There is very little love for devices steeped in bling but Fujifilm believes its popular Instax range deserves a gold colored Michael Kors edition.
Released on Sept. 21 from the stable of Fujifilm and created as a result of a partnership with Michael Kors, the Instax Mini 70 is decked out in bling. It comes with a striking metallic gold color and does not miss a beat when it comes to capturing eyeballs. At the heart of this camera is its ability to print photos immediately, which is also offered by the I-1 Polaroid-Type Camera that was released by the Impossible Project earlier this year.
As for the Instax Mini 70 Camera, the design is its standout feature. Functionally seems to have been shoved onto the backburner even when compared to the I-1 from the Impossible Project. In a press release that was circulated by FUJIFILM North America Corporation, the camera was described as a "one-of-a-kind collaboration" with Michael Kors and it is clear that Kors wanted to capitalize on the high visibility of his brand and designs.
With Kors at the helm of the look of the camera, it is no surprise that the metallic gold color is attractive. However, Engadget pointed out several pain points including the lack of rechargeable batteries and that the camera comes with "Cr2 lithium batteries." It went on to add that customers who invest in the camera can replace the batteries onboard with rechargeable versions but they will have to settle for unknown brands. This is an area where the Instax Mini 70 Camera lags behind the Impossible I-1 which can be recharged via a USB cable.
Another limiting factor in the camera is the expensive film used to create the instant photos. For this particular camera, the film comes in a pack and Engadget outlines how users can quickly end up spending more on purchasing film and outstrip the cost of the camera, which is going to retail for $149. With Fujifilm and other companies offering instant printers that can print directly from smartphones within seconds, many customers would find it hard to justify this unnecessary expense.
Among the other drawbacks, is there is no way for customers to take digital photos. If customers want to share a digital version on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook they will have to photograph the printed photo with their smartphone. This is something the I-1 from Impossible is also hampered by. Additionally, it does not have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and lags behind the I-1 from Impossible in this aspect which even has an app. The positive features of the camera include a selfie mode which is going to appeal to the younger generation.
Other notable features include a 60mm lens with two elements, picture size of 62mm x 46mm, a viewfinder, and a flash.
When the Instax Mini 70 goes on sale in October, customers will be able to outfit it with a range of accessories that are also created by Kors. It is likely that these will add more bling to the camera and be light on functionality. Therefore, even as the Instax Mini 70 tries to bring back the magic of instant photos and adds to the popular lineup from Fujifilm, it seems unlikely to catch on with camera geeks, who prefer to whip out smartphones with increasingly sophisticated cameras for spur of the moment shots, and invest in DSLRs for better quality. Fujifilm is happy, however, to cater to hosts at parties —who want to hand out printed photos — and states that it expects to sell "6.5 million" of its Instax cameras this year.
