Fujifilm Instax Sq. SQ1 review: Sq. requirements
MSRP $120.00
“Every part in regards to the SQ1 is easy and simple to grasp — besides the value.”
Professionals
- Foolproof ease of use
- Instax Sq. movie is nice
- Enjoyable coloration selections
Cons
- No artistic modes
- Costlier than Instax SQ6
I’ve to confess, the Fujifilm Instax Sq. SQ1 has me confused — I’m unsure what it’s alleged to be. On one hand, it’s a really fundamental, square-format prompt camera, seemingly focusing on essentially the most informal buyer with its foolproof operation. Cool. However it additionally prices $120, which is greater than the prevailing Instax Sq. SQ6, a camera with many extra modes and options.
So why did Fujifilm make it?
Effectively, right here’s why I believed Fujifilm made it. I had initially dismissed Instax as a fad, however have since come round to the concept prompt movie is a heck of lots of enjoyable. Nonetheless, I solely ever shoot it when I’ve an prompt camera in for review. The explanation for that’s easy: I don’t like paying for the movie. The price of a single body of Fujifilm Instax Sq. movie is over $1 and isn’t more likely to get any cheaper.
That is the place a camera just like the Instax SQ1, I believed, would are available. With its bare-bones, no-nonsense nature, it feels prefer it needs to be exceedingly reasonably priced, thus making it simpler for purchasers to drop more cash on movie. Besides that’s not the case, because the decidedly higher-end SQ6 might be picked up for simply $85. Until the SQ6 is being phased out and changed with an much more costly mannequin, I’m unsure the place that leaves the SQ1.
Twist, level, click on
There’s little or no to say in regards to the Instax SQ1 apart from it’s simple and easy. It’s accessible in a trio of enjoyable colours that embody Glacier Blue, Chalk White, and my review unit’s Terracotta Orange. I in all probability loved capturing the product photographs as a lot as utilizing the camera itself, however regardless of the standout look, the SQ1 is constructed to be as invisible as attainable, to maintain you centered on the second and never the camera. Take it tenting, convey it to a celebration, or hand it to your toddler, this a camera for these occasions whenever you need photos with out having to suppose too arduous about pictures.
Whether or not that’s good or unhealthy is dependent upon what you need from a camera, however I’d argue the enjoyment of Instax has all the time been its simplicity, an concept the SQ1 takes to coronary heart.
It’s vibrant, enjoyable, and easy. That’s principally the total story.
Whereas I wouldn’t name it small, it’s fairly skinny and simply slips right into a bag. You flip it on by rotating the lens, which has each regular and “selfie” positions. For the latter, you should use the small mirror subsequent to the lens to border your self — one of many brilliantly easy improvements discovered on all Instax cameras.
The SQ1 is a real analog camera, not a digital/movie hybrid just like the Instax Mini LiPlay, so it doesn’t connect with your telephone or supply any digital artistic filters or results. It’s as point-and-click because it will get, and that’s type of the entire level.
The place another Instax cameras have a number of totally different modes, like macro and double publicity, the SQ1, properly, doesn’t. In reality, it offers you no management in any respect.
The parallax viewfinder is a good distance away from the lens, which suggests it’s important to watch out when taking close-up pictures because the framing by means of the viewfinder might be very totally different from what the lens truly sees.
The place another Instax cameras have a number of totally different modes, like macro and double publicity, the SQ1, properly, doesn’t. In reality, it offers you no management in any respect. Even the automated fill flash can’t be overridden.
Relying on the way you have a look at it, that makes the SQ1 both limiting or liberating, and I discovered myself leaning towards the latter, though I might positively see individuals wanting the choice to show off the flash. In the event you’d quite have a number of extra capabilities, you’ll should look into a distinct mannequin.
It’s good to be sq.
I like the Instax Sq. format for its retro aesthetic, which hearkens again to Polaroid 600 movie, though it’s a bit smaller at 2.4 x 2.4 inches. It’s a little bit like holding a bodily Instagram image in your hand (if Instagram nonetheless enforced a 1:1 facet ratio, anyway).
One other profit is that Instax Sq. movie is greater than Instax Mini movie with out requiring the massive leap in camera measurement that Instax Vast movie does. And since it’s sq., it’s so simple as might be. There aren’t any panorama or portrait orientations to fret about, so each print comes out with the border on the underside, making it a bit simpler to create an orderly collage, if that’s your factor.
I like the Instax Sq. format for its retro aesthetic.
In the event you’ve shot an Instax camera earlier than, then picture high quality is precisely what you’d anticipate. In the event you haven’t, there isn’t precisely an effective way for me to point out you for the reason that pattern photographs you see on this review are all photos of images. Instax movie will not be precisely high-resolution, however that’s a part of the attraction. The pressured flash provides to the lo-fi look and ensures that photographs all the time come out vibrant. I used to be pleasantly stunned by the outcomes however, once more, in order for you extra management, this isn’t the camera for you.
Our take
Even by instant-camera requirements, the Fujifilm Instax SQ1 is fundamental. It takes an already easy course of and distills it into simply the elementary necessities. It’s vibrant, enjoyable, and easy. That’s principally the total story.
Besides I maintain coming again to the complicated value. It’s not like $120 is exorbitant, I’m simply unsure why the SQ1 prices even a greenback greater than the SQ6. Am I lacking one thing? Instax cameras generally find yourself promoting under MSRP (the SQ6 initially price $130) however I nonetheless don’t perceive the technique behind introducing a lower-end camera that prices greater than the road value of an present higher-end mannequin.
Is there a greater various?
Effectively, it definitely looks like the SQ6 is a greater various, assuming Fujifilm isn’t discontinuing it. It presents many extra capturing modes and even comes with three totally different coloured flash gels for artistic lighting results. And whereas it has extra choices, it’s not prefer it’s an advanced camera to make use of — it might probably nonetheless be simply so simple as the SQ1 in order for you it to be. It’s arguably the better-looking camera, too.
In the event you just like the sq. format however need bigger movie, a Polaroid OneStep offers you that, however the camera itself can also be bulkier — to not point out dearer — than the SQ1.
How lengthy will it final?
In all probability without end, or not less than so long as there’s Instax movie to load into it. There’s little or no occurring right here, which suggests little to interrupt. Apart from the movie, the one factor you’ll finally want to interchange is the battery.
Do you have to purchase it?
No. Purchase the Instax SQ6 as a substitute. The Fujifilm Instax SQ1 completely accomplishes its objective of being a enjoyable, easy-to-use prompt camera. There’s completely nothing fallacious with it. However why purchase the bottom mannequin when a extra feature-rich model is offered for much less?
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