An affordable entry into instant photography with the Fujifilm Instax 100
If you want to start with instant photography, you naturally need a camera.
Here you have the choice. For beginners, I like to recommend Instax films because they are easy to get and easy to handle.
If the Instax Mini pictures are too small for you, the twice as large Instax Wide format is a good choice. For this, Fujifilm produces the Instax 210 (Amazon).
But if you look around on eBay and Co. or at a flea market, you can easily get a used Instax 100. You can usually get it quite cheap for a small handful of euros. It offers practically the same functions as the newer model.
More detailed info about the Instax 100 can be found here.
Taking photos with the Instax 100 is simple. Aim at the subject through the viewfinder and press the shutter, the camera does the rest. Then the picture comes out of the camera and after a few minutes of development time you have the finished picture in your hand.
You don't really have to pay attention to anything when using it, which is why you can also give it to inexperienced hands. Of course, you pay for this with few setting options.
At the push of a button you can change the distance; there are two settings, one for close-ups (0.9-3 meters) and for the rest (3 meters to infinity). With a slider on the back you can also influence the exposure a bit. But that's basically it for setting options.
The Instax 100 is equipped with a built-in flash. It fires automatically when needed and also makes shots possible in poor lighting conditions. The power for the camera comes from easily obtainable AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*), to be exact four of them.
One disadvantage of the camera is its size; it is simply a real beast. And the plastic monster is not particularly pretty either. It fits in a normal camera bag, but if you want something compact, you are better off with the Instax Mini cameras.
The camera, as already mentioned, is loaded with Instax Wide Film. This film delivers color images with beautiful colors and contrasts. The frame of the instant picture can be written on and painted, which is good for birthdays and weddings.
A picture is 108 by 86 mm in size, with the actual image taking up 99 x 62 mm of that. Price-wise, a double pack with 20 pictures costs around 20 euros (Amazon), depending on the dealer.
Conclusion
I would definitely recommend the Instax 100. You can get it for little money and thus dip into instant photography without great risk. The camera is well suited for an instant camera for wedding.
But if you want a bit more setting options, the Instax 100 is not the best choice. And if you are looking for something compact, you will be happier with a Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 (Amazon) and Co.
