Lomo Instax Square!

Godfrey

Godfrey

somewhat colored
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Some months ago, I ran across a Kickstarter for a new Lomo Instant Film camera using the Instax SQ film. It piqued my interest so I bought in.

The new camera arrived yesterday ... and it is delightful! I have to order some batteries and film for it so I can't show any results yet, but it's a totally cool thing: a folder with a scale focus, eFOV 35mm f/10 glass lens, all simple analog settings, a bunch of features, and a remote. With it I also received some effects filters and a bunch of SQ framing toys. I got the camera finished in the Pigalle red and it is beautiful!

Another new camera toy to have fun with! :) Can't wait for the film and batteries to arrive...

G
 
I saw this camera after the Kickstarter expired. Looks interesting. I'll be curious to see some results once you take a few pics.

Jim B.
 
My GF got one through the Kickstarter. Be advised: the rear door latch is a weak design, held in place by a couple of tiny plastic tabs molded into the latch. It snapped off the first time she closed the door (Lomography, after a bit of prodding, sent her a new camera). Whether there was a manufacturing fault in the part on her camera or not, I inspected the part and it's a weak point for sure. Be careful.
 
Like most "fund first - design after" kickstarter projects, the sales initiative is paramount. The design may or may not be good, but it's too late after everyone prefunds it and gets their item. Very different from classic manufacturing where you have invent a great design, test it, prove it, market it, improve it...etc. "Flash in the pan" projects, really. But I hope it works for you.
 
goamules, I don’t see any “classic manufacturing” company making Instant Square format cameras, so I would cut Lomography some slack. They are the last ones at least trying to make better instant cameras. What Fujifilm is selling is just sad.
 
If Kickstarter actually improves one's choice, what's not to love? I think it's a bit like eBay, we love to grumble about it, but it's great to expand one's options.

For $150 or so, looks great to me, more exciting than the Fuji. Can't wait to see user reports and results.
 
I've participated in quite a few Kickstarter projects and received some very interesting products out of them. Some, of course, are ultimately failures: that's the nature of new things, not all work out as well as the originator once hoped. I can't tell you how many projects and products I worked on in my career in the big high tech industry never made it, or made it and weren't worth it in the end ...

I like funding Kickstarter projects, however. It provides a small bit of funding out of my pocket to inspire innovation and creativity. I'm not doing it because I think the products are necessarily going to be outstanding, polished products but because it helps creative people realize a part of their dreams and learn. That's worth my occasional $20 to $200 buy-in... :D

Thanks for the note about the back door catch! I agree that it's a little flimsy and you have to be careful with it. I noticed that the first time I opened the camera and relieve the spring tension on the catch both for opening AND closing so as not to stress it. The whole camera is lightly made so it's not the kind of thing I'm going to bash about too much ... the Fuji SQ camera is better at that kind of thing. It is a Lomo after all, not exactly the Leica of Point and Shoots, eh? :)
 
Got mine last week. Meanwhile took 2 pictures with flash (one with the close lens) and good exposure. Outdoor pictures also good exposure. I find the viewfinder quite small but that's for now my only remark. Yesterday compared with the other Lomo'Instant cameras I have. The Wide has inconsistent exposures, lens distortion and not really sharp. The Automat Glass, a little wide to my taste, good exposure but lens flare. Lens flare can also occur with the Wide. The Square, good exposure and no lens flare. At this moment, I think the Square is the best Lomo'Instant camera from Lomography.
 
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For those who have one: I realize that we're not talking about a view camera built to last a century - issue with the design of the rear door latch duly noted. But I'm also curious about one other point. What's your impression of the material they use for the bellows, and its likely durability?
 
Still waiting for my film to arrive ... probably Monday. One thing I was a little disappointed by ... with Fuji ... is that they aren't making a B&W emulsion in the SQ format (or at least I can't seem to find it anywhere). I hope they eventually do. I love the option of B&W with my Polaroid Original instant cameras (SX-70s)..

G
 
Oren Grad said:
For those who have one: I realize that we're not talking about a view camera built to last a century - issue with the design of the rear door latch duly noted. But I'm also curious about one other point. What's your impression of the material they use for the bellows, and its likely durability?
Click to expand...

It seems a nice grade of modern rubberized cloth, likely synthetic, and it folds simply, without too many creases, so I suspect it will last well enough. It is nice to see that the inside surface is finely corrugated: that should help reduce internal reflections and flare.

G
 
Thanks, Godfrey - will look forward to seeing what you do with it as and when you're able to get to it.

I'll be holding off for a bit - have my instax-hands full for the time being between the hacked Wide 300 and a recently-acquired Automat Glass.
 
The film and batteries arrived a week ago but I've been socked in with too many other projects to attend to. Finally I put the batteries in and loaded film last evening. I forgot to get a CR2025 for the remote control, I'll pick one of those up today.

But I did my usual selfie test shot with the self timer and a less than wonderful model last evening ... and I'm impressed with the quality it can produce. Now to make some photos with it today.

G

--- addendum ---

Made five exposures with it today. Just two impressions so far:

The camera feels pretty cheap in the hand, but works very well.
The Instax Square film is excellent quality!

Like all instant film cameras it seems, the film is pretty contrasty and has limited exposure range. I got a couple of good photos from it, but it takes my brain a little bit of time to really know the dynamic range I have at my disposal. When properly exposed, skin tones and colors are excellent!
 
I finished my first pack of Fuji Instax Square film in the Lomo Instant Square camera. Of the ten exposures, I lost one (fell out of my pocket) and four are, I think, reasonably representative of the quality this camera can produce.

Here are the four snappies as examples:


Lomo Instant Square - Instax SQ​

This camera is going to be fun! I hope Fuji creates a B&W version of the SQ film as well.

G
 
Godfrey said:
I finished my first pack of Fuji Instax Square film in the Lomo Instant Square camera. Of the ten exposures, I lost one (fell out of my pocket) and four are, I think, reasonably representative of the quality this camera can produce.

Here are the four snappies as examples:


Lomo Instant Square - Instax SQ​

This camera is going to be fun! I hope Fuji creates a B&W version of the SQ film as well.

G
Click to expand...

Nice photos. I have some experience with Lomo'Instant Cameras and in my point of view the Lomo'Instant Square is the best upto now. My first pack of film, only one shot was underexposed with flash indoors. I've asked Lomography about the flash range and it's from 80 cm upto approx 3 meters. They also mentioned that +1 EV only works without flash. That explained why the picture was underexposed (5-6 m). It's a fun camera to use. If you want bigger prints, the Polaroid Originals OneStep2 or a vintage Polaroid camera is the way to go. It comes down to personal preference and related cost.
I also hope they release a Monochrome version but considering the fact that the Fuji SQ-10 is a hybrid camera and there is also the Instax Share SP-3 printer I doubt they will release a Monochrome version, but you never know. We also got the Instax Wide Monochrome.

Best
 
Halfway through my second pack of film today. I'm really enjoying this camera: it makes excellent photographs! On my bicycle ride today...

​

G
 
It seems I received wrong inforrmation. I wasted some photos indoors with flash at a distance of nearly 2meters. A selfie at approx 50 cm was good. When the film pack was empty I opened the back of the camera and started testing dry without film. Did it several times and can confirm that at +1EV the shutter is slower and at -1EV the shutter is faster when compared to the default setting. Outdoors the exposures are very good in sunlight. I have not yet tried on an overcast day but expect they will be good.
Best
 
What I've found is that, like most all instant film, outdoors the issue is contrast: there's only so much dynamic range that the film can handle. The flash helps out there, just like it did with the Polaroid Spectra models and others that had a full-time, all the time, flash system built in.

A cloudy day should be great for the Lomo Instant Square.
 
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