Fuji boasts a large wide format instax film, but its popularity is dwarfed by its mini and square relatives. Meanwhile, please read on…. Expect to be experimenting a little when using Polaroid Originals. You will see random blue streaks, faded colors, and occasional light leaks, but that is just all part of the fun.
But again, who needs vivid images when we have digital cameras in our pockets? I personally think if a Polaroid Originals picture develops well, it looks nicer than a Fuji. Also, the Polaroid Originals formula has improved so much since the first experimental batch in The thing you should be expecting when using Polaroid Originals film is sometimes beautiful pictures like the ones below:.
And you have very little control over the outcome, especially with the simple cameras, which offer limited controls. Using a camera with more controls will help, if you know how to control it. But sometimes the film is just wacky. On the other hand, the Japanese company Fujifilm has a more reliable or you could say boring formula.
You shoot a million packs and get the exact result every single time. Film size and picture quality are really a matter of taste. Some people like fun — choose Polaroid. Some people like predictable, boring, but reliable — choose Fuji. But most important of all, some of the classic Polaroid cameras were the best, and they are only compatible with Polaroid Originals. The Polaroid SX for sure is the best instant camera ever made and still available.
You can also take a look at SLR , which is an enhanced version of it. Fuji only makes simple easy-to-use cameras and printers. Lomography makes variations of it, but they are also simple and sometimes a little bit quirky.
A lot of enthusiasts have taken matters into their own hands and built custom cameras that are compatible with Fuji Instax. MiNT has a few cameras that uses Fuji, with more controls. Polaroid actually makes five formats of instant film, so here's a look at what they are and which cameras they are suitable for:.
Size: 4. This classic Polaroid film is designed for vintage cameras, which do not have batteries, and as such each film pack contains a battery. This is vital for cameras, but while i-Type cameras run on batteries they can still use film.
It comes in color, monochrome and duochrome, and is also offered with standard, colored or circular frames. Because i-Type film is designed for battery powered modern i-Type cameras, it does each pack does not contain a battery.
Accordingly, while it will physically fit in a Polaroid camera, it will not work. It comes in color and monochrome, and is available with standard, colored, metallic and limited edition with themes such as Star Wars frames. This film only works on SX Polaroid cameras, and is incompatible with all others. Since SXs are uncommon, you won't see this for sale in most shops or online retailers — making it difficult to pick it up by mistake.
It comes in color and monochrome options. Size: 2. Polaroid's latest instant film, designed exclusively for the pint-sized Polaroid Go camera. It is currently only available as a colored stock, and as it's so much tinier than standard Polaroid film it can develop up to five minutes faster.
Polaroid still produces a small quantity of 8x10 film for large format cameras, only available from the manufacturer directly. It is different from the original peel-apart Polaroid 8x10 film, but still requires a large format camera with an appropriate back to make use of it.
Some users have also complained that very out-of-date film can leak , spreading chemicals across the rollers of the camera. Having said that, many photographers do shoot with expired film — just be prepared for the risks. Any exposure to light will instantly overexpose the remaining film , causing it to turn white. That being said, I did successfully transfer a half-used pack of film from one camera to another by closing myself off in a dark room and throwing a blanket over my head so that no light could reach the cameras.
Absolutely not! All you have to do is lay it face-down on a flat surface out of the sun, or inside a flat coat pocket, and let it work its magic. The only kind of Polaroid film that works with Instax is the Polaroid film. It has been specifically designed for use with Polaroid and Fujifilm Instax Mini cameras. Other types of Polaroid film are not compatible.
Personally I only ever use Instax film with Instax cameras, not least because it is usually less expensive. I tend to keep mine inside an album or a box. Putting them on display or leaving them out in the sun can cause the colours to fade over time. It is also best to keep the prints away from heat and humidity. If the film is unused, you must not tear, puncture or cut Instax film.
This is because the film contains chemicals that could burn your skin. My advice would be to avoid cutting Instax film even after it has been developed. That said, some people have successfully experimented with peeling off the plastic that covers the image to create a grungy border. You can see a full video tutorial here.
The time it takes for an Instax print to develop varies depending on the ambient temperature but the Instax manual suggests that the average time is around 90 seconds. These chemicals are stored inside the white border of the film and cause the developing process to begin when they come into contact with the layers of emulsion and developing dye within the sheet.
Yes, Instax cameras can go through airport security but the Instax film should always be hand-checked for visual inspection — or in other words, it cannot be put through any kind of X-Ray machine, including the one used to scan your carry-on luggage.
Exposing it to X-Rays will cause streaking in your final images. There are usually shops that sell gadgets and camera equipment in the departure lounge.