The Instax Wide 400 takes the simplicity of instant photography and expands it, literally

In an increasingly digital, AI-driven world, instant film and retro-style analog cameras remain popular, fueled by a combination of nostalgia and allure. Instant cameras, in particular, stand out for their simplicity and an experience that has remained largely unchanged over time.

Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 film $175 builds on the familiar instant photography experience and expands it with a wider format. As someone who appreciates simple, easy-to-use instant cameras and often shoots with an Instax Square, I was interested in trying a model that offered larger prints and support for landscape photography.

The Instax Wide 400 is built to capture group shots, picturesque landscapes and moments where getting more of the scene in the frame really matters. It produces 62 x 99mm prints, roughly twice the size of Instax Mini photos, giving you much more room to work with each shot.

Being a simple point-and-shoot camera, it requires no prior photography experience and is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. Its appeal lies in fun and simplicity rather than advanced controls.

With its one-button design, the camera offers no manual exposure controls. It automatically manages flash, focus and other settings, letting you simply frame the image and shoot.

When lighting is ideal, images print with nice color and plenty of detail with some extra saturation. I was very impressed with the quality because it managed to get accurate colors and distant details.

However, the camera’s simplicity comes with some trade-offs, because there’s not much you can do to make photos brighter if you’re not in ideal lighting conditions. I ended up with some less-than-ideal shots because, in high-contrast scenes like dark trees against a bright sky, details tended to blur together.

The rest of the camera is just as simple. To turn the camera on, rotate the lens counterclockwise. The first click activates close-up mode for subjects approximately 0.9 to three meters away. Rotating it once again switches to landscape mode for distant subjects beyond three meters. Rotating the lens clockwise disables the camera.

The camera comes with a close-up lens attachment that clips onto the front for close-up shots. I’ve found the attachment helps avoid focus issues and blurring when taking close-up shots.

Loading the cartridge is simple, with guidelines to help you line it up correctly in the camera. The door closes securely using a twist lock that closes. There is also a small indicator on the back that shows how much tape is left.

At 162mm x 98mm x 123mm and 1.4 pounds, the camera is quite bulky. It is noticeably larger than the Instax Mini cameras and the Instax Square models. I wasn’t too surprised by the size though, as it stands to reason that bigger photos would require a bigger camera.

That said, it’s not something you’d want to carry without a bag, and while the shoulder strap helps, I was still very self-conscious about it and careful not to knock it over people or objects in crowded areas. Although Instax offers a camera case sold separately, I didn’t receive a case with my review unit, so I can’t speak to it.

Since it’s a bit bulky, it’s quite noticeable and ended up catching a few people’s attention when I was testing it. A worker at a downtown ice cream shop stopped by to praise it, calling it “a cool camera.”

That kind of attention is part of the appeal.

The camera’s self-timer is a nice feature, as it makes it possible to include everything in one shot without having to press the shutter button. It works by pressing a lever on the side and selecting one of four durations, ranging from two to 10 seconds. The camera emits a sound to indicate that the timer is active, and red lights provide a visual countdown.

If you don’t have a tripod, the camera strap includes two angle adjustment accessories that can help support and place the camera on a flat surface. To use one, slide it into the recess at the bottom of the camera, set the timer, and return to the frame.

Camera film is available in standard white frame, black frame, metallic borders and monochrome. Fujifilm sent me their standard white film with my review unit, which is the film I used for this review. Each box of film comes with 20 sheets and costs between $25-$28.

In terms of colors, the Instax Wide 400 comes in two options: green and jet black. As someone who loves a good shade of green, I liked that the camera color gave it a more playful, fun vibe.

Overall, I think this camera is a great choice for people of all ages as it delivers high quality images while remaining simple enough for kids and teenagers who are just starting out in photography.