Wide is beautiful. If you are looking for the best Instax wide cameras to shoot the larger film, we’ve got you covered. In this list we will detail what the best Instax wide cameras are and what makes them so, with sample images when available.
What you need to know about Instax wide.
When it comes to Instax, wide is the least popular and least supported by Fuji in terms of new cameras. Everyone goes nuts for the Mini format, followed by Square and then wide.
What that means is that there is only one currently in production camera by Fuji in this list of the Best Instax wide cameras. The others are discontinued and from other manufacturers. Also check out the list of the Best Instax cameras for other formats.
Moreover the cameras are all on the pricey side and none of them are compact because they have to hold that wide film pack within. With that being said the wide is a beautiful format that allows you to see and get more from your pictures.
Best Instax wide cameras
You can find the list of the best Instax wide cameras below, more on each after
| Name | Lens | Features | Get it here: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Instax 500AF | 95mm f/12.8 | Autofocus, sharp lens | Check on ebay |
| 2. Instax wide 300 | 95 mm ƒ/12.8 | Available, budget friendly | Check Price |
| 3. Lomo Instant wide | 90mm f/8 | Lots of extras | Check Price |
| 4. Instax 210 | 95mm ƒ/14 | Cheapest | Check on ebay |
| 5. Instantkon RF70 | 93mm f/5.6 | Variable aperture, Rangefinder, Pro lens | Check Price |
Now that we’ve seen the overall list of the best Instax wide cameras, let’s look at what makes each special with sample images when available.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Sharpest Instax wide ✔️ Relatively compact and sleek ✔️ Simple opoeration | ❌ Only find used ❌ Flash is on by default |
If you ask any Instax aficionado what the best Instax wide camera is, they will tell you that it is this the Instax 500AF. It’s been that way since release, but you can only find this camera used. And it is also relatively rare so it is on the pricey side.
It is however worth it. Yes it looks like a big point and shoot but it is sleeker and more compact than the other Instax wide cameras.
It is a simple camera to operate with an LCD in the back telling you how many prints you have left, lighten/darken switch, flash and timer. You will probably want to leave the switch on Darken for great results. Everything is done on the back of the camera. While you can turn off the flash, it turns on by default every time you turn on the camera so this is something you have to think about.
So why is it the best Instax wide camera? Two reasons. First the big thing here is that there is an autofocus mechanism (Instax is normally manual focus 2 or 3 zones), simply point and the camera will focus, there is a small light near the viewfinder that tells you when it’s locked in.
Second, this is one of the sharpest Instax cameras you can get. No it isn’t DSLR sharp but it is really sharp compared to other Instaxes. You can see this is some of the sample pictures below.
It can focus close too, from 0.6 meters (about 24 inches). The blend of sleek profile, sharpness and autofocus make it one of the best Instax wide cameras by far.
Fujifilm Instax 500AF sample images
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Still in production ✔️ Simple and fun to use ✔️ Most affordable | ❌ Cannot turn flash off ❌ A bit large |
This is the only Instax wide camera currently supported by Fuji. The rest have been discontinued. So you can get this new and it is really affordable unlike most of this list. So if you just want to shoot Instax wide without breaking the bank than this will do.
The interface is completely streamlined with an LCD that indicates your remaining shots and two buttons. The first is to lighten or darken the image and the other is for the most pointless button there is, the flash button.
The one gripe with this camera is that you CANNOT turn the flash off even if you tell it not to fire. If the camera feels there is not enough light it will fire. Besides this gripe and these two buttons there are no other options making this really easy to use.
It shoots with standard AA batteries and if you are a selfie lover, you need to attach the included lens attachment for the small selfie mirror. One wishes this was simply built in.
Besides this even if it is relatively large the camera is relatively sleek with the black stripes and it is fun to use. The sharpness is below the 500AF but it is more than enough for most and considering the price, it’s worth it.
Instax wide 300 sample images
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Sleek and compact ✔️ Lots of options ✔️ Comes with accessories | ❌ Soft image quality ❌ On the expensive side |
his is the first choice when it comes to the best Instax wide camera made by thrid parties. Turns out other companies are picking up the slack when Fuji is dropping the ball.
