Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S with Instant Photo Processing

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I recently had flashbacks of the old school Polaroid cameras we remember growing up – you take a photo and it prints instantly; cool idea but never really remained popular as photo quality became more important to photo enthusiasts. Fujifilm has enjoyed a bit of success in Asia and Europe over the past several years with similar cameras, but in September, 2009 released the first Instax line of “Polaroid-esque” cameras with instant photo printing capability in the US. Let's take a closer look.

I recently got my hands on the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S, which is the compact model in the Instax line, and I was excited to go back in time to the days when you took a photo, it instantly printed it, and then you shook it like crazy to try and get it to develop quicker – now that's real photo processing!

I received my Instax 7S with two boxes (20 exposures each) of instant film to try out. I've seen the double pack (20 exposures) of film online for around $15-$20, and there is also a single pack (10 exposures) available for slightly less.

In the box I found the camera, four AA batteries, a camera strap and the manuals/documentation. You get everything you need to get started except for the actual film, so don't forget to pick up film when you purchase the camera.

Getting the camera set up to start shooting couldn't be any easier. For those with any kind of camera know-how, the manuals and setup instruction are not needed. This camera's ease of use is probably its greatest asset.

I found both good and bad aspects of the Instax 7S, and I would say that this camera is definitely not for everyone. Its fun factor is high – there's something gratifying about snapping a photo and having it instantly shoot out the top of the camera and begin developing before your eyes.

Its features and overall performance, however, aren't up to par with even the least expensive point-and-shoot digital cameras. That being said, this camera should not be compared to digital cameras, because it's in a completely different class. So keep that in mind when deciding whether or not the Instax Mini 7S is the right choice for you.

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