Thanks for not making another useless unboxing video. You actually waited until you've had some real world experience with the camera, and now I can make an informed decision on whether or not it's worth it for me to buy one. Maybe the best way to get full manual control with Instax is to convert a vintage camera, like an old Land Camera. I've seen some beautiful examples from Option8 which give you manual aperture and shutter controls, plus a functioning rangefinder, but they cost more than you might be prepared to spend on an instant camera.

@XavierAncarno

8 жыл бұрын

Yeah too many promotional video disguised as Unboxing

It should really be mentioned somewhere during the video that this camera costs less than $200. Most of the shortcomings described in this video are valid criticisms, but they're much more acceptable when you factor in the price. When it comes to the aperture size the cost is also a major factor; adding a variable aperture would significantly increase the price, so if you are going to go with a single fixed aperture f8 is the logical choice for the flexibility of being able to shoot both indoors and outdoors with a wide range of light.

@rainamorse4052

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, but it is one of the most expensive instant cameras on the market, coming from a really experienced camera manufacturer. At least for me, that information is super helpful

I appreciate the honesty. Made me think twice on purchasing this camera.

Why not try to force the aperture to f22 with a keychain led light source gaffer taped in front of the exposure sensor. A bit of a hack but it may give you what you need.

Most detailed review i've seen to date, really appreciate you giving you honest observations

Best review on this camera I've seen so far, thanks man

Love this in-depth review. Thank you for filming it!

The best review ever on this camera. With useful information for real photographers.

I am very impressed with your review. You can see and feel at a distance that you are a professional and you know exactly what you are talking about. I regret that only now I found your channel, it's been a few years in which I unfortunately struggled (still struggling) with my health. Despite the significant drawbacks of the Lomo Wide, I decided to buy this camera. It gives a bit more freedom and the possibility of experimenting. It hurts the lack of a decent glass lens, on the other hand, the photos taken with this funny plastic "something" have a certain cute character. I also have a Fuji Wide 300, but I bought a used, damaged copy, to which I will attach a manual Tessar (Color Scopar) lens with a Prontor S shutter. This way I will create another Frankenstax DIY model. Greetings from Poland ;)

thanks for sharing! I'm glad I always look for reviews before buying anything

I have an old Instax 100 and it's biggest problem is over exposure, pictures too bright in daylight. Was hoping Lomo may have fixed this problem. Thanks for informing me they haven't, you saved me 200 quid!

nice to finally see an honest review rather than everyone just saying the things they love, I bought the lomo instant square a while back after seeing a bunch of nice reviews and its the worst instant camera ive ever owned by a mile

Great video, and makes a lot of sense. I've had the same issues, and have found this camera very challenging. I notice you had the circular light leak on some photos, me too. That can be largely eliminated but putting a thicker rubber band around the base of the lens. As far as exposure, do you think DIY rigging some reflective tape or other type of reflective material at the base of the light meter would help? In other words, something that would trick the camera into thinking there was more light than it's picking up. I've had very little luck with double exposures as well.

The best rewiev on the Lomo Wide i discovery on the web!

Great video. Thanks a bunch for your honesty!

thanks for the review. do you have a solution for the sunny situation? do you have a video on what settings to use?

Awesome video man! :D

very well explained love the video! could it be that this camera has a spot meter?

The video I needed on the Lomo camera, confirms my suspicion and don't think I'll buy one Great video!

Excellent and super honest review. I appreciate you using some science and math (which is a large part of making a good photograph) to highlight strengths and weaknesses. I wonder if, when shooting bulb mode you could just put your cellphone light right in front of the light meter?!

Great video man! I recently got an Instax Wide 300. Was thinking about returning it and getting one of these so I could have more control over flash, get more even exposures (foreground and background). I'm wondering if you think that this is worth picking up for twice the price of my Instax Wide 300?

I'd probably only get this as a night time camera. Love my 210, but I'd want more control over the flash/bulb modes. Any thoughts on night?

What polarising filter do you use? I can’t seem to find one that fits my lomo wide

Thanks for making this - great job and I really appreciate the insight. Do you think there is a chance your unit just has a bad light meter? Might be worth a shout to Lomo. I watched a separate review where their unit was jamming up film and Lomo replaced it due to a defect. Anyway, probably way too late now but just curious if you went down this road. Thanks man!

when you're talking about the aperture when pointing at the light, I realized that the combination of a light meter and shiny chrome could be bad. maybe the reflection off the chrome or metal there causes a difference. either way not an excuse for the poor decision to not make a manual aperture control. excellent review though, I may think twice and grab the cheaper instax. Thanks for the review!

