Fujifilm Instax is a popular choice for photographers who are interested in instant film. The cameras can be purchased at a fraction of the cost and the system works better than modern Polaroid films sold by Impossible Project. Fujifilm Instax Mini Monochrome, the first Instax black-and white film is now available. At $14.99 per 10-shot pack, it's roughly half the price of the Impossible B&W per image, but also twice as much as Instax photographers are used to paying for color film.
Instax film comes in two sizes: Mini (2.4x1.8inches, HW), and Wide (2.4x3.9inches), while a Square format will be available next year. Monochrome film is currently only available in Mini (2.4 by 1.8 inches, HW) and Wide (2.4 by 3.9 inches, WW). However, images taken on larger formats are much more effective when seen in person.
If you scan images to share online, it's not as much of an issue. The Mini film is very resistant to being scanned. The Mini film has a matte finish and a neutral color. It has a beautiful grain structure, which you can clearly see in close-up images. This is also evident when scanning.
A white border is placed on the film's sides. You can use a marker to label your photos or add captions. The bottom of the frame is wider. This is because I used an empty cartridge to attach the film before scanning it. The bottom border of the image we are sharing here is not visible. This technique is recommended for scanning flatbed images as it prevents Newton's Ringsfrom affecting instant images after they've been scanned.
Monochrome photography is the same as using Instax color film. Many cameras offer exposure control, such as the Fujifilm Instax Mini70 ($179.29 on Amazon). The Automat was used to shoot the film indoors as well outdoors, both with and without flash.
The film will eject and you are presented with a blank, white frame. Within a matter of minutes, your photograph will begin to emerge. It takes less than 15 minutes for it all to develop. The Automat exposures I used were very accurate, as was the colour film.
The contrast isn’t quite as strong as with Impossible B&W2.0 film. However, you still get a lot of information from the shadows and midtones. You can scan the film and adjust the blacks to get a better contrast, while those who prefer monochrome images will be happy with the result.
The only way to obtain a black and white Instax photo before the Monochrome film was to use the SP-2 ($99.99 Amazon).Printer using color materials. It was noticeable that the shadows were less detailed when I tried it. Monochrome films with moderate contrast preserve shadow details well.
Conclusions
Instant film is something I enjoy whenever I can. Thanks to low-cost cameras and materials—especially when compared with rival Impossible—Instax Mini is the dominant format, so it's no surprise that Fujifilm decided to launch its Monochrome film in this size. My only complaint about the film is the inability to purchase it in Instax Wide. It's likely that this will change in the near future, but Instax Mini owners looking to take a break and enjoy some Monochrome films should get a few boxes.