Tag Archives: film photography

Fujifilm Once Again Redefines Film Photography with its Instax Pal: Without An Inbuilt Printer

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Attention photography enthusiasts! Fujifilm is back at it, and this time, they’ve got something seriously cool up their sleeves. Say hello to the Instax Pal, a camera that’s shaking up the Instax game like never before. It’s not your run-of-the-mill point-and-shoot – it’s the first all-digital camera in the Instax family, and it’s here to make capturing spontaneous moments a breeze.

Designer: Fujifilm

Fujifilm’s Instax series celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and the introduction of the Instax Pal couldn’t be more timely. What sets the Instax Pal apart from its predecessors is its compact size and unique functionality. Unlike previous Instax models, the Instax Pal doesn’t include an integrated printer. Instead, it relies on a seamless connection with a Fujifilm Link printer, such as the Mini Link, Square Link, or Link Wide. This means you have the flexibility to choose between mini, square, or wide formats for your prints.

The Instax Pal comes loaded with an array of features that redefine instant photography. One standout feature is the remote shooting capability, allowing you to control the camera using your smartphone. This feature empowers you to take group photos, and selfies, and capture moments from unique angles effortlessly. Additionally, the interval shooting function lets you create captivating narratives by capturing a series of images at different time intervals. You can even personalize the camera’s pre-shutter sound to add your own touch to every shot.

To enhance your vintage-inspired photos, the Instax Pal Smartphone App comes to the rescue. The app offers a variety of filters, text overlays, and stickers to add creativity and personalization to your prints. Whether you want to create a nostalgic look or add a touch of whimsy, the possibilities are endless.

One of the most exciting features of the Instax Pal is the Instax Animation feature. This innovative function transforms your photos into animations, reminiscent of traditional flipbooks. What’s more, you can even “print” these animations, and each resulting film includes a QR code. Scanning this code with your smartphone allows you to play the animation, breathing life into your cherished moments.

The Instax Pal boasts internal storage capable of holding up to 50 images. For those who need more space, you can easily expand storage by using a Micro SD card. Fujifilm is set to offer the Instax Pal as part of a bundle, which includes the Instax Mini Link 2 printer and a 10-pack of film, all for a price of US$199.95. While the individual price of the camera is yet to be disclosed, it’s expected to be an attractive option for photography enthusiasts.

Fujifilm’s Instax Pal is a testament to the brand’s commitment to preserving the charm of instant photography while embracing the convenience of the digital age. With its compact design and innovative features, the Instax Pal promises to redefine the way we capture and share spontaneous moments. Set to launch in late October, this tiny marvel is poised to become a must-have for those who crave the nostalgia of instant prints with a contemporary twist. Keep an eye out for the Instax Pal and be prepared to embark on a new era of instant photography.

The post Fujifilm Once Again Redefines Film Photography with its Instax Pal: Without An Inbuilt Printer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Balenciaga’s neon energy inspires this old school camera’s film – resulting in Instagram worthy effects!

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Much like record players, film cameras came to popularity in the 20th century, but both designs have still found their own niche crowd of modern-day buffs who are sure to fill up today’s tech grids and timelines with the occasional nod to yesteryear. Film cameras have since transitioned out of the 20th-century, opting instead to join the growing market of digital point-and-shoots and smartphone cameras, but something about film’s accuracy and crispness, along with the patience required for it still lingers in Instagram filters and selfie sticks – we still love taking photographs, that’s never changed. Inspired by the bright, neon lights of Balenciaga’s eclectic personality and the acquired technique in using film, Dongjae Koo’s film camera comes equipped with fluorescent soaked 35mm film to capture the energy behind the famed fashion house’s latest campaign.

Koo designed five different rolls of 35mm film in neon pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple. While film filters might be considered more like accessories to the camera, giving each developed photograph a desired filter, or effect like washed light and neon imprints, this camera would be designed for the use of its filters. With a relatively standard ISO of 400, Koo’s film would be suitable for daylight, twilight, and indoor shooting – perfect for shooting editorials or Instagram group photos worthy of being called one. The film camera itself is a little bit elusive in appearance, with a touch of color on an otherwise all-black, sleek, matte-steel body reminiscent of some of Balenciaga’s all-black runway looks. The distinguished personality of Balenciaga buzzes through this camera with its minimal, no-frills, metallic structure that was fashioned after Balenciaga’s collection of richly textured and colored duffle bags and purses. Koo’s overall design comprises both the physical film camera and the companion film filters, which are ready for use with each shot. For the most part, Koo’s design is similar to other film cameras with intuitive locks, dials, and clicks that open and close the camera’s film compartment, or change the camera’s shutter speed and focus. Then, the camera’s digital interface indicates to users how many shots have been used up with each roll of film, the zoom aperture, along with the option of using a self-timer. By interweaving modern-day digital language with tried-and-true film hardware, Koo bridges the world of today’s conveniences with yesterday’s proven struggle.