Thanks for your review! Have you experience those 'circular' light leaks?

I have this camera, got it at a reduced price and I kinda like it. I haven't had a problem with overexposure yet, not as much as my Instax 100. I've been trying to avoid shooting in the direction of the sun. I like how the close up pictures develop with an out of focus/blurry background. Some of the pictures come out a little dark and there's some serious vignetting going on, so much sometimes it looks like the photos have been taken with a fish eye camera. The pictures are certainly unique to this camera, that's why I like it, but I can see why it wouldn't be to everyone's tastes.

Excellent Review. Thank You!

Hi, what camera strap did you put on the camera? Thanks!

Very intuitive and educated real world review. Thank you. Like you, I watched Matt Day's review. Your providing us with the set exposures explains all of Matt's troubles with exposure. (He even hypothesised that an ND filter would solve his over exposures). You've made it all make sense now. It's all plain and clear us who know exposure values. Thank you. It's a hard pass on this camera for me. Even as a holiday snapshooter. The world doesnt revolve around a flip of a coin on f8 and f22. And espcially at the cost per shot.

Try buying a Mint TLR TL70 camera for instant film. It takes fuji instax film. You will have some control over shutter and aperture speed as well as manual focus and exposure values.

I would love to see a video on how to convert an old Polaroid land camera to take instax. I'm dying to take photos with my Polaroid again but I can't afford to pay 30 bucks for a pack of 10. And I hate the instax cameras with a passion

@davidbrown_au

8 жыл бұрын

1 solution may come from this site savepackfilm.net/ i think it would difficult to convert a polaroid 250,360,180 etc to instax, a 110b or a 600 se may be easyer. i am working on a mamiya super 23 to instax wide conversion with a removable back made from a used instax 300.

@jensfischer2246

7 жыл бұрын

Have you made any progress on that conversion? I could'nt find something at your channel about that... I'm thinking of doing the same, because I start to dislike the hassle of switching the Instax cassette in a changing bag from Polaroid back to Instax 210 and vice versa.

So then, which Instax camera for a 366 project would you go for? Very informative video btw, it has made me think twice about the lomo wide.

How can you tell from looking at the back what appeture it has chosen... it is also driving me mad ! Great video 👊🏽

@Zentrility

6 жыл бұрын

Peter Cawthorne He can tell by the size of the opening that the lens makes to expose the image.

Does anyone know if there is an option for shooting square film but with the capability for bulb exposure mode and multiple exposure? I can only seem to find shooting the mini film or wide but not the square for some reason.

I wonder what's your opinion on instantflex camera from Mint.

Thanks for the video. I was going to get this camera but the things that are troubling you would annoy me to much. You saved me buying this and having to sell it again :-)

So, should I buy this or One of Fujifilm’s wide cameras???

Thanks! But how about using an ND filter for bright conditions?

Maybe you can experiment with a piece of a nd filter in front of the lightmeter ?

Sooo, sooo helpful! Thank you!

Excellent critique of an artist' tool.

The best Instant camera you can get is the Fuji Instax 500af which is autofocus and lets you switch the flash on and off. It's quite rare now tho, therefore quite expensive on ebay.

I love instant film, however it always irks me that they "can't" design a full-manual instant camera. If you follow the money, having a camera that wastes a lot of film is more profitable.

@weddinglinedance

8 жыл бұрын

Mamiya Universal/Polaroid 600SE with an option 8 Instax wide back. But not affordable.

@theaccentman93

4 жыл бұрын

Lomography isn't affiliated with Fujifilm, the company that actually makes the film for this camera. They should be able to make a fully manual camera without caring about if it wastes film or not because they don't make more money from film being wasted.

@Cheeseiest1

3 жыл бұрын

The mint cameras offer a ton of control. This camera costs less than 200 dollars; you can't really buy a fully manual well designed camera at this price point

@yungmayanprinceymp6113

21 күн бұрын

try diana square that fully manual i believe

Awesome video

thanks for sharing some of the the problems with the lomo wide... i dont see thats its any worse then the fuji, as it also over exposes the film in bright conditions with its low max shutter speed of 1/200th & iso 800 film. But now we know what's causing it to expose incorrectly we can work around it, by attaching an nd filter & covering the sensor, or use daniel's idea of a key chain led pointed at the sensor to force the camera to stop down to f22.

Great info!

