Today, over on my Instagram I announced my new photo series, “Days Gone By”. This new photo series aims to embrace all things that have been lost in time and seemingly forgotten. The entire series will be shot on Fujifilm Instax Mini Film to stick with the old-world feel and to “Keep Film Alive”.
Lomo Instant Automat Glass
There are a lot of fantastic Instant Film Cameras on the market these days, such as the Mint TL70, various Lomography models and the Fujifilm Mini 90…All of which I hope to test at some point in the future.
However, for this project, I chose the Lomo’Instant Automat Glass. This camera checked off a lot of boxes for me. I’ll list some of the pros & cons about it below, which brought me to my decision in purchasing it:
Pro’s:
- The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass shoots Fujifilm Instax Mini Film. I wanted to use this film stock because of it’s lower cost + wide availability
- A very low aperture of f4.5, the lowest aperture found in an Instax camera
- Close focusing distance of around 11″ inches
- 38mm Wide Angle Lens (and this thing is wide!)
- Longest bulb mode, coming in at 30 seconds
- Tripod Socket
- Glass Lens
- Great ergonomics
- Accepts 43mm filters
Con’s:
- It requires CR2 Batteries, which are expensive & not available everywhere
- The 0.3m – 0.6m focus range can be a bit hard to nail focus at times
- The 1/250 max shutter speed can be limiting in harsh sunlight, resulting in over-exposed images. So you will need an ND Filter to get properly exposed photographs (more on that in a second).
As you can see, there are a lot of pro’s about this camera. And the con’s can be remedied with practice + optional accessories.
* this is not a comprehensive review…just my initial thoughts upon purchasing it + running a few packs of film through it
Lomo’Instant Automat Filter
The first thing I put in my camera gear bag to accessorize my Automat Glass Camera was a Variable ND Filter. This is a must-have accessory if you’re planning on shooting in the outdoors with your camera. And it’s very inexpensive for the quality you receive ($25).
If you’ve been with me for awhile, you’ll know that I love GOBE Filters and have a great relationship with them. So, I chose the 43mm Variable ND Filter by Gobe. Feel free to use coupon code “Awaken” to get 15% off at MyGobe.com 🙂
Gobe Variable ND Filter
Control your exposure: I chose the Variable ND Filter for my Lomo’Instant Automat over a fixed ND Filter because of its ability to block out a little bit of light, or a lot. You can control up to 8 Stops of Light from hitting your film with this filter, all by simply turning the ring from “Min” to “Max”.
Best Results: I’ve found that by turning it to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th notch works best in harsh sunlight and the “min” works great when you’re in the shade on a super bright day.
Lomo’Instant Automat Glass Strap
You’re definitely going to need a strap for your Lomo’Instant Automat Glass Camera. I’m a big fan of Peak Design straps. So, I’ve found myself using the Peak Design Leash a lot with this camera. I love the compact size of the Leash and how light it is…It’s a perfect fit for the Automat.
Pro-Tip: A camera strap comes in especially handy when you’re shooting photos and need to free up your hands. Whether you’re holding your prints as they develop, or carrying them to a safe spot for them to develop. Just trust me, you don’t want to try holding your camera + prints at the same time…You’ll end up dropping something.
Lomo’Instant Automat Film
Lastly, I have stocked up on loads of Fujifilm Instax Mini Film!! For now, I’m just using the basic ISO 800 Color Film, but I’m sure I’ll explore the Black & White film at some point.
Pro-Tips: Always check the expiration dates on the Instax Mini Film boxes. 20 Packs are typically the cheapest. Check with your local stores & see if they will price match online competitors.
Dig what I’m doing here?
I put a lot of time into producing these articles and the content I create. So, if you dig what you’ve seen please consider buying a print from me and give me a follow on Instagram.
Amazon Affiliates: The products links throughout this article are Amazon Affiliate links. If you’re feeling kind, please consider purchasing from them at no extra cost to you. I get a small kickback from your purchase and it helps me to keep producing content just like this (and buying more film, lol).
Let’s Chat – Drop a Comment Below
Questions: If you have any questions about the Lomo’Instant Automat Glass, GOBE Filters, the Peak Design Leash, Instax Film Photos or anything else, please drop me a comment below. I always love helping where I can!
Comments: If you have the Lomo’Instant Automat Glass or another Instax Film Camera let me know about it as well!
Read Next: Gobe Filters Review • View my Days Gone By Film Series
Shot on Lomo’Instant Automat Glass & GOBE Filters
Shot on Lomo’Instant Automat Glass & GOBE Filters
