Digital Camera World Verdict
The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 makes analog shots simple. The camera is nearly fully automatic except for choosing between standard shots, close-ups, or wide landscapes. A clever switch adds a warm orange filter or moody blue to the shots without packing any extra accessories. The Square 2 is also competitively priced – and perhaps even more importantly, so is the film. The inability to turn the flash off or adjust exposure may leave serious photographers longing for something more, however.
Reasons to buy
- +
Easy to use
- +
Built-in warm and cool filter
- +
More affordable film than Polaroid
- +
Comfortable grip
- +
Charming photographs
Reasons to avoid
- -
No way to disable flash
- -
No exposure controls or double exposures
- -
Large
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Ask any photographer who shoots real film the reason behind choosing analog, and I’m guessing the answer is going to have the word “color” in it. The new Fujifilm Instax Square 2 instant film camera has a built-in party trick just for color.
The Instax Square 2 feels like a larger version of the Instax Mini 13 in that it’s a fully automatic camera built to be simple enough that nearly anyone can find success with it. But the one unusual feature the Square 2 hides gives creators more control over moody colors with a built-in warm (orange) and cool (blue) filter that’s activated with a flick of a switch.
Fujifilm Instax Square 2: Specs
- Film: Fujifilm Instax Square
- Film size: 86mm x 72mm
- Picture size: 62mm x 62mm
- Developing time: Approximately 90 seconds
- Viewfinder: Reverse Galilean finder, 0.4x with target spot
- Lens: 65.75mm 1:12.6
- Exposure: Automatic, 1/2 to 1/400 shutter speed with slow syncro for low light
- Flash: Constant fire with automatic light adjustment
- Lens range: 0.3m and beyond
- Battery: 4 AA batteries, lasts about 30 packs of film
- Dimensions: 139 x 119.5 x 71mm / 5.47 x 4.7 x 2.79 inches
- Weight: 450g (without batteries, film, or strap)
Fujifilm Instax Square 2: Price
The Instax Square 2 is expected to retail for $119.95 / CA$139.99. That puts the camera at a bit higher price point than the smaller format Instax Mini 13, but under the price of the Instax Square SQ40.
The cost of film is always a consideration with any analog camera, and the Instax Square film packs sit at about $22 for a pack of 20, which comes to about $1.10 each photo. That’s around half the cost of Polaroid i-Type film, which is $19 for an eight-pack.
Fujifilm Instax Square 2: Build and Handling
The larger film format creates a chunkier camera – but the trade-off is that it also gives the Instax Square 2 a more comfortable grip than cameras like the Instax Mini 13. The camera is rather oversized at 139 x 119.5 x 71mm / 5.47 x 4.7 x 2.79 inches, but competing Polaroids aren’t “compact cameras” either.
That larger design does give my hands a nice grip to wrap around, which is also where the four AA batteries hide. The shutter button rests right where my index finger lies naturally, so it’s a comfortable design considering the size.
Twisting the control around the lens turns the camera on and also houses the three modes: landscape, standard, and close-up.
A switch near the lens controls the camera’s new “mood modes,” which can create a cooler or warmer look to the shot. There’s also a small mirror on the front to aid with selfies.
Warm filter
Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future
No filter
Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future
Cool filter
Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future
The back of the camera houses the door for the film packs. Loading is simple; just remember to line the yellow on the film pack with the yellow mark on the camera. There’s a small window that shows the number of shots remaining.
The camera uses a classic optical viewfinder.
Fujifilm Instax Square 2: Performance
The Instax Square 2 is almost a fully automatic camera, right down to the flash that can’t be switched off. That makes the camera very easy to use. The only thing to remember is to adjust the lens, which has landscape, standard, or close-up mode based on what you are shooting.
While the Square 2 is simple enough that a kid could use it, serious photographers may be more disappointed by the lack of controls. I would love for a Square version of the Instax Mini 99 with a bit more tools to customize the shot, but that’s not what Square 2 is – and thankfully the price reflects its beginner status.
The instant photos spit out the top and take a rather quick 90 seconds to develop.
I’ve shot with several Instax Mini cameras, and the Square 2 delivers everything that I’ve come to expect from Instax film, just in a larger, square format. I didn’t spot any unusual lines that may indicate a roller error or other negative surprises.
The photos pack in the colorful charm of analog film and often feel a bit moodier than the real-life scene.
The Square 2 has a built-in warm and cool filter that allows for controlling that mood a bit more. The cool filter creates a more hazy look that I think would be great for urban portraits and indoor parties, while I wanted to leave the warm filter on permanently while photographing fall colors.
The fully automatic design meant a few occasional exposure errors. Not being able to turn off the flash can create bright spots, particularly when shooting close to the subject.
On the flip side, shots taken just before golden hour in a forest rendered a little too dark.
The camera's three lens modes do leave room for focus errors, particularly with close-ups. The close mode is meant for .3 to .5m (about one foot to 1.6 feet). The standard mode is meant for .5 m to 3m (about 1.6 feet to 9.8 feet), and the landscape mode for anything beyond that distance.
That is, of course, all par for the course when shooting instant film, which is meant to be more charming than perfect. The images from the Square 2 met my expectations and were exactly what I was expecting after using Mini series cameras like the Instax Mini 13.
Fujifilm Instax Square 2: Verdict
The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 is a fun, simple-to-use instant film camera with a classic square film that’s competitively priced compared to Polaroid refills. With nearly everything automated, it’s an analog camera that anyone can use.
There are just two things to control on the camera – the lens mode (landscape, standard, close-up) and a moody color filter to add warmth or cool down those film tones with a simple switch.
More serious shooters may wish for more controls and creative modes like double exposures. But for easy analog? The Square 2 is an easy win.
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Take a look at the best instant film cameras or the best hybrid instant film cameras.
