Review of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300
The 1980s’ love of instant photography is back! Instant film cameras have become extremely popular in recent years, with Fujifilm’s Instax line of cameras emerging as a fantastic replacement for the old Polaroid cameras of the past.
In fact, Fujifilm worked directly with Polaroid back in the 1980s, and many of the core technologies behind the company’s Instax cameras likely come directly from Polaroid, which now exists in name only.
The Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera is a great option if you’re looking for a medium format-sized film that’s bigger than the original Polaroids. This camera can produce an almost 4x6-sized instant film print.
Check the camera’s current price on Amazon here.
It’s also a true analog camera (in contrast to some modern Instax cameras that take a digital image and print it on instant film), so there’s no digital intermediary that can lead to a loss in quality.
Instax Wide 300 vs Instax Mini
The Instax Mini cameras are popular among younger people and are often used for personal purposes. But the Instax Wide 300 actually has an interesting cachet among corporate users.
Rumor has it that the camera is used for tasks like taking photos of tattoos in the prison system, or for photographing skin lesions in dermatologists’ offices.
Those utilitarian uses illustrate the camera’s workhorse credentials and the benefits of its large print size. They also hammer in the fact that the Instax Wide 300 is quite easy to use, even for a novice photographer.
Instax 300 Features
The camera is simple, with just a few controls for exposure, focusing distance, and the like. It’s relatively bulky because of the optics needed for the large size print. It has a tripod mount, and it does come with a strap, so you can shlep it around more easily.
The viewfinder is offset, so you’ll have to be aware when taking pictures — what you see in the viewfinder isn’t exactly what you’ll get in the final print. It has a good flash, and the focus range is from one foot to infinity.
It’s powered by AAA batteries, and the print will come out the top. You’ll need to make sure to switch it to the 3 meters to infinity setting if you’re taking pictures of landscapes, otherwise, they may come out blurry.
The flash setting can be forced or let it decide for itself, and you can adjust a simple exposure compensation setting.
Durability
The camera is a bit finicky and delicate, so you’ll have to be careful with it. It’s not designed to be dropped or beaten up, and you can easily break it with rough handling.
I use my Instax Wide out in the field, and I’ve broken three of them so far! Usually it was because I dropped the camera, or threw it haphazardly into the backseat of the car.
Although this is a workhorse in terms of simplicity and functionality, the Instax Wide 300 is not a durable camera. It’s probably more comfortable in the cushy setting of that aforementioned dermatologists’ office than out on the beach for your next on-location shoot.
That said, I still love taking the Instax Wide into the field. You just had to be prepared for the fact that you might be swapping out cameras if you handle them roughly.
Film for the Instax Wide 300
The film is usually between 75 cents and a dollar per frame, depending on how much of it you buy at once. It takes about five minutes for the negative to get to full density after exposure.
Although originally Fujifilm only offered basic color film for the Instax Wide 300 (again, probably to fill the needs of corporate users,) the company has since expanded to offering more creative choices for wide film.
You won’t find all the options you get with Instax Mini. Sparkly, unicorn-covered borders will probably never come to the Instax Wide film line. But you can get terrific black and white film for the camera, which is one of my favorite films to use with it.
The resolution on the Instax Wide 300 black and white film is actually higher than on the color film. It produces a lovely image, and holds up to scanning.
Print Quality
You can tell that the prints shot on an Fujifilm Instax 300 Wide aren’t full-quality analog film prints on 35mm film. But really, that’s the point.
The Instax Wide’s prints have that distinctive instant film look, with a softer focus, intense shadows, and finicky highlights. If you love the look of a traditional Polaroid, these prints will feel familiar!
Conclusion
Overall, the Instax Wide 300 is a great camera when you want to shoot on instant film, but you need a print that’s much bigger than the tiny ones you’d get with the Instax Mini.
It’s not going to give you the same quality as a traditional analog film print, but it will give you a distinctive look with darker shadows and the soft edges that are iconic of instant film.
Expect to replace your Instax Wide 300 periodically, especially if you’re rough with your gear! But also expect to enjoy using it so much that every time you break one, you head out to buy another.
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