What are the sizes of the different Fujifilm and Polaroid instant formats?
The different formats all have different sizes. In some respects, the film formats are also alike. All instant film formats are rectangular. The area of the captured image is slightly smaller than the image itself. The width of the frame differs depending on the format, but the bottom part of the image is always the widest part. This is not only due to stylistic reasons, but the area also contains the chemical paste for development. After the image is taken, the camera pushes the image through two rollers, so the chemistry spreads over the whole image and the development process starts.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Format
The Fujifilm Instax format was introduced by the Japanese photography giant in the 1990s. In Japan, Instax Mini cameras are also known as cheki (チェキ without mini) after the sound of the camera shooting. The films are still produced today and enjoy high popularity. It is the smallest format of the three Instax variants. The size is roughly comparable to a credit card for payment. The advantage that comes from the size of the film format is, among other things, more compact cameras, because not so much space is needed for the film cassette.
Size of the recorded image: 6.2 x 4.6 cm
Size of the image with frame: 8.6 x 5.4 cm
Current color film: Instax Mini Film*
Fujifilm Instax Wide Format
The Instax Wide Format was introduced after the Instax Mini format. It is about twice the size of the Mini Format. As the name suggests, the images go wide. Therefore, the format is good for landscape shots or even group pictures.
Size of the recorded image: 9.9 x 6.2 cm
Size of the image with frame: 10.8 x 8.6 cm
Current color film: Instax Wide Film*
Polaroid 600 Format
The Polaroid 600 format is probably what most people associate with instant pictures. The picture taken is square and surrounded by a white frame. The frame, as with the other formats, is thicker at the bottom, providing space for notes or other captions, for example.
Size of the picture taken: 7.9 x 7.7 cm
Size of the image with frame: 10.6 x 8.8 cm
Current color film: Polaroid Color Film for 600*
Polaroid SX-70 Format
The Polaroid SX-70 format was developed before the 600 format. The two formats are similar in size. The big difference is the light sensitivity of the film stock. The film speed (ISO) is much lower with the SX-70 films. The 600 films can also be used with an ND filter in SX-70 cameras, the other way around is difficult, because a longer exposure is provided in very few 600 cameras.
Size of the captured image: 7,9 x 7,7 cm
Size of the image with frame: 10.6 x 8.8 cm
Current color film: Polaroid Color Film for SX-70*
Polaroid Image/Spectra Format
The Polaroid Spectra format, outside of the USA also Polaroid Image, is similar to the 600 format from the technical parameters of the film material. However, the images are similar to the Instax Wide format, rectangular and not square.
Size of the recorded image: 9.1 x 7.2 cm
Size of the image with frame: 10.3 x 10.1 cm
Current color film: Polaroid Color Film for SX-70*