Skip to main content

What a tease: Fujifilm offers glimpse of upcoming square instant film camera

instax Square Format Camera Image Movie / FUJIFILM
Nearly a month after announcing that a square-format instant film camera was in the works, Fujifilm has released the first glimpse at what the camera will look like with a new teaser video. Fujifilm first teased with snippets of the camera’s details at last month’s Photokina in Germany, but only released the sneak peek at what the camera may actually look like on Sunday.

The new camera, expected out in spring 2017, expands on Fujifilm’s line of instant film cameras that — contrary to the false idea that film is dead — actually outsell the brand’s digital cameras. Fujifilm’s current Instax line, however, uses the traditional rectangular aspect ratio while the new format will have a 1:1, 62 x 62 mm image area.

The teaser doesn’t yet offer a full glimpse of the complete camera, but shows a few close-ups that reveal details bit by bit. The lens appears to be similar in style to current Instax cameras, with only a small offset from the camera body. The camera will have a built-in flash, the video shows, and the side view appears to indicate that the camera will be fairly slim, at least for an instant film camera. The square format camera in the teaser also appears to more closely resemble the solid colored cameras rather than the retro style of the black and silver Instax Mini 90.

The new square format comes after the company re-introduced black and white instant film compatible with Instax cameras.

Instant film photography has seen a resurgence as a medium that merges the aesthetics of film while avoiding the equipment and expense necessary to run a darkroom. Many instant film cameras have also made a comeback as “party” cameras, making it easy to hand out photos without visiting a photo booth.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Fujifilm black-and-white film returns from the dead — thanks to millennials
fujifilm festival 2017

The original Fujifilm Acros 100 Fujifilm

Sure, millennials may be blamed for duck-lipped selfies, but the younger generations are also behind the revival of Fujifilm black and white film. On Monday, June 10, Fujifilm announced a new generation of black and white film, Neopan 100 Across II. 

Read more
‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir
The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Read more
Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses
nikon d780 review product  1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Read more