Get Your Own
The Instax series has been in production for over 10 years and the film is readily available to the public. Only recently have Instax cameras made their way to America and into retailers hands such as Lomography.com and Urban Outfitters.
So you’re ready to cut away from Polaroid and pick up your own Fujifilm Instax camera? Here’s some tips:
- Since the Instax is new to America, the prices tend to be high. You can pick up an Instax 210 for around $150 in the US, or you can be thrifty and find one through UK retailers or Ebay.co.uk used for around $30-60 plus shipping.
- Lomography.com has decent prices for film for the Instax. At around $1 a shot, the film is a lower cost then locating and purchasing Polaroid film.
- Keep on the look out for expired film at a discount. I’ve shot film that was over a year expired with no problems at all, just keep it in a cool environment and you will be fine. Again, Lomography.com puts up expired film with a nice discount from time to time.
- Fujifilm Instax cameras come in 2 film sizes: Mini and Wide. The mini film produces photos that are roughly credit card sized, while the wide film produces shots that are closer to a Polaroid (however, in wide format).
- Polaroid has recently introduced the Polaroid 300. The camera is identical to the Fujifilm Instax Mini, because they purchased the rights to make the camera also. They didn’t change a single thing from the Instax Mini to the Polaroid 300. These cameras are identical and the film is interchangeable.