Can you do a video talking about the best instant cameras that use either mini or wide film? I have a polaroid 600, but the new impossible film is expensive and kind of sucks quality wise; so I deceided to get an instax. My top choices right now are the Fuji instax mini 90, the Fuji instax wide 300, the Lomo instant, the Lomo instant automat, or Lomo instant wide (the one in the video). I also saw the new square format sq10 but I think it is too much for what you get.

@gerrardmcmaster4931

7 жыл бұрын

I've been trying to love the Impossible project and every time I buy another overpriced 8 shot pack, they suck and I've heard that after time the images fade and the photo's are useless.. .but then again, they're pretty bad when you take them.... Check out MINT.. the InstantFlex TL70 is the best instant photography camera out there... the fuji 300 is great too but no bells and whistles... cheers. Don't waist your money on any of the Lomo stuff, they're toys.

But I just adore this camera. ❤️

Hi guys a question... When I see through the viewfinder everything is blurred ... This can not be normal... Any ideas???

What polarizer did you use

Did you figure out what the exact distances are for each zone on the wheel? I would like to know.

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

Jarred Torres you know I never did. I shot this camera only for a few months before building a replacement for it and selling it.

Great review, thank you very much, finally a useful and intelligent analysis. Just a question: do you always shoot with your hat on? Because Matt Day too signalled this meter flaw in his review, and in the comments below he admitted that he could have been covering the meter with his cap. I don't know, just asking.

@ForesthillFilmLab

8 жыл бұрын

You know that's actually a really good observation. Whilst I do usually wear a hat I normally turn it backwards when shooting because it gets in my way otherwise. This camera simply isn't able to make correct exposures in daylight settings and I think that it's metering system is flawed all together.

Fantastic info: Nice to see a proper review and of course none of that idiotic unnecessary unboxing nonsense. You covered all the problems I've been having and I too am not buying into this "CREATIVE" BS, wasting packs and packs and packs of film to get ONE or TWO decent images is more than frustrating. I wish I'd seen your video before purchasing this camera. One thing you didn't mention is how terrible the viewfinder is. It's almost impossible to frame up and have something in the centre of the frame. On a positive note, the splitzer adaptor seems to be the only thing I'll use this camera for. I've had great results but only when the Lomo Instant Wide is on a tripod and I'm shooting a subject that does not move.. example, guitar hanging on a wall et. If anyone reads this, stick to your Instax Wide 300, much better results and you're not throwing your money away on packs and packs and packs on Instax wide... again, thanks for a terrific, honest and pro review on this camera. Lets hope MINT will come up with a good Instax Wide camera, their InstantFlex TL70 is truly fantastic for instant photography....

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

gerrard mcmaster yea I couldn't stand seeing all these reviews praising this camera when it is absolute dog shit. I had to tell you guys haha.

@gerrardmcmaster4931

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply... Yea, I don't understand why so many people praise it... maybe they were given it by Lomo for a test and didn't want to completely shit on it... I'm gonna give it a couple more packs of film before it goes up on Craigslist... Gonna try night shooting on B setting, highway over pass for lights below, indoors in studio, dark room with glow sticks and finally gonna try to find an inexpensive 49mm ND to throw on the lens and see if it helps the terrible sunny day shooting.... Did you try an ND? or will the crappy light meter really screw things up not knowing there is an ND on it... Again, thanks for a more intelligent review that was logical and more important, completely honest....... cheers from Toronto, Canada

just put a polarizing filter on it and call it a day lol

I got the Fuji Wide 300, should I get this or wait for something better soon? I Prefer wide format.

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

Dark1Masta stick with the Fuji. It is much better in my opinion

@gerrardmcmaster4931

7 жыл бұрын

Much better results with the Fuji Wide 300, With my 300 I'm not throwing away loads and loads of over exposed images and the sunny days with the Fuji 300 are fantastic.

@lordoftheflings

6 жыл бұрын

you dont like the Fuji Wide 300?

@gerrardmcmaster4931

6 жыл бұрын

I love the fuji Wide 300, it's the best Wide instant camera out there.. I have the Lomo Instant wide and the sensor is a piece of S**T, but it does have some cool features, so I only use it for B setting and indoor double exposures... again, yes, the fuji Wide 300 is great..

You talked about using a ground glass to measure real distances on the lens. Can you provide information on how to do this with this camera's lens? I received the camera as a gift, and I totally want to try doing this successfully. Guidance will be greatly appreciated.

