Fuji Insta Share

[newsgrunt]

I know they're pricey but wondering if anyone has used the Fuji Insta Share device and if so, how is the picture quality ? Specs have numbers but looking for real world experience. Are the photos similar to those taken with the Mini cameras or are they low quality with visible pixeling ?

Looking at it as a working tool for giving people prints and making headways into communities etc..

 

[benmacphoto]

I've used one at work and it's a pretty neat printer.
Image quality looks like the mini camera, I didn't notice any pixelation, but the manual says if you reprint the same image a few times the quality goes down.
It has a memory bank of one image, and when you upload a new image that becomes the image in the bank.
No idea on how many prints you get from the batteries.

 

[newsgrunt]

thanks benmacphoto !

If Fuji were smart, they could drop in a bit more memory so people could bank some photos. It would drive the price up a bit but I cld see paying a bit more for that feature. guess I'll be buying one soon , thanks haha

 

[Huss]

I find the image quality better than what I get from my Instax Neo Classic.
Both are lots of fun to use.

 

[jloden]

If you mean the Instax Share SP-1, I find the quality is better with the SP-1 than with my Instax camera. However, FWIW I only have an Instax Wide 210 to compare with, and not a Instax mini camera.

There's no pixelation really... it's a very small print and it's developed like instant film rather than actually printed, so it's fairly forgiving. The flip side of that is the quality is limited by that as well. You will not get super crisp, sharp prints with it in my experience but they're decent quality. With it being business card sized there's only so much detail you're going to make out no matter what. And yes, I have experienced degraded quality using the "reprint" button more than once in a row for the same image. Works better to issue the print from the camera or phone device each time.

I find the Instax SP-1 prints have been enormously popular at parties, events, or just as quick gifts. They're smaller than I'd like for giving to portrait subjects, but they're a lot of fun and people really enjoy them. The small printer size also makes it so easy to carry around I can just leave it in a front pocket of my camera bag permanently.

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

I didn't notice any pixelation, but the manual says if you reprint the same image a few times the quality goes down.

How would that be possible ? It is a digital file that is stored in the instax share software. Unless the software reduces the resolution of the file every time it is accessed ?

Also, I'm very confused by the technology of the printer. The Polaroid Instant Lab works in a comprehensible manner, this one does not : pictures develop as if they went out of an instant camera, but how could the development be triggered by a digital file ? On the first night I didn't sleep well at all.

The quality is decent. If you use film scans, you can cheat by saying they were taken by an instant film camera.

 

[benmacphoto]

How would that be possible ? It is a digital file that is stored in the instax share software. Unless the software reduces the resolution of the file every time it is accessed ?

Also, I'm very confused by the technology of the printer. The Polaroid Instant Lab works in a comprehensible manner, this one does not : pictures develop as if they went out of an instant camera, but how could the development be triggered by a digital file ? On the first night I didn't sleep well at all.

The quality is decent. If you use film scans, you can cheat by saying they were taken by an instant film camera.

The file is stored digitally, but I'm assuming, that after having it accessed a few too many times the file degrades because it is a jpeg and that is what those files do.

I do not know how the image is transferred, it must be a small led projector that projects the image onto the film.
It's developed the same way as a polaroid, the print goes through rollers which spread the chemicals onto the surface.

 

[mdwsta4]

I love my SP-1. It's my go-to travel companion now not to print my own memories, but to give prints to other people along the way. A great conversation starter and door opener in other countries. Friends also love it at parties. I only wish Fuji would release a 'wide' version of the printer.

Regarding the IQ, they're polaroid type quality so not the greatest , but if you underexpose and add a little extra contrast/sharpening they turn out much nicer. Again, it's more for the experience than for the print itself.

Lately I've been trying to print one image a trip for myself as a keepsake. All other prints I had to strangers/friends.

 

[burancap]

Matt, ^that^ is great stuff and a great use for it.

I love mine. No pixelation that I have seen. Tons of fun with kids, but you sure can smoke the film when it is party time.

 

[newsgrunt]

I already have an Instax Wide and Mini so am familiar with the image quality. The mini prints are not *too* small and people are definitely happy to get them, esp people without the means to take and print their own photos.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

The file is stored digitally, but I'm assuming, that after having it accessed a few too many times the file degrades because it is a jpeg and that is what those files do.

jpegs do not degrade over time. No digital files do, on any normal computer.

How's the image quality of this product compared to the Polaroid equivalent, the Zip, which uses "ZINK" paper? I like that the Zip pictures have sticky backs. Haven't tried either technology though.

 

[newsgrunt]

perhaps when it closes the file, it resaves but with compression = loss

 

[emmef2]

I bought one for my girlfriend and she is very happy about it!
The prints do not show pixelation and if you edit the images before printing you can obtain higher color saturation and contrast than you would with an instax camera

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

perhaps when it closes the file, it resaves but with compression = loss

yeah that could be it...but why??

 

[f16sunshine]

While waiting for Fuji to introduce an Instax "Wide" version,.. I'm using a Polaroid Zip. The paper is cheaper, less fragile, and has a peel away adhesive back which makes the prints into a fun sticker for the wee grommets.
The thing charges via USB and is set up with Bluetooth. Cost about $100
Has been a real hit at weddings and events.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Ah! Yes, Andy, i wanted to know about that. The sticky back is interesting to me. How are the colors?

 

[f16sunshine]

Bright vivid colors are great. Pastel or low contrast colors are not as well defined but still good.
The stronger the original contrast the better the appearance of detail and sharpness.

B+W's can be hit or miss. Zone 7.5-8.5 can turn a bit pinkish.
Darker zones and pure white are good.
The printer works by heat sensitive paper rather than ink (instal paper and go).

I have an eye-fi card in one of the fuji cameras sending jpegs to my Phone or a pad and then the Polaroid app sends it to print.
It's a pretty quick transaction. One could print from the iPhone camera or Flickr App as well.

 

[Huss]

What's nice about the Instax vs the Polaroid Zink is watching the image develop. People love that.