💡 Looking for one instant camera, Do not miss the complete article that we have prepared for you before buying your next camera.
Although I am a fan of digital life, I recognize that the world already has too many screens. From time to time it is good to look away from the screen and enjoy something “real”, something tangible and touchable, like photos printed on photographic paper.
By the way, speaking of photos on paper, you will surely be interested in this mega guide that I have prepared for you with everything you need to know about photo development.
As I was going, taking advantage of the Christmas dates in which we find ourselves, today I am going to talk to you about what can be a unique and very original gift: Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera.
A camera that has fascinated me and that may become a gift from Santa Claus for someone close to me (shuuuut…!!).
What kind of camera is the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300?
I want to point out some peculiarities of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 that differentiate it from 90% of the cameras that are sold today.
1) It is an analog camera
It lacks a screen. It lacks an electronic viewfinder (it has an optical one). It lacks a menu. It lacks Wi-Fi. It lacks Bluetooth. It lacks a memory card slot. It lacks GPS. It lacks connectivity to your favorite social networks. And no, it doesn’t record video either. The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is a first and foremost analog camera. It makes you live photography as before: shot you take, photo you get. You have no margin to review the photo. It has a limited photo cartridge. As soon as this one runs out you run out of photos unless you have spare cartridges with you.
Someone will say: Why would I want a camera that would limit my possibilities when there are cameras today that allow you to shoot and erase without worrying about the cartridges?
I’ll talk about this in a moment. I continue with the characteristics.
2) It is an instant camera
This means that, unlike modern digital cameras, with which you have to transfer the photo to the computer first and then send it to print, either through an online web page or at one of these kiosks where photos are printed, and also unlike normal analog cameras that take film, the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is a camera that uses an instant development system. It carries a photographic paper cartridge and as soon as we shoot a photo it comes out through a slot already printed. At first the photo is not seen on the paper, but after a few moments the photograph begins to glimpse.
I think that with these two points we are situated. Now let’s see what distinguishes this camera from other instant analog cameras… Because there will be several like this, right?
Why Fujifilm Instax Wide 300?
If we look at the instant cameras (that is, those that print the photo instantly) on the market right now, we will predominantly find two brands: Polaroid and Fujifilm.
The first, Polaroid, are digital cameras after all (I’m talking about those that are produced today). They allow you to print the photo instantly, which is fine, but that “digital” point does not convince me. The Fujifilm Instax are Fujifilm’s proposal regarding instant cameras, but unlike Polaroid’s, Fujifilm’s are fully analog.
In addition to the “100% analog” point, the second point in favor of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 versus other makes and models is the fact that most current instant cameras (whether digital or analog, both Polaroid and Fujifilm) reveal photos in one size extremely small. The first time I saw a photo of these I was perplexed: the photos are the size of these trading cards that kids exchange. I’m sure many people don’t mind that the photo is so small, however, I like the photo to be large or at least medium in size, so that it can be seen even without having to get too close to it.
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 it is one of the very few instant cameras that print photos at a reasonably large size. In my case this was the definitive characteristic with which I decided on this camera as a finalist.
Some inconvenience will have this pileup, right?
Disadvantages it has depending on what you compare it with and for what. As I always say, there is no perfect camera. There is the perfect camera for a certain person with certain tastes and for certain circumstances:
a) Being completely analog, the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 does not have a screen. It does not allow you to review the photos, or apply filters to them, or shoot 100 photos of exactly the same scene in order to choose, delete the 99 and keep the final photo. This is a camera that makes you experience photography as it was in the last century. We don’t have to go back that far either. Only 20 years ago this was the most common way of photographing: each photo used up a role or a space on the film, which made you evaluate the photo before shooting it. You made an effort to get the correct photograph from the same shot, because you knew that you were not going to be able to see it on a small screen, nor were you going to be able to select a photo out of 100, nor were you going to be able to apply filters or stories to it. You shoot. Boom. Outside.
I’m lovin ‘it.
b) The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is big. As I said before, there are two types of photographic paper for instant cameras: the small, chrome type, and the large. This, by carrying the role of the great, requires that the body of the camera itself be large. It’s not huge either, but don’t try to compare it to a pocket digital camera.
c) It needs to be fed with photographic paper. Did you want instantly developed photos on large paper? Well, paper you will have to buy and put. Depending on where you buy the paper and how big or small the package you buy, it can cost you between 0.60 and 1 euro per photo. As we have become accustomed to digital photography where with a memory card you have thousands of photos, the idea of having to buy “a consumable” regularly scares at first. Nevertheless:
- The “paper shortage” factor makes us be very selective with our photos and press the shutter button only when we are really sure that the photo and the moment are worthwhile.
- The satisfaction of being able to share on-site the emotion of the moment with our loved ones is more valuable than 0.60 euros. I think.
- We all currently have some type of digital camera, even if it is the smartphone. The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is not intended to replace your digital camera. You can continue to digitally shoot the photos you want, but with the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 you can immortalize unique occasions and special moments and enjoy them on the spot. You can hang those “special” moments on the fridge, clip them to a thread in a part of the house, or collect stories, people and moments of your life in a cork that will recount your experiences.
As you can see, where this camera has drawbacks I see advantages 🙂 I can’t wait for the delivery man to finish giving it to me and see the illusion on the face of the person who will receive it as a gift on Three Kings Day 😀
Note: In my case I bought the camera on Amazon (where usually the best price and best after-sales service I have received). They currently have it for about €114.99. If, like me, you plan to give it as a gift, remember to add a pack of photographic paper (you have it available here).
Oh, one final thing: what did you think of this article? If you liked it, could you give me a I like it on Facebook or Twitter? Thank you 😀