Fujifilm also produces a lineup and film that allows you to get prints of 99 x 62 mm. This is more than the Polaroid. In anticipation of Photokina 2014 in Cologne, the company announced a new 129.99-dollar Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera, an overview of which is given below.
Design
Like other Instax cameras such as the Mini 90 and Share SP-1, the Wide 300 is entirely made of plastic. But this is not its drawback - the model is not intended for professional use, and it does not require a magnesium alloy chassis, all-weather or ultra-tight tolerances. For instant photography, sharp corners are part of the fun.
Nevertheless, the instant printing camera Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is much more reliable than most other cameras in the line. First of all, the device has significant dimensions. The camera is much wider than any Polaroid, and larger than all Instax Mini models. This makes sense: the film is larger, and, consequently, the camera. This does not mean that a model of this size has no other advantages. Instax Wide 300 is equipped with a chain handle, a shutter button in the style of SLR cameras and a rubber focus ring. There is also a flash and a tiny, uncomfortable optical viewfinder above and to the left of the lens, which helps crop the picture.
Like most instant film cameras, a cartridge with supplies is loaded from the back of the device, and the photo comes out from the top right after the picture is taken. For the image to become distinguishable, it will take a minute or two, and it will take some time for its complete formation. The pictures are as sharp as those of other similar cameras, and their contrast is also sufficient. According to user reviews, photos will never be as clear as in digital cameras, but they are full of character, fill with emotions every time the print is in the hands. There is enough space around the edges of the print to make a large signature or drawing. And, unlike Facebook or Instagram, it will not be possible to correct what is written. So, before you write, you have to really think.
At the back there is a small monochrome LCD display to display the number of frames remaining in the cartridge, a flash button and a brightness control switch. There is even a hard plastic notch for the thumb to make it easier to hold the camera.
On the bottom of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 there is a plastic universal tripod socket, which, according to Fujifilm, is perfect for group shots. This is true, but someone will have to stay with the camera, as there is no remote control.
Functionality
The 95mm Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 lens has been slightly improved over the previous model. For example, if you use the adapter included in the kit, it can focus already at a distance of 40 cm, which is enough to take a selfie (and this is a sacred function of instant cameras from time immemorial). Also, the lens allows you to choose between two priority focus areas: from 90 cm to 3 m and from 3 m to infinity. The focusing ring does not reach the level of Zeiss lenses, but it is not so important. It does everything that is required of this kind of camera.
Another useful feature of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is user feedback called brightness adjustment, which is the rudiment of exposure compensation and allows you to choose between dark, normal and light aesthetics of the picture. If you like the spectacular style of fashionable selfies, then you should focus on the latter option. Pictures in a sadder mood require darkness. For everything else, it's probably best to stick to normal.
Flash
Extra lighting is absolutely necessary at parties and other places where the camera is usually used. But according to user reviews, the flash cannot be turned off when shooting in bright conditions. The more expensive Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic model allows you to do this. You can hold the flash button on the rear panel for additional fill backlight, but that's all that is available to the user.
Expendable materials
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 cartridge provides 10 prints, so regular replacement is required. At a cost of over $ 8 apiece, such a survey is an expensive pleasure. However, there is something in instant photography that cannot be reproduced by digital cameras, no matter what filters are used.
Nutrition
Inside the camera handle is a compartment for batteries. The model uses 4 AA batteries. Users have nothing against such a solution, but, in their opinion, installing a lithium-ion battery would significantly reduce the weight of the device, as the manufacturer did in the Mini 90.
Conclusion
Fujifilm presented only two types of cameras at the Photokina 2014 exhibition: a premium mirrorless compact X-series and Instax models. This shows how respected the manufacturer is for its instant shooting devices and their attractiveness in the rapidly changing photography market.
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is an evolution of the Wide 210 model with advanced controls, the addition of a couple of additional features and a control circuit close to DSLR cameras, which greatly improves the overall impression. Although users would like to have more manual configuration options from Instax Mini, the feature set will please almost everyone. This is a lightweight, inexpensive, convenient camera that captures amazing retro-style shots that cannot be mimicked by digital camera filters . They can only be repeated on a used Polaroid. In general, if someone else takes snapshots, then the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera must be included in the list of their possible acquisitions.