There are many instant cameras on the market—but very few like the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 instant camera. This wide-frame analog instant camera is all about capturing major moments in the touch of a button, and it photographs every little detail with wonderful panache. It’s a photographer’s dream to work with, and its no-fuss interface teaches you so much about composing and capturing a great photo when it’s just you and your subject.
What’s in the box of the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 instant camera?
In the box of the Instax Wide 400, you’ll find the camera body itself along with a shoulder strap, close-up lens, camera angle adjustment accessory, instruction manual, and warranty information card. The Instax Wide line uses AA batteries and each camera body ships with four batteries, which is one charge.
The close-up lens is a camera lens attachment that’s designed for helping users take selfies with the Wide 400. It clicks into place over the on-body lens opening and features a reflective square to the side of the lens to help frame your photos. Also important to note: The shoulder strap included with the Instax Wide 400 is Fujifilm’s updated 2024 version! This camera strap snaps into three pieces (it features two end toggles) to make taking your strap on and off of your camera a breeze.
Technical specs of the Instax Wide 400
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 is an updated model of the Instax Wide line. The last camera in this line was the 300, and Fujifilm has worked hard to make this year’s iteration a big upgrade.
Photo details
- 62 mm x 99 mm analog images (film sold separately)
- Developing time 90 seconds per slide of film
Camera specs
- Retractable lens with 2 focus ranges (Normal Mode 0.9 m to 3 m; Landscape Mode 3 m to infinity)
- 0.37x viewfinder with framing guides
- f= 95 mm, 1:14
- Shutter release 1/64 sec to 1/200 sec
- Automatic exposure control Lv 10.5 to 15
- Fixed ISO 800
- Automatic electronic flash; <7 second recycle time
- Prints approximately 100 photos per battery set
- Self-timer sets to 4, 6, 8, or 10 seconds
Camera body
- 616 g camera body (batteries not included in weight)
- 162 mm x 98 mm x 123 mm
How does the Instax Wide 400 compare to other Instax and Instax Wide models?
While other Instax instant camera models focus on portability and fun, the Wide is all about ambiance. Fujifilm wants photographers to be using its extra-wide, extra-large field of view to capture more: More of the background; more of the context; more of the vibe. It’s made for wide-format enthusiasts as well as big personalities with a lot to capture.
Compared to previous Instax Wide models, the biggest upgrade to the 400 is to its automatic exposure and flash control functions. Fujifilm updates these as much as possible for every new instant camera iteration, so they continue to get better and better each year. The 400 prints clearer photos than the 300 (though still with that wonderful, seamless analog touch), especially in low light conditions. For someone like me, who loves instant photography indoors and at night, this is a huge boon. I feel like Instax products really shine during things like parties, concerts, and graduations, so any improvements to their already-powerful flash are a big win in my books.
Outside of the Wide line, you’ll notice a bit of limited functionality when you compare the 400 to something like the Instax Mini 99. The 400 doesn’t have creative functions like colour tints, double exposure, or light leaks. It uses AA batteries instead of a rechargeable lithium ion battery, and its camera body has fewer analog functions.
Instead, the Wide line is closer in form and function to something like the Instax Mini 12. Like the Mini 12, the Wide 400 works on AA batteries. It’s optimized for an in-the-moment experience, where you take quick snaps and don’t have to worry about things like artistic overlays and double shooting. But it shoots in a significantly larger format, and that alone makes for a really unique shooting experience.
The Instax Wide’s camera angle accessory
The strangest thing about this camera is the included “camera angle accessory.” Is it fun to take a photo at a funky little angle? For sure! Is it handy to have an adjustment wedge on hand for when your table is crooked but you want your photo to be straight? Of course! But do I think this accessory needed to be included? Well, no. Not at all.
To me, this is a great camera that could use more functions… But it doesn’t need a camera angle accessory. The angle wedge is awkward and easy to lose, just like this camera’s off-body selfie mirror. (This is the only Instax model, to my knowledge, that has a selfie mirror that you can lose!) The camera angle accessory isn’t very customizable and it doesn’t do anything that a folded-up receipt couldn’t offer. If crooked photos are a major concern for Fujifilm, I’d love to see an on-body version of this tool in the eventual Instax 500—maybe a little foot that clicks out in the bottom corner or something similar. It would be great to have a version of this tool that you can’t lose (and that a little kid couldn’t accidentally swallow!)
My experience with the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 instant camera
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Instant Camera is, admittedly, not my favourite Instax camera—but it’s still an awesome piece of technology. It’s beautifully designed, with a rugged silhouette that pairs perfectly with its soft matte finish and creamy pistachio green colourway. The Instax Wide 400 is full of lovely tactile surprises, like the camera’s metal lift-and-twist film door mechanism. (I never want to go back to the plastic latch of the Instax Mini line!)
I really enjoy working with Fujifilm’s wide format. It’s great for capturing the entire vibe of your favourite spots in the city, which I think makes it awesome for travel: You can take a little snapshot of your favourite deli that you just found in New York, or the view of your dreams in the Rockies. Because it captures such a wide frame, it’s also great for taking photos at concerts—especially with the 400’s improved flash.
My only issue with this camera is its weight. With batteries and film, the Wide 400 is a whopping 782 grams. It’s a well-made, beautifully-performing product, but it is so. Heavy. For a product that shines when it’s capturing landscapes, the weight is a big detriment. It’s as heavy as five and a half of my smartphone, eleven and a half Cliff bars, or about one and a half Instax 12s.
Final thoughts
If you want to capture big moments in the moment, then a camera like the Instax Wide is perfect for you. This wide format instant analog camera is perfect for taking photos of large groups and big spectacles. It’s a beautifully-designed, well-machined camera that’s a pleasure to shoot with. With very few bells and whistles, it feels very much like using a retro camera—you just point, click, and voila! You have your memory captured in a punchy, creamy slide.
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 instant camera is available now at Best Buy online and in stores.
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