The Lomo'Instant Wide camera partially
fills a gap that Fuji didn't want close. Fuji makes wonderful instant
film that could be professionally used, but only makes crappy cameras
with very limited specifications. It has many features that Instax
cameras do not have, as: B mode, long exposure times, filter thread,
flash socket, remote control, multiple exposures, exchangeable viewers
and an ultra wide angle lens.
Technical Specifications:
Film: Fujifilm Instax Wide Film Exposure Area: 62mm x 99mm Focal Length: 90mm (35mm equivalent) Exposure type: Programmed Automatic Aperture: f/8, f/22 Shutter Speed range: Bulb (Bulb Mode), 8s-1/250s (Auto Shooting Mode), 1/30s (Fixed Shutter Speed Mode) Exposure Compensation: +1/-1 Exposure Values (Ambient) Ejection: Motorized Exposure counter window: Yes Multiple Exposures: Yes Built-in Flash Guide Number: 13 (m) Built-in Flash: Automatic Electronic Flash or Flash Off Mode Flash cable socket: Yes Closest Focusing Distance: 0.6m (0.1m with the Close-Up Lens) Zone Focusing Setting: 0.6m / 1-2m / infinite Tripod Mount: Yes Remote control transmission: Infrared Remote Control Range: In sunshine: 1-2m, Indoors: 5m Battery Supply: 4 x AA batteries (4 x 1.5V) Remote Control Battery Supply: 1 x 2025 battery (3V) Filter Thread: 49mm Size: 19 x 12 x 9.5 cm Weight: 640 gr.
Accessories:
(ultra) wide angle lens and viewer, close-up lens, splitzer, colour
filters for flash, light painting pen, strap, caps.
Some pictures of the camera:
The set, nicely packed.
What's in the box...
The camera front...
...from both angles.
Back side with control panel.
Back open.
Camera mounted on a tripod. The grip is a HorusBennu
grip attached to a Manfrotto 200PL style quick
release plate, a special plate made by HorusBennu for their grips. It
allows you to use the camera, with the grip attached, on a Manfrotto
RC2 Rapid Connect Adapter.
One
of the most prominent features of this camera is its ability to shoot
night views. The automatic exposure system gets it right without any
problem and in case there is still the B mode. The remote control built
into the lens cap is a wonderful idea. The tripod helps a lot, and it's
centered (the only 2 Instax cameras with tripod mount, the 500AF and
the 300, have an extremely excentered mount). The lens is much more
luminous (F 8) than the Fuji ones (F 12.8/F 14), all are plastic. The
close-up lens lets you get as close as 10 (!) cm. The ultra wide angle
lens with its dedicated viewer is a very nice feature, with some
experience you can well frame ultra wide with the normal viewer, so no
need to change viewers too often. The rest of the accessories are nice
gadgets, multiple exposures with the help of the splitzer are fun. An
accessory that I would like, would be a tele lens and its viewer. Maybe
Lomo will make one if many of us ask them...
Some
gereral words about Lomography and their service: There is a 2-year
warranty, at least in Europe. My personal experience with their service
is good so far. As most of their cameras are made of (cheap) plastic,
there is no repair, they just exchange your defective camera. You have
to send it in to their Vienna firm at your expenses, which is not cheap
if you are not based in Austria, but they try to compensate by adding
film or so to the return. You absolutely need a proof of purchase,
there was heavy abuse by fraudulent customers they told me. So if you
buy second hand or your camera is gift, be sure to put your hands on
the proof of purchase. After the 2-years warranty period it's over.
They will try to help for the expensive not-so-plastic cameras like the
LC series, but for the rest there is no repair. Keep this in mind for
the prices you pay for older gear.
Just to give you an idea, some photos, taken with this camera on expired film (sorry, low quality scans):
0.6m, flash.
0.6m, no flash
2m, flash.
∞, dull day.
∞, from the same point, wide angle lens.
∞,
without flash, blue sky in winter (on a christmas market), the dark
corner up right isn't vignetting, it's the roof of a stand.
2m, without flash at dusk, round-about, still.
2m, without flash at dusk, round-about in motion.
Some night photos:
2m, without flash, subway station.
∞, without flash, Cologne, 4711 building.
∞, without flash, Cologne, Hohe Strasse.
∞, without flash, Cologne, entrance of the cathedral.
∞, without flash, Cologne, main station.
∞, without flash, Cologne, main station, wide angle from the same point.
∞, without flash, Cologne, railway bridge with passing train.
∞, without flash, Cologne, river Rhine, wide angle.
