Best Choices For Instant Prints – 2019

OK, I usually post the holiday gift guide closer to Turkey day, and the flurry of Black Friday offers.

I just wanted to share this list now as it’s a product line that you want to take to all of the parties and gatherings leading up to that.

Instant prints. As old as the first Polaroid by Dr. Land. He’s gone, it’s gone, and I have fond memories of those products.

Oh sure, you can share your digital images all of the place, but nothing replaces the feeling of having the photo in your hand. And having it with reliability.

Fuji has now come in and, I feel, own the category. The range of products that they have, with all of the connectivity, gives you a huge range of choices on how to share. .

You can have a range of print sizes, from an Ultra Wide to a square, or the compact mini. And the devices you can get can with be a camera that prints solution, or a printer that connects to your smart phone ( or BT enables camera) to print right from the photos you take on them.

I started with the Mini InStax, and it looked cool, although I sometimes had to adjust the flash with a piece of tissue to blunt the intensity.

Then I moved to the Square unit, that also allowed me to preview the exposure AND save the image onto a removable Micro SD card. Some folks feel that it’s really a digital camera that prints. I disagree, and use it as an instant print camera. The micro sd just gives me a copy of the image. Larger image than the mini.

Up next is the LiPlay. Now this camera is small, has great exposure options, some fun filters, and even allows you to put an audio clip on the photo. How? It lets you record a 10sec message, and then prints a QR code onto the image, which the viewer can scan and hear.

The newest addition is now in my bag at all times. It’s Mini Link printer. Period. Compact, connects easily to your smartphone, prints multiple copies of one image if desired, and also has cool filters. I did want o be able to use it with my other Fuji cameras, and needed to disconnect from the phone to pair it with the X-T3, for instance. Perfect for the parties, walkaround, and any kind of sharing. Have a look at some of the features. Super good.

Yes, there is the ultra wide, and honestly I bought one of the years ago, in it’s 1st iteration. Loved the size of the prints, not as much the lack of control of exposure. New one is much better

So there you have it: Fuji has the best reliable cameras out there for sharing your digital photos, IRL. I use them, and love them. Yes, I’m a huge instant photo nerd. Still have a some of Fuji peel apart instant film, used with my 4 Leaf adapted Polaroid 110B. But that s a story for another day

Buy the instax film in bulk on black Friday and give your friends and family something they will keep and maybe get some fridge love. Or desk love.

I promise to send out the black friday deals on that. Amazon is usually great for that. Only watch out is expiration dates.

One more note: I have seen most of the other options out there. Not impressed. Kodak is introducing a Zink camera/printer that has promise, but 1st gen, exposure was an issue, and form factor is a bit odd. I know that Impossible Project is no longer impossible, but the cost of the film is out of wack. Perhaps when that calms down, it will be a more level playing field.

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