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

Jarred Torres what I would do is take an empty film cartridge and tape or glue some see through wax paper into the area where the film would be. Then you can set the camera to bulb mode and get a real idea of how sharp/or soft the image will be at certain distances

@Zentrility

7 жыл бұрын

Dude, thanks! I'll try this!

And btw...now that there is monochrome film available...makes me soooo want to love this even more if only I could have control.

Strange, the majority of my photos with this camera so far have come out way too DARK, and the +1 or -1 compensation seems to have no effect either way. I wonder if the light meters on these are just bad and inconsistent from one to another, because a lot of reviews claim these take great shots every time.

I just want a camera that shoots good photos, I'm new to photography, idk if I should get a Polaroid or this

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

didyouknowthatiloveyousomuchthatimadeareallylongnamebutmaybejustmaybeiloveyoutoomuchthatidiedtheend! Get a Fuji 300

I was contempleting to have a try even looking for used one....not this one then. Thank you

Did you figure out the real distances for the dial?

@roberts.708

2 жыл бұрын

Did you ever find a answer

I would love love love for someone to come out with a camera where I can actually control manually the camera. Why is this so hard? You think Fujifilm would do so for the wide since they are so big on external controls on their digital cameras. Let me control aperture and shutter speed PLEASE! I thought this camera might be more control over the 300 but it still sounds like it is frustrating. At least I would be able to turn off the flash.

@ForesthillFilmLab

6 жыл бұрын

Scott Dietz yes I completely agree! That’s why I built my own camera that allows me to do it and that’s the only choice I could find

@412foto

6 жыл бұрын

Just discovered the 500AF which I can buy from Japan via ebay. Still no control of aperture and shutter but there is autofocus and can still turn off the flash. So that is tempting. But I like the idea of the sync port in the lomo to shoot with it in studio. Seems like every choice has short comings

@ForesthillFilmLab

6 жыл бұрын

Scott Dietz my girlfriend has the 500AF and let me tell you that camera is amazing! Still does flash when indoors and stuff but the exposure control on that camera crushes the Lomo and the sharpness is undeniable.

@412foto

6 жыл бұрын

Good to hear. Maybe I will pull the trigger on that over a Lomo then. Thanks for making this video and for your responses! Hard to find a ton of info anywhere on the web about how to get more out of the Fujifilm Wide film.

So you like the Fuji made camera better?

@ForesthillFilmLab

6 жыл бұрын

oh yea most definitely get a instax wide 300

Did you have trouble getting this camera to focus? I've only had extremely blurry results so far. Indoor shooting is impossible at this point. I'm not getting anything remotely decent.

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

Jen B yea I had trouble with this camera shooting just about anything. The focus ranges are not specific enough at all and I would only get sharp photos based on luck. I've since sold my lomo and custom built a better instax wide. Needless to say this camera is not missed

@412foto

6 жыл бұрын

custom built an instax wide? is it better than what is on the market? If so, can I buy one from you?

So after seeing this I am having the worst time of my life lol. I have an Instax 300 and was almost about to buy the Lomo Wide mostly because of the remote control. Thinking that in auto mode the lomo would give same results as the 300 but with the possibility of shooting myself with the remote control. Also the specs of the lomo says that the auto mode shutter speed range starts from 8 seconds. Is that real??? Like will I be able to shoot night in auto mode and still get a decent amount of light with a long shutter? I dont know what to do now!!! Help

@ForesthillFilmLab

2 жыл бұрын

Buy an instax wide 500af. It has 26 points of autofocus and a self timer for selfies. Problem solved. And I can attest that the photos are spectacular from it.

@piston_77

2 жыл бұрын

@@ForesthillFilmLab sorry but that's a no go. It doesnt exist in my country and I wont spend a million dollars importing it. Can you please advise on the forementioned aspects? Should I buy the lomo for the timer and night longer shutter speeds in auto?

@ForesthillFilmLab

2 жыл бұрын

@@piston_77 timer doesn’t matter when all the photos aren’t sharp anyhow. The amount of money I spent on instax film far exceeded the price of any camera. So if I’m gonna shoot that much I want them to be as good as possible. Even if it’s expensive. It’s worth it to make all your film purchases more worthwhile.

@piston_77

2 жыл бұрын

@@ForesthillFilmLab I guess I will stick to the 300 then. Still hard to believe this lomo one is that bad with exposure. I literally was buying it online when I saw this video. Are really all those yt videos wrong?

@ForesthillFilmLab

2 жыл бұрын

@@piston_77 lomographys whole entire business model is based on poor exposures and soft focus. So if you’re buying it. And wanting those results you’ll be satisfied.

