This post is a compilation of links to the following resources on the Fujifilm Instax 200 Instant Film Camera:
- Introduction.
- Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback.
- Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage.
- References and other resources.
FujiFilm FU64-INSTAXKIT Instax 200 Camera with 5 Twin Packs Film
Introduction, and basic specs
Download the Instax 200 Instant Camera Brochure.
The FujiFilm Instax 200 was introduced on 14-November-2008 (read the press release), and is “… an appealing alternative to previous users of Polaroid cameras utilizing Polaroid Type 600 Films”.
The Fujinon lens on the Instax 200 has a fixed focal length of 95mm.
An extract of the press release reads:
In recent months, as availability of instant film has dwindled, we’ve received inquiries from customers in a range of markets here in the U.S. including health care, law enforcement, insurance, real estate, and others, who really need to continue using a traditional instant film solution” said Christian Fridholm, vice president of marketing, consumables, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A. “We believe that people familiar with instant photography, but who are new to the Fujifilm Instax brand, will be impressed with the intuitive design of the Instax 200, and will be especially pleased with the vivid colors and bright whites delivered by our Instax Instant Color Film.
Basic specifications:
The Instax 200 Camera includes design features such as:
* LCD control panel displaying focal distance and film count
* Programmed electronic shutter, 1/64-1/200 sec
* Automatic flash for low-light shooting
* Two-range selectable shooting options: 0.9-3m and 3m-infinity
Instax Instant Color Film includes features such as:
* Wide Picture Format (Image size – 3.90” x 2.44”)
* Sharp, Vivid, Super Fine Grain Prints
* ISO 800
* Highly Stable Emulsion (useable from 41-104 degrees F)
Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback
Fujifilm Instax 200 Instant Film Camera at Adorama Learning Center
Mason Resnick’s article has the best descriptions and photos of how the camera works, and he writes:
The camera is big, bulky and looks and acts nothing like any digital camera. Its feature set is limited. But, it draws interest. It’s different. Color quality is very good, and image quality is marginally better than Polaroid, although technical perfection is beside the point. If you’re looking to start up conversations and friendships, like to go against the grain, or revel in the simple creative joy of low-tech cameras and high-tech instant film that develops itself right before your eyes, the Fujifilm Instax 200 is a wonderful, simple, accessible camera.
I like the photos showing the reactions of the kids in the group shot to the instant photo that developed instantly in front of their eyes.
At the end of the review are some sample images taken with the Instax 200 at a ballgame.
Fujifilm Instax 200 review at InfoSyncWorld
Mike Perlman, the reviewer, very obviously loves the camera, and wrote:
We were impressed with the quality of the Fujifilm Instax 200’s 95mm Fujinon lens, and the image quality was a welcomed blast from the past. The Instax 200 did not crank out professional-grade pictures, but it succeeded in producing images that were devoid of noise and resisted oversharpening. Colors were classic and some pictures looked like they were unearthed from a lost family album in the 1970’s. It was a mega refreshment to see images like this because we, the collective, have lost sight of what an image truly is by being steeped within the digital landscape. Although the Fujifilm Instax 200’s images did not exhibit the level of detail we have seen from many digital cameras in the past, there was something about their raw honesty that lured us in.
Towards the end of the review are links to 9 sample photos.
Customer reviews on Amazon
At the time of writing, Jul 13, 2009, the Instax 200 has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 3 reviews.
One user, Lucy P. Kline, wrote:
This was a gift — my 70 year old vision impaired mother loves it! She can’t operate a traditional camera so this was a perfect substitute for the old Polaroid she had. It’s a little more cumbersome than her old camera but she likes that each photo comes through the top rather than the front of the camera. Great product!
References and other resources
Official websites for the Instax 200 — Browse Fujifilm USA, where you can obtain the full list of features, key markets and product views.
For technical and support matters on the Instax 200 in the US, visit Fujifilm Support & Contact Center.
There is an Acrobat PDF Instruction Manual (3.1 MB) for the W230, which you can download from this page (or try right-clicking this link to download directly to your hard disk).