Fujifilm instax Wide 400

The instax WIDE 400 is Fujifilm’s first wide camera in ten years, and like its predecessor is a fully analogue model with no digital sensor, screen, or memory. As such it delivers the simplicity of the basic MINI and SQUARE models, but with the largest print size in the system, roughly twice as wide as the MINI format. Given the decade-long gap between WIDE cameras, you’d be forgiven for expecting more from the 400, but it’s actually become more basic than before, and I’m not just talking about the single colour finish. Gone are the flash and exposure brightness controls, leaving a fully-automatic system with no manual override. It’s also frustrating to see the WIDE 400 hasn’t integrated the closeup capability into the lens housing of recent instax cameras, and instead forces you to remember and clip-on an easily lost accessory for selfies or shooting from 40cm. In fact the only new feature is a self-timer dial and a pair of cubes that push under the camera to point it upwards a little. That said, in most situations, the WIDE 400 produced nice-looking prints, although like most analogue instax models, it can become overexposed in sunny conditions, even in England. I personally feel there’s room in the range for a more advanced WIDE camera, similar to the recent MINI 99 or Mini EVO. But if you love the simplicity of a basic instax MINI camera and just wished it made larger prints, the WIDE 400 could be for you.