wjlapier
Well-known
I'm thinking about buying the Instax SP3 printer but was wondering if anyone here has bought and used one for a while and what is your impression of it.
I have the Instax Wide 300 camera and used it a lot during our spring break trip and mostly like the images from the camera. I really like instant film. But I think I would like the see the square picture from either my iPhone 7+ or Fujifilm XT1 since I can see what the picture looks like before its printed.
Am I right to assume that what I see on my phone is what will be printed on the film from the SP3?
I have the Instax Wide 300 camera and used it a lot during our spring break trip and mostly like the images from the camera. I really like instant film. But I think I would like the see the square picture from either my iPhone 7+ or Fujifilm XT1 since I can see what the picture looks like before its printed.
Am I right to assume that what I see on my phone is what will be printed on the film from the SP3?
JoeLopez
Well-known
I'm using the SP2 currently, yes, it will print the frame from your phone and compatible cameras. It's fun to have for sure, the kids love the instant pics from my camera 
jbrubaker
Established
I have the Fuji SP3 square printer and I like it a lot. I also have the original printer that uses mini film. I prefer the SP3 square format and its larger size, but the film is more expensive. I originally bought the Fuji hybrid camera that uses the square film, but I did not like the camera and returned it. It's easier to shoot with my Pixel 2 phone, then send a few to the printer. The combination of phone + printer is not any bulkier than than the Fuji or Lomo cameras.
olo530
Member
Why not an inkjet printer? There are pretty small ones out there, like Epson PictureMate PM-400. Much better quality, larger prints, faster. I believe it will be cheaper too, not that it's important. Never heard of anybody losing their house because they printed too many photos.
jbrubaker
Established
I don't think there are any battery powered inkjet printers that you can carry in your camera bag. The appeal of the Instax printer is that you carry it with you and make instant prints.
Chuffed Cheese
Established
because it's not the same.
B-9
Devin Bro
Love my SP2
Been having a few connectivity issues involving different devices.
A great product for toting around.
Been having a few connectivity issues involving different devices.
A great product for toting around.
Oren Grad
Well-known
FWIW, I've used my Instax Square SQ10 as a printer. It's been a bit of a disappointment - the file is cropped a bit, color balance is never quite the same as intended, and detail in the darker tones is sometimes lost.
Presumably the SP3 uses the same print engine, but there might be something about the software or calibration that's different.
Doesn't mean you necessarily won't be happy with the results, just be prepared for the possibility that the output won't quite be a faithful reproduction of the file you're trying to print.
Presumably the SP3 uses the same print engine, but there might be something about the software or calibration that's different.
Doesn't mean you necessarily won't be happy with the results, just be prepared for the possibility that the output won't quite be a faithful reproduction of the file you're trying to print.
Oren Grad
Well-known
The closest alternative would probably be the Canon Selphy mini dye-sub printers, which aren't so small as the SP3 but would still fit in many camera bags.
EDIT: Looking at the initial post again, I'm pretty sure there will be an app to allow printing to a Selphy from an iPhone, but I don't know how hard it would be to get a Fuji digital camera to handshake with a Selphy.
jbrubaker
Established
I have a Selphy printer for 4x6 prints and it does a good job. The problem is it needs 24 volts to operate. This means a very large AC power supply or a very large battery adapter. The instax printers are nicely self contained.
Oren Grad
Well-known
Yes, indeed - very nice in that way!
jbrubaker
Established
I had the SQ10 camera for a short time before returning it. As you said, kind of a disappointment as a printer. The SP3 printer is much more consistant, and I am happy with the results using the smartphone app.
Oren Grad
Well-known
Thanks, I am happy to hear that. If someone can come up with a reasonably convenient way to run an SP3 off a PC rather than a smartphone or tablet, I might get one to try.
jbrubaker
Established
I forgot to add that I can use the SP3 printer to print directly from my Fuji X100f camera. That has also proven to work very well!
olo530
Member
This is about SP-2, but a lot applies to SP-3
https://domvarney.com/2016/11/07/instax-sp2-part-1/
https://domvarney.com/2016/11/07/instax-sp2-part-1/
Oren Grad
Well-known
That is outstanding - fantastically useful. For those who haven't yet looked: the linked article addresses issues related to cropping, color balance and gamut, and brightness range among others, and most importantly, offers tweaks to at least partially compensate for the problems in these areas that have been observed with the Instax output devices. His explanation of the cropping problem is one of those head-slapping "duh, why didn't I think of that?" things - but he did think of it and write it up for the rest of us.
Thanks very much for sharing this.
wjlapier
Well-known
I received the SP3 yesterday and quickly printed off some images. First impression was the square prints are smaller than the Instax wide--I guess I was expecting something around the size of the Polaroids. But they are acceptable to me. I also shoot a 440 Land Camera and that film print is HUGE compared to the Instax square. Regarding what you see on the iPhone screen is what will be printed--for the most part. Maybe slightly overexposed prints. Some editing can be done in the software prior to printing.
So, this was kinda fun. I have a photo of my son on a mountain peak in Montana. Our first summit and my last. He still climbs and has summited many mountains since then. Anyway, I printed this image with the SP3 and it came out fantastic. Very good color reproduction and very sharp. That and other images pretty much sealed it for me.
So, I can now print from just about any source once that image makes it to my iPhone. Sony or Fuji. Hasselblad or any other 6x6 camera I have ( after they are developed and scanned, upload to Flickr, then downloaded to my iPhone )
So, this was kinda fun. I have a photo of my son on a mountain peak in Montana. Our first summit and my last. He still climbs and has summited many mountains since then. Anyway, I printed this image with the SP3 and it came out fantastic. Very good color reproduction and very sharp. That and other images pretty much sealed it for me.
So, I can now print from just about any source once that image makes it to my iPhone. Sony or Fuji. Hasselblad or any other 6x6 camera I have ( after they are developed and scanned, upload to Flickr, then downloaded to my iPhone
)olo530
Member
So, @wjlapier, do you see yourself printing en plein air? So far it sounds like you are using it as a desktop printer. For that use case a more conventional printer would be a better fit - you can print right after you develop and scan, bypassing uploading and downloading steps.
I'm only partially trolling. I actually want to buy one myself, but cannot see a whole lot of situations where I'd take advantage of it being "self contained".
I'm only partially trolling. I actually want to buy one myself, but cannot see a whole lot of situations where I'd take advantage of it being "self contained".
wjlapier
Well-known
My apologies. I just now saw your post. My French isn't what it was in 1977...I had to google "en plein air". Initially, I did print while at my desk to test the printer, but also printed when I went to my daughter's college graduation. Printed off a few photos of her in her cap and gown taken with my iPhone, and a couple of cat pictures as well. The printer travels well so that is my main purpose for it. There have been times when we visit our parents and take photos and tell them we would eventually send copies to them. My mom in particular loves photos and has them around her house. I think she would get a kick out of this thing and the little square pics.
