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instantphoto.eu                Fuji Instax Wide 400
 

The Instax Wide 400 is a new standard model of the Wide series. Its features:

Film Fujifilm Instant Color Film "Instax Wide"
Picture size 62 x 99mm
Lens Move in/out type lens, 2 components, 2 elements, f=95mm, 1:14
Viewfinder Real image finder, 0.37x , with target spot
Focusing Motor-driven 2-range switching: 0.9 - 3m/3m - ∞, Shooting range: 0.9m - ∞, Landscape Mode (3m - ∞)
Shutter Release
 Programmed electronic shutter release, 1/64 - 1/200 sec. shutter speed, self-timer, 2-10 sec.
Exposure control Automatic, Interlocking range (ISO 800): LV10.5 - LV15.5
Film Feeding Automatic ejection
Flash
 Built-in, Automatic electronic flash, only automatic mode
no LCD Mechanical exposure counter (number of unexposed films)
Power Supply 4 AA  batteries, Capacity: 10 film packs approx.
Others Film pack confirmation window
Dimensions & Weight 162 × 98 × 123 mm(W x H x D), 616g (without batteries, strap and film pack)



The Instax 400 is the fifth standard model of Instax Wide series, it came out in 2024. It is a re-design of the former series, technically nothing has impproved since 1999, for this model it's the opposite: the new camera has no LCD, and it lost any adjustment possibility, no darken/lighten any more and no flash setting. And last, but not least: the lens is no longer motorized, you have to extend it manually. All this has not led to a cheaper camera. However it has a self-timer. A bulky, easy-to-use, robust camera that produces reliable results. The 400 features a tripod mount, but as shutter speeds have not been changed, it's hardly necessary.

Some photos:

 ../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_103345.jpg
The box.

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What's in the box: camera, 2 straps, instructions, close-up lens and an extra warning to handle the back opening mechanism with care.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_103821.jpg
Fuji Instax Wide 400. It has a self-timer, 2-10 seconds in steps with according lamps.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_103805.jpg
Front, camera closed

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_103838.jpg
Front, camera on, lens extended.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_104101.jpg
Top. Camera closed. Ejection slot.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_103916.jpg
Back. A simple, mechanical counter. The closing mechanism is already broken on my camera, obviously this has happened to many users, hence the extra warning added to the papers. The plastic mechanism of the previous models has not had such problems as far as I know.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_103957.jpg
Film compartment.
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Bottom, tripod mount and a "frame" for the accessory they call angle adjustment accessory.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_104307.jpg
The "pedestal" of the angle adjustment accessory installed which tilts the camera a bit.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_104119.jpg
Left side, battery compartment. New closing mechanism.

../jpgfuji/instax_400_IMG_20241210_104743.jpg
Close-up lens with selfie mirror.

Just to give you an idea, some photos, taken with this camera. I challenged the camera with difficult situations. Photos scanned at 400dpi without any processing. The pictures are bigger on the screen than the real photos (63x99mm), the real photos in your hand look much sharper:

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15404136a.jpg
So first one in about real size, it's the second of the series.
https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15385132.jpg
Interior with flash. Fine.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15404136.jpg
Cologne city, main threspassing road. Very bright winter sun. Good job.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15421051.jpg
Park next to St. Pantaleon.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15432774.jpg
Cologne, St. Pantaleon, hard winter sun light from the side.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15451860.jpg
Entrance to St..Pantaleom in heavy backlight and dark shade. Even this is nice.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15473055.jpg
Cologne, old tax offices (1930s) in sharp backlight of a setting winter sun. Beautiful photo.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15494290.jpg
Cologne, new tax offices (1950s). Fine as well.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15515540.jpg
Flouring shrubs in deep winter shade and bright sun. Good balance.

https://www.subcompactcam.com/scans/instant/241201i400/img20241229_15540806.jpg
Another challenge: an underground railway ramp, the upper part in glaring sun, the rails in deep shade. Another good job.

The camera does an extremely good job exposing the film, it gets it just right. So the absence of darken/lighten is not as bad as I feared. With only two distance settings you can see the optical limits of the simple optical system. All in all it's better than its predecessors. I would still wish a focussing system.

And Fuji film can be astonishingly good, the film I used expired in 2012, so it was 12 years over the date. However it had been kept in the fridge all the time. As I have some more packages of these, I'm pleased...

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