Can you swap Instax Mini 8 film packs without wasting a frame?
Asked 12/3/2016
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2 answers
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I’m using a Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 and tried swapping between different Instax Mini film packs depending on the shot I wanted. After reinstalling a partially used pack, the camera shows the initial “S” position and ejects a blank sheet as if it were a new pack. Is there any way to make the camera skip that step, or to change packs without losing film?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
6
The Instax is a camera which uses light-sensitive film to capture photos. The film packs include a cover that prevents light from reaching the film inside while it is being transferred from the package to the camera.
Once the pack has been installed and the camera has ejected the cover, the individual sheets of film are exposed, allowing light to reach the one at the front when the shutter is opened. Removing the pack from the camera exposes the sheet at the front of the pack to light and ruins it, so even if you were already able to convince the camera that it didn't need to eject the cover, the sheet of film at the front of the just-installed pack would be useless.
The only way you would be able to accomplish a swap without destroying one exposure would be to do so in a film changing bag. Packs not on the camera that don't have the factory-installed cover would have to be stored in light-tight containers. By examining the pack, you may find that it's possible to re-install the cover after it has been ejected, but even if you are able to do that, I would still recommend storing partially-used packs in light-tight containers.
After swapping the pack, you would need to take one picture to determine whether or not the camera opens the shutter when the exposure counter is in the S position. (Given the simplicity of the camera, this is a possibility.)
Originally by user6508. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user6508
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No. On an Instax Mini 8, once a pack is loaded and the dark slide/light guard has been ejected, the film pack is no longer protected from light in normal room conditions. If you open the camera and remove that partially used pack, the top sheet is exposed to light and will be ruined anyway.
So even if the camera could somehow skip the “S”/dark-slide cycle, the first sheet in that reopened pack would still be unusable.
In practice, you can’t swap Instax packs mid-pack without wasting at least one frame, and often risk more if any stray light reaches the film. The only theoretical workaround is changing packs in complete darkness, such as with a film changing bag and light-tight storage, but that’s awkward and risky.
The practical solution is to finish a pack before changing it, or use multiple cameras loaded with different film types.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago