lynnb
Veteran
Picture #94 with the Instax Mini 9.
When you turn the Mini 9 on (by pressing the button that extends the lens) the camera's aperture defaults to wide open, f/12.7. You have to remember to wait for the battery to charge up the camera's electrics and exposure meter, which takes about 1-2 seconds, then look to see which LED light is indicating the correct aperture to set (or you can just go ahead and manually set it using Sunny-16, but the camera won't fire until it's ready and the exposure LED is alight). If you've recently turned the camera on there is still some charge remaining and the camera will be ready instantly
.
This is what happens if you're a klutz like me and sometimes forget to adjust the aperture after turning it on. It was bright sunshine so it's way overexposed - film speed is ISO800 and shutter speed is fixed at 1/60. Nevertheless I like the result!
When you turn the Mini 9 on (by pressing the button that extends the lens) the camera's aperture defaults to wide open, f/12.7. You have to remember to wait for the battery to charge up the camera's electrics and exposure meter, which takes about 1-2 seconds, then look to see which LED light is indicating the correct aperture to set (or you can just go ahead and manually set it using Sunny-16, but the camera won't fire until it's ready and the exposure LED is alight). If you've recently turned the camera on there is still some charge remaining and the camera will be ready instantly
.This is what happens if you're a klutz like me and sometimes forget to adjust the aperture after turning it on. It was bright sunshine so it's way overexposed - film speed is ISO800 and shutter speed is fixed at 1/60. Nevertheless I like the result!
lynnb
Veteran
Picture #96 with the Instax Mini 9
Overexposure is unavoidable with the Mini 9 in bright sunlight unless you use an ND or color filter. Problem is, the camera comes with three dinky plastic color filters (red, orange, blue/green) and a close up filter, which clip onto the front of the (recessed) lens. The lens barrel itself is a much bigger diameter and has no filter thread. The barrel retracts fully flush with the camera housing when collapsed. There's no ND filter. The only way to use one is to hold it in front of the lens with one hand while taking the picture with the other. The only exposure control is aperture (from f/12.7 to f/32). Shutter speed and ISO are fixed (1/60s and ISO800).
This picture shows what happens when ambient light exceeds the exposure range of the camera/film. Using one of the supplied color filters would have given the image area a color cast, while the surrounding white border would remain white. If you scan the print and try to correct the image, you'll change the border area to whatever color compensation you've used. The only way around that is to mask it (eg. in LR) which creates extra fiddly workflow. So without having an ND filter to hold in front of the lens I've put up with overexposure. I used a curve in CS6 to pull down the shadows to give more definition. I still like the image.
Manly beach, April 2020
Overexposure is unavoidable with the Mini 9 in bright sunlight unless you use an ND or color filter. Problem is, the camera comes with three dinky plastic color filters (red, orange, blue/green) and a close up filter, which clip onto the front of the (recessed) lens. The lens barrel itself is a much bigger diameter and has no filter thread. The barrel retracts fully flush with the camera housing when collapsed. There's no ND filter. The only way to use one is to hold it in front of the lens with one hand while taking the picture with the other. The only exposure control is aperture (from f/12.7 to f/32). Shutter speed and ISO are fixed (1/60s and ISO800).
This picture shows what happens when ambient light exceeds the exposure range of the camera/film. Using one of the supplied color filters would have given the image area a color cast, while the surrounding white border would remain white. If you scan the print and try to correct the image, you'll change the border area to whatever color compensation you've used. The only way around that is to mask it (eg. in LR) which creates extra fiddly workflow. So without having an ND filter to hold in front of the lens I've put up with overexposure. I used a curve in CS6 to pull down the shadows to give more definition. I still like the image.
Manly beach, April 2020
lynnb
Veteran
Pictures #97 and #98 with the Instax Mini 9, taken at the same time as #96.
lynnb
Veteran
Picture #95 with the Instax Mini 9, because every thread needs cat pictures
This is my youngest daughter's cat. She's 10 but still thinks she's a kitten.
