[ad_1]
There was a time when instant cameras were considered the pinnacle of technical sophistication. Rather than giving your film to a photo lab, you can take your picture and print it out.
Instant could have pushed him; photography still needed a few minutes to develop fully (and no, shaking it was not essential). But digital cameras and home-made photo printers have emerged, and the flash camera has been pushed out.
Except that it was not the case. The camera is back, Fujifilm Instax cameras have sold nearly 30 million to date. For an obsolete technology, it's really not bad.
So here's the thing: we all take a lot of pictures. The current number on my own photo library is 34,389. And yes, some of them will be accidental screen shots, blurry photos that should have been thrown away a long time ago, and pictures of my food that no one cares about, but there are still some that are good memories that I want to relive from time to time. How much did I print? At a conservative estimate, maybe 50.
Hybrid
We take pictures, but we do not print them all. And we do not need it, but one or two to put in place could be useful. This is where the Fujifilm Instax comes in. The latest is the Instax Square SQ20, which stands as an instant hybrid camera. This means that you can take digital photos, including moving pictures, and choose to digitally store them or print them immediately. If you had the Instax Mini camera, you would not have had the opportunity to review the picture you were taking – take pictures, print, that's all. The Instax SQ10 has introduced a digital screen to allow you to do exactly that.
So what does the SQ20 bring to the party? A few things. First, there is a zoom on it. It's a 4x zoom only, but it's the first time Instax cameras have one. So it makes a small difference in terms of improving the photographs.
Second, it has creative effects built into the camera, so you can put your own filters on your photos, in the Instagram way.
Third, there is the video. You can record 15 seconds of video at a time, then scroll to select the frame you want to print. Although there is internal memory in the camera, you will need to add a microSD card to the video shooting setup, but it is relatively inexpensive to obtain nowadays.
So there are some differences between the two.
The installation of the camera is simple, the film contained in a cartridge that only goes into the camera in one direction. It makes it almost impossible to ruin it.
Make silly
At the back of the camera is the power switch, which also lets you choose between video and still clips. You can also play with the exposure settings, flash options and self-timer. For still pictures, you can choose different shooting modes, including a bulb mode, a split screen, and a collage mode that allows you to place multiple pictures in a single image.
It's a fun way to take photos and not printing all the photos is great: these film cartridges are not exactly discounted, so you do not want to waste them. That said, you can set the camera to auto-print if you prefer or if you have enough confidence in your photographic abilities.
There are also good touch ups, like the selfie mirror on the front or the effect when you print a picture: the picture moves up the screen before the paper from the printer so from the top.
This is an improvement of the Instax range, although it is not a must for those who have already bought.
Good
If you like instant gratification, print your photos and check this box. The addition of video is great for topics that move quickly. So you have a chance to get a perfect photo. Instax's photo function was excellent for static subjects, but pets and children were difficult.
The not so good
The camera itself is a bit bulky. If the best camera is the one you have with you, it is unlikely that you will carry it with it just in case. It will be a conscious choice to take it with you – as if you were directing the camera.
Like all these systems, the film and the printing paper are exclusive and, if you are concerned about such things, involve a certain amount of plastic waste.
The rest
The zoom is only 4x but brings you a little closer to your subject. Plus, the creative effects are nice to have, even if they are not essential. It is available in two colors: black and beige.
The verdict
The upgrade may be hard sell for SQ10 users, but as the first Instax camera, it is definitely worth considering. Maybe consider some more eye-catching colors, though.
200 € fujifilm.com
Source link