I've owned several Lomography cameras,and I'm convinced they intentionally screw with their cameras to cause you to burn up film. My Belair has ISO settings but they are actually reversed from what I would shoot on digital. I some what solved the problem by putting a variable ND filter in the lens cap for outside shooting. I then shot film after metering and used the EV as a guide. So I now know that at EV of 15 will require a 1600 ISO and f16 with 2 stops on the ND filter--works great now. I have flash settings also. It required me burning a few boxes of film to get all the EV values and settings but now I know what is required rather than shoot and pray.---Hope this helps

@LordAshbury

6 жыл бұрын

This is great info, did you figure out all of the settings?

Many thanks for telling it as it is, everyone is just glorifying the camera as if they were afraid of telling the truth!

Maybe I'm late to the party but I'll try to ask. About overexposure: the instax 210 has f/14 aperture and 1/200 maximum shutter speed. So it should expose even more than the Lomo in bright light, but it mostly doesn't. So maybe the sunny 16 rule does not apply to instax film?

@piston_77

2 жыл бұрын

what??? lol. f14 gives you less light, not more

Um, f8 to f22 is a three stop difference, not a two stop delta...

I’ll stick with my old 500af

audio is kinda low

Not hating but you realise if u were wearing ur hat that would have been the cause for the over exposure ...

So it’s basically about as much use as a chocolate fire guard! Why do all these companies make shit cameras like this. A fully manual camera with , aperture, shutter speed, and a basic manual focus lens with a distance scale can’t be that complicated! Even Fuji are not making one why? Jesus a top pro camera company like that with expertise in cameras and film it beggars belief. The first to make something half decent will clean up.

how much till infinity lol

Thanks for the honest review. Was starting to think my Lomo was broken but alas it's just a POS. My $7 Fuji Instax 100 from '99 outperforms this hunk of junk

It's a lomo ....designed to waste film. I'm convinced that fuji is a majority stock holder. Lomo is short for I need to buy more film because I wasted all of it trying to figure out how to get a good shot.

Lomo = flaws, it's their thing, hello!

I have a ‘William Klein’ edition of this camera, my brilliant wife bought me for Christmas. She even had it picked up in New York and brought back by friends. As much as I love her for it, this ‘camera’ is I’m afraid truly awful. A real piece of junk. Now I like and own a few Polaroid and instax cameras. I like em. I get the whole randomness of instant, and it’s funky unpredictable nature. It COULD be amazing, and has some cool features. But it really isn’t. It takes terrible images, time and again. Pack after expensive pack. All useless. The flash is so weak as to be useless, even from two feet. The lens is a blurry plastic piece of trash. All of the peripheral bits it comes with are pretty much useless. Outdoors the images come out really dark or, if it’s sunny, massively contrasted. It’s totally random. and using the plus/minus stop function doesn’t help. I don’t understand why they would make it look so cool, have so many features, and yet not even bother make it have even close to useable metering or shuttering. Honestly, it’s useless. I’m using it as a really expensive, well travelled, ornament.

Your first problem is you got a lomo because you thought it was the sharpest on the market. Convert a 110b and call it a day.

@ForesthillFilmLab

8 жыл бұрын

Yea I've made a homemade instax camera from a land camera and LF lens and the Lomo is gonna be finding a new home soon. I shouldn't be able to hand make a sharper camera then lomo 😂

@MrTonglong

7 жыл бұрын

Can you make a video on the camera you made please? I'm interested to see the results.

@iso6460

7 жыл бұрын

+Jeff Cheng I second this

But isn't the point of a lomo camera is taking shitty photos?

@ForesthillFilmLab

7 жыл бұрын

LazyScoutJace well yea I completely agreee with you however for the instax wide film type the lomo is the most expensive and most "capable" camera available so because of that I expected a bit more out of it. I did get the lomo treatment from this camera haha

@LazyScoutJace

7 жыл бұрын

I actually bought the regular Lomo Instant last year and eventually took it back within a few days. Didn't really like the build quality and light leaks on the corners of every exposure from the crappy feeling door. I also agree that I was also disappointed after seeing nothing but positive unboxing videos without any pros or cons.

It's an overpriced toy camera, bro. If control is that important to you, use a camera with manual settings.

@davorebo5790

7 жыл бұрын

Chris should i get the instax 300 or this?

So, Lomo cameras don't produce sharper photos compared to instax cameras?

I was contempleting to have a try even looking for used one....not this one then. Thank you