When new film camera designs like Dongjae Koo’s shuffle into today’s market, the world of old school design converges with contemporary values and practices in order to uphold the relevancy behind the film camera. We’ve always loved taking photographs, it’s the subject and reason that’s changed throughout the years. Today, due to the smartphone’s and social media’s rise in popularity, the world of fashion is at our fingertips, closer than ever, and is inspiring many global designers to reach out to take hold of its relevancy. Take a picture if you’d like, as we’ve learned, it’ll last longer.

Designer: Dongjae Koo

Move over Polaroids! Capture slitscan, burst and long exposure photos with these retro film cameras

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In our previous article about a modern turntable, we noticed a resurgence of vinyl records and other forms of “retro” devices. It seems that, in 2020, people are nostalgic for charming, old-school tech given a modern-day facelift. Film photography has experienced a similar revival, even though there are cheaper, more convenient ways to take beautiful pictures. (Just whip out your phone, for instance!) So, why is this older medium making a comeback? The creators of the Now Exposed film cameras propose this as an answer: “Tools simplify our lives, but often complexity enriches [the] experience.” In other words, hard work makes a process meaningful and more valuable. This line of thinking inspired the creation of the Now Exposed film cameras, a series of products intended to challenge photographers creatively, yet still invite beginners to explore the medium.

The cameras featured in the Now Exposed collection each have a unique purpose. They use different lenses and exposure techniques to force the photographer to think differently about image composition. The series consists of three distinct cameras, each one mimicking a photography ‘mode’ – the Burst Camera, the Long Exposure Camera, and the Slitscan Camera. The Now Exposed Cameras, as a whole, manages to make film photography, an intimidating art medium, accessible to new users while presenting new creative challenges for experts. Each camera comes with instructions imprinted directly onto the device. These snippets explain how each camera operates and what film cartridges you need to buy. The Now Exposed set gives photographers the framework to create dynamic, abstract works of art. In an age with high-resolution phone cameras, flattering Instagram filters, and photo-editing apps, anyone can create beautiful images with ease. The Now Exposed Cameras, on the other hand, invites users to create innovative artwork through experimentation.

Designer: David Miller and Benjamin Hoffman

Now Exposed Burst

The Burst

The Burst resembles a modern version of the daguerreotype cameras from the early 1900s. The name might not be familiar, but you would quickly recognize its accordion-like lens from any old Western movie. The Burst camera works by snapping three frames in ten seconds and exposing them onto a single sheet of film. This action could be, for example, a subject running across the frame, or maybe cycling through various facial expressions. This “burst,” this fleeting action, is captured almost in a slow-motion blur. The Burst instant camera asks the photographer to think about each frame captured in those ten seconds, fostering a deeper connection with the moment.

Now Exposed Long Exposure

The Long Exposure

Instead of snapping a ten-second snippet, the Long Exposure camera captures long periods on one image. Imagine a time-lapse captured in a still image: that is the purpose of this device. The combination of the wide-angle shot and the lengthy exposure time encourages the photographer to think carefully about the framing of the shot. There’s nowhere to hide with this wide lens, which encourages the photographers to think about its composition, the movements it will capture, and what message the finished product will convey.

Now Exposed Slitscan

The Slitscan

Finally, the Slitscan camera encourages the most experimentation out of the three devices. Its process works by continuously exposing a thin strip onto the 35mm film. Unlike the other two cameras, which capture the full view of the camera’s lens, the Slitscan only captures a silver of the frame over some time — hence the name. The result is a stretched out, abstract representation of an image. The beauty of the Slitscan’s process is its unpredictability. It encourages the photographer to explore and experiment with this abstract method and would present a challenge even for seasoned film photographers.

Now Exposed concept