Instant photography is booming. The second big player next to Polaroid is Fujifilm. For this reason, the Instax portfolio is expanded again and again by the Japanese company. In 2017, the third instant format was introduced. In the fall of 2020, the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1, the third camera for the format, was introduced. Fujifilm kindly provided it to FilmPhotography.eu. How does the instant camera do in the test and is it worth buying the SQ1.
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 (eBay / Amazon*) is currently available in three color options ( blue, orange and white). Included with the camera is a color-matching hand strap, a stick-on thumb grip, and two CR2 batteries. The hand strap can be attached right or left, or you can connect a camera strap to hang it around your neck.
Visually, the camera is an eye-catcher. The finish is matte, the color choice is very stylish and the black accents create a nice contrast. In general, the design is reduced to the essentials, just like the camera in terms of functionality and settings options.
With the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1, you get the classic instant photo experience. The camera is easy for anyone to use without much reading of the instructions, and the focus is on taking pictures and the finished images. If you want a lot of creative options and strong influence on the photos you take, this model is not a good choice.
With a twist of the lens, the tube is raised and the camera is ready to go. Shortly after turning it on, you can take a picture right away; you don’t have to wait long. However, it can take up to 7.5 seconds between pictures until the flash is ready for use again. The flash fires with every picture and has a range of up to 2.2 meters. The readiness of the flash is indicated via a light on the front. This also shows the strong focus on selfies. An additional light on the back or better in the viewfinder would have been nice here.
To make selfies even easier with the instant camera, there is a small mirror next to the lens to get into position. If you turn the lens a bit more, it locks into selfie mode. In this mode, the crop is still cropped a bit and you should hold the camera at a distance of 30 cm to 50 cm.
That’s basically it with the functions. But you don’t need much more, especially if you want to use the camera for a wedding, party or vacation.
With the range of functions, the camera is comparable to a Polaroid 600 or Polaroid SX-70 camera. The comparison is obvious not only because of the ease of use, but also because of the similarity of the format. The captured image on the Instax Square SQ1 is 6.2 x 6.2 cm. With the frame, it comes to a size of 8.6 by 7.2 cm. The Instax Mini format has the same height, but is slightly narrower. For comparison, a Polaroid 600 picture 10.8 x 8.9 cm.
The 600 format is of course much larger. The advantage of the Instax with the smaller format is the more compact camera. Of course, the camera doesn’t fit in your pocket, but there’s certainly room for it in a smaller camera bag or purse.
For the Instax Square SQ1, there is a color film (Instax Square Film*) and a black and white film (Instax Square Monochrome*). Both films are still in production and always contain a cassette with ten images each. Additionally, there are different editions of the color film with different frames. There are no films included in the delivery. The development time is about 90 seconds. There is no need to shake the pictures. The remaining pictures are shown via a counter on the back.
Small details I would still change on the camera. For example, I miss a tripod thread. If you want to use the camera at a wedding in a photo booth, for example, it is practical to be able to fix it. However, I have to criticize the shutter release. It is positioned in such a way that it is very easy to reach it when you lift the camera.
If you grab it a bit too firmly and the camera is turned on, you can quickly take a picture. This is particularly annoying, since every picture goes to the wallet. Of course, the position can be changed badly, but he could perhaps be a little harder to press.
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is simply fun to use. It combines ease of use and the excitement of instant photography into a compact package. So it is small and large simply possible to be carried away and look spellbound at the forming photo.
The instant camera is wonderful for celebrations, birthdays and weddings. Due to its comparatively compact size, it is also a good companion for travel.
Who would like a little more setting options to be able to take an influence on the images, should perhaps look at some other models before buying. Be it the other cameras from Fujifilm or the models from Lomography.