This is my youngest daughter's cat. She's 10 but still thinks she's a kitten.
lynnb
Veteran
Using color filters with Instax color film
Picture #41 with the Instax Wide 300
Waves are one of my favorite subjects and I was curious to see how Instax film handled them. The answer: not well! The white water and spray rendered as white mush with no definition. Underexposing didn't help to resolve more detail. So I figured it was worth it to try holding a medium/dark orange filter in front of the lens. I took the Instax Wide 300 loaded with color film and a 39mm orange filter along to the rock platform and this is what resulted:
Picture #41 with the Instax Wide 300
Waves are one of my favorite subjects and I was curious to see how Instax film handled them. The answer: not well! The white water and spray rendered as white mush with no definition. Underexposing didn't help to resolve more detail. So I figured it was worth it to try holding a medium/dark orange filter in front of the lens. I took the Instax Wide 300 loaded with color film and a 39mm orange filter along to the rock platform and this is what resulted:
philslizzy
Member
Lovely pictures. You have gotten to grips with the shortcomings of the film and camera. I particularly love #13. It has a pictorial quality about it that I can't describe. Lovely
Shab
Veteran
I love the way you see, the way you put it in a picture and how you share with us, with all your explanations... so, thank you Lynn. It's a pleasure to come to this thread.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
This may sound crazy, but the SQ6 might be too good - perhaps I'm just becoming fond of the impressionist feel of the Mini 9's photos.
lynnb
Veteran
Many thanks philslizzy
You're welcome Xabier! I always look forward to seeing your pictures too!
Pál, not crazy at all. I'm very fond of the Impressionist Mini 9 images too. Or perhaps pictorialism might be a better description? The Mini 9 is like using a colour sketchpad.
lynnb
Veteran
Picture #253 with the Mini 9.
Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, June 2020. A favourite place to enjoy the sun at a waterfront cafe with a coffee and camera and watch the passing parade of people. The bay is a marine reserve, the water crystal clear and full of fish - including a friendly groper, I am told. It's popular with swimmers and snorkellers.
Instax film turns specular highlights black for some reason. In this picture I have lifted the shadows - they were much darker in the original.
Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, June 2020. A favourite place to enjoy the sun at a waterfront cafe with a coffee and camera and watch the passing parade of people. The bay is a marine reserve, the water crystal clear and full of fish - including a friendly groper, I am told. It's popular with swimmers and snorkellers.
Instax film turns specular highlights black for some reason. In this picture I have lifted the shadows - they were much darker in the original.
lynnb
Veteran
Color filters
Picture #134 with the Mini 9
Dee Why beach, Sydney, April 2020. Given how the Mini 9 overexposes in bright light I experimented with the blue snap-on filter that came with the camera, then adjusted the scanned image's colour in Lightroom 6. This is about as good as I could get it. You can see what filtration in LR was required from the color cast in the white border. At least the picture isn't overexposed.
Picture #134 with the Mini 9
Dee Why beach, Sydney, April 2020. Given how the Mini 9 overexposes in bright light I experimented with the blue snap-on filter that came with the camera, then adjusted the scanned image's colour in Lightroom 6. This is about as good as I could get it. You can see what filtration in LR was required from the color cast in the white border. At least the picture isn't overexposed.
mcfingon
Western Australia
That's the automatic Man Ray solarisation feature Lynn. It's a wonder you weren't charged extra.Picture #253 with the Mini 9.
Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, June 2020. A favourite place to enjoy the sun at a waterfront cafe with a coffee and camera and watch the passing parade of people. The bay is a marine reserve, the water crystal clear and full of fish - including a friendly groper, I am told. It's popular with swimmers and snorkellers.
Instax film turns specular highlights black for some reason. In this picture I have lifted the shadows - they were much darker in the original.
John Mc
lynnb
Veteran
Thanks John, of course.. I should've realised that.That's the automatic Man Ray solarisation feature Lynn. It's a wonder you weren't charged extra.
John Mc
charjohncarter
Veteran
He plays soprano, alto, and baritone; all well. He used to record with Sublime after he left them to go to college.
I guess Fuji's garage isn't like my friends: packed with junk from the 50s.
robert blu
quiet photographer
#81 is gorgeous! I like the simple almost monochromatic color palette, dark blue and white.
lynnb
Veteran
Thanks, Robert. This film is interesting!
Picture #289 with the Instax Mini 9.
Today's milkshake at the beach taken with the clip-on close up filter. Framing with the close-up filter is a matter of guesswork due to the parallax.
Picture #289 with the Instax Mini 9.
Today's milkshake at the beach taken with the clip-on close up filter. Framing with the close-up filter is a matter of guesswork due to the parallax.
robert blu
quiet photographer
And now a change in your colour palette ! From your blue skys and waters to such a bright yellow!! Vibrant!
Love it!
Love it!
lynnb
Veteran
thanks Rob!
