New 'retro' Fuji Instax camera - Mini 90 Neo Classic

[Chris Dodkin]

Fuji are keeping on the retro track with this new offering - a mini Instax camera, due Spring 2014.

Mini 90 Neoclassic - instax mini90 | FUJIFILM

Previous Instax models have been fairly lo-fi, but this model looks like it's taking the lead from the X Series models, and stepping things up a little.

It is the modern incarnation of 'Polaroid' type technology of course

Fuji have a promo Video out on YouTube

[video=youtube_share;LMUD0CdZaPM]http://youtu.be/LMUD0CdZaPM[/video]

The Neo has a macro mode

double exposure mode

bulb mode for up to 10 second exposures

rechargeable battery

mode buttons on the back of the camera

and the ability to fine tune the flash exposure as well.

The lens is a 60mm f12 and they also state that it has a programmable electronic shutter that can shoot at up to 1/400th.

It’ll cost approx. $200 when it hits the market early 2014.

 

[David Mitchell]

Will be interesting to see who created 120 roll film conversion backs for those instant film packs like they did back with Polariod - I am aware you can get impossible project replacements but its cheaper to shoot film than instant!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Mmm good point - the Instax film isn't cheap is it

But then you don't have to pay for Photoshop either!

 

[David Mitchell]

Mmm good point - the Instax film isn't cheap is it

But then you don't have to pay for Photoshop either!

I remember that some of the studio shooters used a cheap polariod film back on a 'blad to make sure the shot was correct as a check before using the more expensive film. What people also don't know about instant film is that it also produces a negative, if you simply bleach the blackened bit that you peel off (and usually throw away) you will get the negative which you can scan in and tweak.

 

[Hamish Gill]

it surprises me these things arent more popular ... I suspect a design change might help! The other models are pretty ugly!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I remember that some of the studio shooters used a cheap polariod film back on a 'blad to make sure the shot was correct as a check before using the more expensive film. What people also don't know about instant film is that it also produces a negative, if you simply bleach the blackened bit that you peel off (and usually throw away) you will get the negative which you can scan in and tweak.

I have that instant back on my Blad - a lot of fun, and the Fuji film that goes in it is still available for Color work - the B&W film has been stopped though

 

[Brian Moore]

What people also don't know about instant film is that it also produces a negative, if you simply bleach the blackened bit that you peel off (and usually throw away) you will get the negative which you can scan in and tweak.

Not exactly. What you describe is possible with peel-apart film only,...and only with color peel apart film (Fuji FP100C). The currently available black and white peel-apart film (FP3000B) leaves a reversed image on the peeled off portion, but its not a negative like we know it in conventional films. I've never tried it, but if you took bleach to the B&W reversed image I believe you would destroy it. Until quite recently there was another B&W peel-apart film (FP100B). Fuji discontinued it. This one did not leave you with a reversed image on the peeled off side.

The Instax film has no peel-apart portion, nor do any of the other "integral" films for such as were used in later Polaroid instant cameras like the SX-70, the Spectra and so on.

 

[David Mitchell]

it surprises me these things arent more popular ... I suspect a design change might help! The other models are pretty ugly!!

Point and shoot digital would be the norm now, back when my sister had a fun mini polaroid there wasn't a basic comsumer digital point and shoot out there really. You also can't upload these instant photos to Facebook etc either.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Point and shoot digital would be the norm now, back when my sister had a fun mini polaroid there wasn't a basic comsumer digital point and shoot out there really. You also can't upload these instant photos to Facebook etc either.

Yeah... ...

I just meant popular within the sceen ... There is a big instant film sceen that is mainly occupied by Polaroid based or derived shooting. It supprises my that fuji haven't so far made a bigger dent on that ......

 

[David Mitchell]

Yeah... ...

I just meant popular within the sceen ... There is a big instant film sceen that is mainly occupied by Polaroid based or derived shooting. It supprises my that fuji haven't so far made a bigger dent on that ......

I guess it might be due to the conversion services of the land cameras to shoot IP instant rather than the current Fuji packs, I guess also if you think of instant film you think polariod rather than instant film.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Chris. Interesting. Instant film does have a unique aesthetic doesn't it?

I'm currently watching a 10x8 processor on ebay. The trouble is that 10x film from Impossible works out at about £13 a shot. Quite fancy a play though. I also 2 or 3 boxes of 5x4 Polaroid film still in the fridge and smaller formats that I really should use up.

Incidentally, the polaroids used in setups prior to shooting film wasn't done to save money (it was always expensive) but to check that the lighting etc was working before committing shots to film. This negated having to set up a re-shoot. I still have some polaroid units for microscopes that were used to give the equivalent of digital speed feedback on microscopes, including an SX-70 based one (i think I even have a pack of film in the fridge - I wonder of the cell is still OK in it?).

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Chris. Interesting. Instant film does have a unique aesthetic doesn't it?

I'm currently watching a 10x8 processor on ebay. The trouble is that 10x film from Impossible works out at about £13 a shot. Quite fancy a play though. I also 2 or 3 boxes of 5x4 Polaroid film still in the fridge and smaller formats that I really should use up.

Incidentally, the polaroids used in setups prior to shooting film wasn't done to save money (it was always expensive) but to check that the lighting etc was working before committing shots to film. This negated having to set up a re-shoot. I still have some polaroid units for microscopes that were used to give the equivalent of digital speed feedback on microscopes, including an SX-70 based one (i think I even have a pack of film in the fridge - I wonder of the cell is still OK in it?).

Your explanation about the lighting was my understanding also, Pete. Also, as to your SX-70 film, I believe the film pack contains the battery that powers the camera, so that is a consideration. But heck, you have the film already and so why not shoot it?

 

[Pete Askew]

That's right it does, sorry that's what I meant about the cell. I'll dig it out next week.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Just ordered this camera from HK - will be stalking the FedEx guy for the next week!

 

[Brian Moore]

Looking forward to the results, Chris!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Looking forward to the results, Chris!

me too - just ordered some Instax film from Amazon - now to dust-off the scanner so I can get them into the digital domain!

 

[Pete Askew]

Me too.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Well, Digital Rev in HK have dropped the ball - they messed around with my order for 5 days, and when I pushed them for a ship date over night, they cancelled my order!

Back to square one

 

[Brian Moore]

That's damn shame. You're left with something of a Catch-22: You have film to shoot pictures with, but nothing to put the film in.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Yep - will have to source one via Amazon sellers or FleaBay - either way it's going to have to ship from Japan or HK