Sometimes my “big girl” camera feels like a ball and chain. For example last night I was shooting sideline at my son’s lacrosse game with a 400 mm zoom, mostly without a monopod, now that is heavy. Aside from my iPhone, the lightest camera in my bag is my Fuji Instax 210. Twice the size of its little sister, the Fuji Mini S, as reviewed by Urban Muser last week. I too use the mini film but I use it in the Polaroid Mio, which if you poke around online you would discover that the camera was actually made by Fuji. The 210, also known as the Instax Wide is a camera that is still in production as well as the film. The best part about this camera is that its predictable. If your lighting is bright (but not too bright) your exposure and colors are going to come out exactly as you see them. No surprises. With a shutter speed range of 1/64 to 1/200m the developer emulsion that can perform at temperatures as low as 41 degrees F (5 Celsius) and as high as 104 F (40 Celsius). I recently used the mini Fuji film on the ski slopes and had no problem with color, like any film hold the photo close to your body to warm it when shooting in cold conditions and you will be fine.
Shot at dusk, the flash went off, you can not override it but you can switch the settings to darker to dial down the amount of flash fired. For this shot I held my hand over the flash. With the focal distance at ∞, you can’t even detect it.
Taken in Santa Monica, Ca. people have taken to carving their names in the agave that line the bike path along PCH. I shot this with the setting at close range (0.9 – 3m).
The camera comes with a clip on macro lens, lets you focus in at 40-45 cm (15 in -17 in.). This was my first and last attempt as I broke the piece that keeps the lens attached to the camera, needless to say its delicate.
You may remember last summer I took the Instax 210 on my vacation trip to Maui. I have to say my very best images came from this trip. Bright sun, sparkling blue skies, vibrant colors, they all work so well with this camera. I even had the lifeguard stand blown up into a canvas. You can see all the photos here.
Bright overcast days work well with helping natural skin tones with portraits.
Probably my favorite color combination with the Instax, I love my blue and orange!
Taken in Hawaii along the Kaanapali shores of Maui. Be aware, pointing the camera directly into the sun, will produce what I like to call a “Black Hole Sun” my fellow Soundgarden fans will appreciate that reference.
Want to have fun with the camera and your mobile phone? Try an #instaxagram. This takes a lot of patience but yield some pretty fantastic images. Snap your Instax photo and wait a few minutes for the image to develop. Try to line up the subject within the same frame and snap a photo of the photo, tapping on the Instax photo to make sure that it is in focus. You can help to blend the image with apps like Snapseed and PicTapGo. I did these on vacation. I am particularly fond of my daughters toothless gap.
See how fantastically well the Instax captures blue skies?
I did a little poking around the Flickr Pool and noticed a few members like the Fuji Instax too. I like the cropped images myself. I don’t normally crop the white frame out but I think it lends itself to a more painterly look which I think works well with both Sue’s and Linnys’ shot.
an optimist is the human personification of spring by jamie {74}
If you have taken some Instax shots make sure you come back here and share the link in the comment section. I would love to see them! For more inspiration \\ Groups on Flickr: Fuji Instax Room \\ View my entire Instax set on Flickr here. \\ Sold on Amazon and Photojojo! \\ Film tip: Buy on Amazon in bulk for best pricing, I usually can get it for .75 a shot.
See you on the flip side.
such a fun post. looking forward to see what people share in the comments here.
and yes i always think of that song when shooting instants of the sun lol.
I LOVE that you get that. Ok want to hear something odd??? I plugged in my phone on the way to work today and guess what played?
Yup.
Thanks for featuring my photo! I love my Instax Wide, too! I used it at the beach last year photographing my grandkids in the surf, lifeguard stands, etc. and fell in love with it. Which reminds me, I need to pull it out and start snapping.
I threw mine in my bag today after realizing its been a few months and I have an open pack inside. 😀 hope you will share in the pool!
The colors in these are STUNNING, Lindsey!!
These are really cool Lindsey! I dont’ have any of these little cameras but after reading your post and Christy’s I want them! The colors ARE gorgeous!
It’s a no brainer. I have to hide then from my kids or else I’d be out of film. I do let the 7 yr old take a roll every now and then, she has her own easel style album that lets her flip through her images.
The colours are wonderful. I have an older Fuji Instax 100. It’s the size of a toaster!
Lolz yes mine feels like a toaster too, I am definitely NOT incognito with it.
Oh these are so nice! Those beach photos make me happy, and I really love the schoolbus.
I’ve always loved your instaxagrams. I’ve tried it once or twice but haven’t had the patience to capture it just right.
I haven’t been shooting as much instant lately (polaroid or instax) but here’s one of my favorite shots from last year. I couldn’t agree with you more about the blue sky!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettienew/7114117033/in/set-72157629536406526
Lindsey!!! thank you for this!! i have gotten caught up with my new (old) polaroids and my lovely instax wide has been neglected in a corner!!!! i will rectify that!! your images are wonderful and so bright and cheery!!!
I forgot to tell you how cool your photo within a photo is! I will have to work on using my Instax more creatively.
What beautiful colours, Lindsey. SO perfect for you part of the world. Yes, I must dig my camera out. The kiddos in particular, love it!
I love my mini but I never got as good results as these with my wide, maybe I should get some more film and give it another go as these are beautiful 🙂
Lindsey you couldn’t have better timing! I have a photojojo gift card from mortal muses to use and was looking at the Fuji instax cameras!
We are having a little fundraiser for my kids school and a full-on photobooth is too much. How does this one do indoors? Do you think we could do a little photo booth with the flash on this instant camera? Would love your input! thanks!
I forgot to say. We nicknamed this camera The Toaster!
i adore this post. your images are so colorful and cheerful. i love my instax for the same reasons. thank you for this!
This is lovely!! For the shot you took of the sunset (black hole sun) did you leave the setting on normal or did you brighten or darken? also did you cover the flash?
Olivia, I left it on normal and I most likely left the flash uncovered. I don’t usually cover it on landscape shots. 😀
HI! What setting did you use to take the sunset photos? Also the landscape shots? 🙂
Oh and also, when do you cover the flash and when not to?
Hi, I was just wondering, when you took the instax to Maui, Did you have to do anything to protect the film from the heat? Only I’m thinking of buying this camera to go to Turkey with and it’s quite hot there
Thanks x
Great post! And happy to see the Instax wide get some love! I have one and enjoy using it – I need to start using it more because the film is pretty reasonably priced over what I need for my SX70. I use mine on walks and enjoy taking it for nights out with friends. I love their expression when they see me point and shoot it, photo eject out the top and hand them over a photo. Once you get the hang of it, the photos are pretty great!
hi, I recently bought a Fuji Instax 210 Wide Instant Camera and was wondering how you manage to put your photos on your computer? I try to take photos of them through my iphone or camera and it never looks as good… your help is greatly appreciated! I loveeee your photos – amazing!
HI Lindsey,
I recently shot some instal 210 film and was wondering when shooting images horizontally in the farm, have you noticed any issue with getting buildings straight in your photos? You can see my images on my online gallery for Expolaroid 2014 here: http://gerrismalleyexpolaroid.blogspot.com/2014/04/insta-city-travelroid-this-exhibit-was.html
Glad I found you here! 🙂
That’s instax…auto correct. sheesh. 🙂
Hello, i had an Instax Wide 210 and use it on my Korea Trip last January of this year just want to ask some of my shots are blurred and sometimes the focus is quite ok, is there a trick or guide on getting the right focus on the 210? really appreciate if someone could help me with this problem. Thanks
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