New Instax Square SQ10 : here it is the first affordable square sensor

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm confused now. I don't think it passes the image optically. If so, printing of 3.6 MP JPEG1 file is going to look sharp on little prints, but I'm not sure if the dynamic range of the optically exposed Instax film is going to be present.

 

[sevo]

I'm confused now. I don't think it passes the image optically. If so, printing of 3.6 MP JPEG1 file is going to look sharp on little prints, but I'm not sure if the dynamic range of the optically exposed Instax film is going to be present.

Hard to tell - it is eight-bit (as in "256 levels per color (RGB)"), which is not state of the art, but the pro slide printers I've used were limited to eight bit technology as well (arguably they could do better by running multi-pass exposures), and could deliver impressive results. It really depends on how much quality Fuji can deliver for that price - said Polaroid slide printer used to cost twenty times as much without even accounting for currency devaluation over the past twenty years.

 

[emayoh]

The SQ (not SQ10) is the fully analog version. Prototypes are out there, but not close enough to ready to be announced I suppose. See one here: The design seems to me related to the Leica Sofort Instax camera.

http://www.fujirumors.com/clarifica...gitalfilm-usb-charging-instax-square-sq-film/

This new SQ10 can also accept jpg images on a microSD card that it can print out even if it was not taken with that camera. On the one hand, this is quite cool. On the other hand, in practice it may be too complicated to do that in the field, which is where I'd like it most. I might be able to put an adapted micro-SD card in the second SD slot of my X-T2 and then if i wanted a square instax print, pop that out and into the SQ10. But the videos of the SQ10 browsing seems slow, and going through hundreds of jpegs might be cumbersome. I'd probably set the X-T2 to write medium res jpegs to slot #2.

So, what the SQ10 is really missing is wireless connectivity. Since it is seemingly an Instax printer, this would seem to be a possibility. Not sure why they didn't include it, unless they are just saving it for an SQ20 down the road. (Christmas 2018?)

As it is currently, this is probably the most advanced instant camera ever made. But, as with every other camera ever made, it is not for everyone.

 

[emayoh]

Gross, lol

Why won't Fuji make a quality instax camera!

That doesn't look like a toy.

Looking at your avatar, I had to laugh.

 

[Mackinaw]

I'm not well versed in the variations of instant cameras - does anyone know if the is film will fit into the SX-70?

No, it won't.

Jim B.

 

[emayoh]

I'm not well versed in the variations of instant cameras - does anyone know if the is film will fit into the SX-70?

The image area for Instax square is very much smaller than Polaroid

 

[Mackinaw]

The image area for Instax square is very much smaller than Polaroid.

Which is why I don't have much interest in this camera.

Jim B.

 

[JoeV]

I'm not well versed in the variations of instant cameras - does anyone know if the is film will fit into the SX-70?

No. But there are more differences between SX-70 and Instax than just the format size. The biggest difference is that with the Polaroid process the image is exposed on the front side of the print, hence the reason why cameras like the SX-70 and their kin needed a front-surfaced 45 degree mirror, to make the image properly oriented left-to-right on the print.

With the Instax process, which I understand is based on technology developed by and licensed from Kodak, the image is exposed on the back side of the print. Then, when the chemical pod is squeezed as the print is ejected, the reverse side of the print is covered by an opaque layer, permitting the image to be developed without fogging; which is why the backside of Instax prints are black, and why they get ejected from the camera with the image side of the print facing toward the rear of the camera.

~Joe

 

[mdwsta4]

*yawn*

When it was teased a few months ago I got super excited that Fuji might make Polaroid compatible square packs. Instead... this. I wish there was instax film that could fit inside my SX-70 as I love using that camera, but Impossible Film is SO friggin expensive and the quality control is horrendous.

Still holding out hope for an Instax Wide printer like the SP-1 printer Fuji makes.

 

[DFigueira]

When I said that it kinda didn't worked before, it's because it isnt the first time they have tried this. And other companies have tried this.
My only view with this is that they are experimenting ways to climb a mountain that they aren't even certain if it goes well. There are a ton of better things that should have done to their instax line - and they add a hybrid camera. Not going to bash but not the best idea...

 

[coelacanth]

I received it from Amazon yesterday.

It is fun. Love the square format as a former SX-70 user.

Being able to choose and print is great and economical. If you wanna be hardcore, you can go all "M-D" and put the camera in auto which spits out the film as soon as you take photo. Also being able to give a print to someone and make another print later is nice. The Instax square film is of course smaller than Polaroid 600 but I much prefer the square format over typical Instax mini format.

I really don't care too much of technical details for this camera. It's a pretty darn interesting hybrid of digital and analog photography and I think I'm going to enjoy it very much.

I don't remember the last time I was this excited about a new camera purchase.

Will post some pictures in time...

(cat photo was in the middle of development)

 

[unixrevolution]

That sounds super convenient, awesome and fun, and despite my personal feelings of preferring a "pure" film experience I can see that being really nifty!

 

[jsrockit]

So, it's about a 2mp digital camera that prints onto square instax? I like the idea, but I would like the digital files to bit a bit larger for usage outside of the instax.

 

[infrequent]

I love that they put the shutter release on both sides...no doubt for easy handheld selfies. I will likely wait for the fully analog version but I can see the conveniences afforded with having the files be saved and printed multiple times. Also note the filter effects, you can apply them liberally and achieve a different look on the same shot. It's like Instagram but real(er). Haha!

 

[lynnb]

I've always liked the look of instant film, even if my wallet didn't extent to using it often.. however I'm not so keen on instant printing paper that uses thermal dye layers. A different look.

Fuji seems to use "Instax" to denote these two different technologies.

Sug, how does this new SQ10 thermal dye printing paper (if that's what it is? Hard to tell from Fuji's site, but I can't see how it can be anything else given it can reprint from digital files) compare to "real" instant film that forms an image from light?

 

[brbo]

Sug, how does this new SQ10 thermal dye printing paper (if that's what it is? Hard to tell from Fuji's site, but I can't see how it can be anything else given it can reprint from digital files) compare to "real" instant film that forms an image from light?

Well, I don't know for sure, but Fuji has had printers that print on "real" instant film (the same you used in full analog Instax cameras) for years... so not sure why the new 1:1 format film would be of a different kind (thermal dye)?!

 

[Paul T.]

I've followed this project, I think it's one of the most intriguing new developments of the last five or six years. Once the price has come down a little I will definitely buy one for my teenage son. And then borrow it.

 

[willie_901]

Gross, lol

Why won't Fuji make a quality instax camera!

That doesn't look like a toy.

Because the market demographics won't support more expensive cameras or film.

The Instax film itself is mediocre because the photographs are considered to be disposable objects. Instax photos are primarily a charming alternate to texting smart-phone images.

Photographers who prefer high-quality, square-format, film photography are a niche market. There just isn't enough profit to justify new products

 

[willie_901]

Once the square format Instax film becomes widely available, perhaps Lomography will offer an analog camera with an appropriate lens. Lomography sell several wide-Instax film cameras right now.

 

[froyd]

I love the concept of this camera, but it's way too expensive for me. My daughter currently enjoys her Instax camera, but is always worried about "wasting pictures", so the ability to review before printing would suit her well... and get her well on her way to become a chimping addict when she grows up --maybe I need to rethink this.