Review: FujiFilm Instax 50S

Finally starting to blog again after a long, long time...so without further ado, a review of one of my favourite cameras: the Instax 50S!
 
After using it for several months, the FujiFilm Instax 50S has become one of my favourite cameras. It's an oddity in the flood of digital cameras which dominate the market, but I don't think the fun of taking instant photos can ever be replaced...

What it is:

• An instant camera that prints out credit card sized photos within seconds
• Retails for ~$130
  
• Uses 'Instax Mini Film': 1 cartridge has 10 shots, sold in 'twin packs' of 2 cartridges for $20
  
• Comes with a wrist strap, a close-up lens, and 2 CR batteries
  

Looks:
I particularly love its black glossy colour, as well as its small size and how it fits in my hand. The 50S is a gorgeous little camera that you can tote around everywhere with you, unlike the large instant cameras of yesteryear.

Pros:
Easy to use: all you need to do is unwrap the film pack, fit it into the camera, and turn it on.

Great built-in functions included: ability to lighten and darken your photos, landscape/portrait mode, as well as printing out your shots twice to share with friends.


...and cons:
These aren't really negatives, but it may take awhile to get used to:

• the shutter button is at the front of the camera, which I found odd at first, but I quickly got used to it after taking a few pictures.
• How long it takes to get a picture- the photos can take a few minutes to fully develop (but that’s half the fun of taking instant pictures, right?)
  

The main drawback from this camera is that the film itself is pricey, as a pack of 20 shots retails for about $20. You definitely want to think about the shots you want to take before pressing down on the shutter!


Final Verdict:
In a world where we're used to everything being instantaneous, having an 'instant' camera (which is now slower than our digital cameras!) puts a bit of spontaneity into picture taking. This is not the camera to use when you want to make the perfect shot, but is great in capturing special moments on the go.

4.5/5 stars.