There’s planty of options here even without an LCD it’s operation with buttons on the side of the camera in the back. This is one of the only Instax wide camera with double exposure and bulb mode. There is even an mode (locked shutter speed) so that you can use this with an external flash with the PC socket.
This is Lomo at its purest because this comes with many accessories including extra wide lenses, a lens cap that is a timer, close up lens, fun clolored gel and more. This is by far the most fun you will have with the format due to all the accessories and the possibility of double exposure.
There is a switch for +1 or -1 EV so that you have some control over the exposure. The only downside to this camera would be that the image quality is not as sharp as Fuji because that is Lomo’s trademark look of slightly soft / dreamy looking images.
This is neither good or bad but a matter of tast, I say the look goes hand in hand with Instax prints. This is also one of the few wides that comes with a selfie mirror right on the top left of the lens.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Simple and fun ✔️ Positive ✔️ Positive | ❌ Only find used ❌ Ugly |
Let’s get something out of the way: The 210 is ugly, ancient and one of the first wide cameras available. That is why if you are on a tight budget you can get it for really cheap used.
Like I said, the design is straight out of a few decades ago, reminiscent of when manufacturers wanted the hip looking form factor. The controls for this is not in the back like most wides but on the left side where you have an LCD and plenty of buttons.
There is the usual Lighten/Darken, flash but weirdly enough a focus button. Yes you focus this one from 0.9-3m or 3m-Infinisty by pressing a button, go figure. Since this is an oldie but a goodie you can find it at much more affordable prices than the sought after 500AF.
If you are into selfies, make sure it comes with the little selfie mirror attachment. If you don’t mind the look of the camera, this is one of the cheapest Instax wide cameras you can get.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ The highest end Instax ever ✔️ Crazy good lens that can Bokeh ✔️ All manual | ❌ Cannot close with filters, must be set to infinity ❌ Price |
There is no contest, this is one of best Instax wide cameras ever made. It’s serious, it has a great lens and pretty much is a pro Instax camera. Why isn’t it on the top spot then? Because it is premium priced at about $900.
In a list like this abouty the best Instax wide camera, everything is about tradeoffs. And having a camera so out of the price range of Instax makes it drop to lower positions. Don’t get me wrong, it IS worth it, but only for those who can afford it.
What makes it worth it? This is the ONLY high end, make Ansel Adams lust in his grave wide camera there is. teh best way to describe it is that this is like a medium format folding camera that shoots Instax wide.
The lens means business with variable aperture from 5.6 to 22 and it is sharp. Because unlike most Intax lenses that are plastic, this baby is glass. And at f5.6 this is the fastes Instax wide camera too. Coupled with the size of the lens, this is capable of softening the background and recer beautiful Bokeh.
This can shoot portraits like not other, just look for the shot of the dog below. As you can see this is overexposed, bringing you one of the drawbacks of this camera: You need to use the ND filters it comes with for shooting at high apertures in dailight. The camera cannot close with these filters weither, you must remove them first.
Why ND filters? Because the Instax films are locked at ISO800, Fuji had to make a film that is good enough for most situations and 800 was the Goldilocks ISO. This is something you need to keep in mind when shooting at f5.6 during the day, that the ISO of the film is relatively high.
Besides this , the Instakon RF70 is the Instax wide of your dreams with real rangefinder docusing mechanism for precision focusing, manual shutter speed ring that you can set to auto if you like, bulb and flash.
Probably the most addictive part of this whole package is the film lever advance that you need to crank when printing the film. This really brings back the days of analag shooting liek no other.
In short, this is the ultimate, no holds barred Instax camera ever made, wide or not. but the price tag ensures that this is only for serious photographers, but it;s more than worth it. Mint the makers of Instantkon are a small boutique company and you get a lot of camera for that price.
Conclusion
There you have it, I hope you enjoyed this article about the best Instax wide cameras. The most desirable one is the Instax 500AF with you guessed it, Autofocus and a nice sharp lens. If you want a streamlined version and the only one still in production, then the Wide 300. Other companies support Instax and the best one if the Lomo Instant Wide, and it comes with many fun accessories. If you are on a budget then the Instax 210, it’s on the ugly side but it works.
If you are a serious photographer with no budget issue than the Instantkon RF70 that is essentially a “real” rangefinder camera with all the bells and whistles but with a price to match.