The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 Chums is a special edition of the normal SQ1. This model was introduced in June 2021. The recommended retail price was 25,000 yen in Japan. It was available in Japan in the CHUMS stores Omotesando and Grand Front Osaka as well as in the CHUMS online shop.
The camera housing is white. There is a small Chums logo on the front. On the back, placed in the middle of the film door, there is an illustration of a penguin with the Chums logo.
The camera was sold together with a matching bag.
This is not the first collaboration between Chums and Fujifilm. There was already a version of the Instax Mini 70 in 2019.
Camera functions
The instant camera has a permanently installed lens that extends when you turn the lens and turns the camera on. Its optics consist of two elements in two groups and offer focal lengths of 65 mm and 75 mm. The maximum aperture is f/12.6, which is typical for an instant camera. The focus is fixed, with a minimum distance of 30 cm to the subject.
There are no manual setting options on the camera; the exposure is automatically adjusted by the exposure meter. The only option is selfie mode, which increases the focal length to 75mm and offers a small mirror next to the lens for better positioning when taking self-portraits.
The camera is equipped with a built-in flash light with a range of up to 2.2 meters. Flash recharge time is approximately 7.5 seconds, and an LED light next to the viewfinder indicates when the camera is ready for use.
The weight of the camera is 390 grams, with dimensions of 13 x 11.8 x 5.7 cm. It is powered by two CR2 batteries (eBay / Amazon*), which are enough for around 300 images. A battery status indicator is missing.
In addition to the batteries, the camera also comes with a hand strap, a stick-on thumb grip and a user manual.
Films for the camera
Films are not included as the camera is designed for the Instax Square format. There are color and black and white films as well as variants of color film with differently designed frames.
The images captured are 62mm x 62mm in size, with the frame filling the rest and being wider at the bottom, similar to the Polaroid 600 images.
Each film cassette contains ten images and there are different pack sizes. After the shutter is released, the camera automatically ejects the image and development begins after a short time.
The suitable film for color photos is Instax Square Film*. For black and white photos there is the Instax Square Monochrome*.
Chums
CHUMS is a brand known for its colorful and playful outdoor products. It was founded in 1983 and has since become a popular brand for those who love the outdoors. Chums offers a wide range of products including clothing, bags, accessories and camping equipment.
