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I once gave my Fujifilm Instax Wide 210 away thinking people would remember me by it, just in case I died. Well, that’s one reason. The other was that I got buried under piles of instant prints, so I made it someone else’s problem. At that point, I swore I’d never touch instant film again.
Early this year, Jay coerced me into trying the Fujifilm Instax SQ40. I liked it so much that I bought the instax Wide Evo, which looks brilliant on paper and good enough to make you think it’s the best of both worlds while in reality, it’s a master of none.
PRO
Good, good fun
Looks and design
Superior image quality
Strong flash
CON
Viewfinder
SPECIFICATION
Square instant camera
62 mm × 62 mm picture size
2 components, 2 elements, f/12.6
453 grams
$229 AUD
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After the third use, it went straight into storage, along with several unopened packs of Wide film. The Evo feels more like a portable printer than an instant camera. The photos look too digital and miss that nostalgic look everyone wants from an Instax. I’ll probably trade it for an Instax Wide 400 but that’s a story for another day. So, back to the SQ40.
Design-wise, Fujifilm nailed it. It’s that perfect blend of modern and vintage, like a camera that actually knows how to dress. Ergonomically, it’s comfortable, even when I’m twisting my wrist at weird angles trying to look artistic. We’ve all handled Instax Minis, but this square format feels like a genuine step up. It’s not as bulky as the older Wides, yet it feels sturdy, built from a mix of hard and soft plastics that give it just enough premium touch without making you question its price.
Like its siblings, each film pack gives you ten shots but the images from the SQ40 have noticeably better dynamic range, more than anyone would expect from an instant camera. Whether it’s the lens or the film chemistry, details hold up even in low light, which is seriously impressive. The flash also packs a punch. I wasn’t expecting this much firepower from something that looks like it belongs at a hipster picnic.
Now for the not-so-fun part. The worst thing about this camera is its viewfinder. It could really use better guide lines because framing a shot often feels like guesswork. After composing, you need to slightly turn the camera to the left to compensate for parallax error. You will never get used to it because that is simply annoying. That said, everything else about the SQ40 is refreshingly straightforward. You won’t even need to open the instruction manual.
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For film photographers, an instant camera isn’t just a toy, it’s therapy. It balances out the delayed gratification of film with the instant reward of seeing your shot right away. Shooting Instax can calm clients on set, spark creativity or serve as a quick test before you waste a roll of Kodak Portra 400. By the time your lab emails those scans back, it’s already too late to fix anything. Instax gives you that instant feedback loop and sometimes that’s all you need to get back in the flow.
From user-friendliness to surprisingly solid image quality, the Fujifilm SQ40 did enough to pull me out of instant-film retirement. Pick one up at a good price and make something tangible out of your day. Otherwise, it’s just another memory that’ll fade and eventually disappear.
Our world has become more homogenous than ever. Practicing creativity whether through art, photography or even a slightly overexposed Instax print might just help us rediscover who we truly are.
