FUJIFILM Instax Square SQ6 manual and review
 FUJIFILM Instax Square SQ6 manual and review |
The instruction manual for the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 is available for free viewing. This manual is categorized under Cameras and the average rating from 5 users is 6.8. The manual is presented in English. If you have any questions about Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 or need help, please ask your question here.
Square SQ6 is the second model with the new INSTAX SQUARE square film format. Photos are 85.6 x 72 mm in size and the frameless image itself is 62 x 62 mm. The camera is designed as a more affordable and simplified version of the SQ10 without a screen for previewing images.
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 is an instant print camera that will capture the most vivid and important moments of your life, creating a warm atmosphere in your photos. It is designed for those who appreciate the magic of Polaroid pictures, when you take a photo and get an instant result without knowing in advance what it will be like. This camera is also suitable for those who prefer to avoid selecting and processing multiple shots taken on a phone or camera and want to get finished results quickly and easily. The SQ6 is medium-sized and square in shape, making it similar to the Instax Mini but slightly larger. It's available in two colors: black with gold elements and silver with pink accents.
Features FUJIFILM Instax Square SQ6:
shutter speed: 1/400 second;
retractable two-piece dual-element lens;
focal length: 65.75 mm; inverted retractable viewfinder with 0.4x scope; built-in flash with a range of 2.7 meters; tripod mount slot;
included strap and several color filters for the flash: green, red and an unusual color between pink and purple.
The Square SQ6 is good because it has seven shooting modes: auto, selfies, macro, landscape, double exposure, brightness boost and brightness reduction.
Understand and master the modes to take beautiful pictures with perfect color reproduction. This is the main feature of this camera. There is also an option to shoot without flash, just press the button. But the most useful feature is the 10 second self timer! 3 seconds before the shot is taken, the light next to the flash starts flashing, so you'll know that the shot is about to be taken. Don't you agree, it's great? The camera runs on the two CR2 batteries that come with it. Honestly, I haven't changed them yet, I've been using it for 4 years now. The pictures are 62×62 in size and square in shape. At least you can see something on them, because the pictures on the instax mini are too small, in my opinion. Cartridges are not cheap now, for 10 standard pictures with a white frame the price varies from 1200 to 1800 rubles. There are cartridges with different colors of frames, but my favorite is black, it is stylish.
Design. Fujifilm has successfully created a stylish and interesting product for instant photography. The camera has a square shape, similar to the shape of the photos it creates. The sleek and streamlined body features a ribbed finish on the front panel. Rumor has it that the camera strongly resembles the Instagram logo, and it does indeed. Get the Instax Square SQ6 camera. The plastic body is quite durable and sturdy, but a case is recommended for rainy weather. You should also apply a neck strap (included), as a fall can easily damage the camera. In addition to the rough finish, there is a thumb grip to comfortably hold the camera in your hand, which serves as a compartment for CR2 batteries. Note that the use of a neck strap is a precautionary measure. As for batteries, two CR2 batteries should be enough for 30 cartridges (300 photos). It would certainly have been better if a rechargeable battery had been included instead of disposable batteries, but at least they will last for a long time. Lens, flash, viewfinder. Most of the front surface is taken up by a 66mm f/12.7 fixed lens (equivalent to 32mm in 35mm format). The lens automatically extends when the camera is turned on. It's a bit annoying that the camera falls forward when doing so, but on the other hand, it's a bit like turning the camera off when it's no longer in use.
The Instax SQ-6 camera reminds us of the value of every moment and takes us back to a time when photos were scarce and it was difficult to catch a good moment. All Fujifilm Instax models are divided into three categories depending on the size of the print: mini - 46 x 62 mm; wide - 99 x 62 mm; square - 62 x 62 mm. The first two categories offer a choice between color and black and white paper, while square is limited to two frame designs. However, the mini film stands out for its variety of designs - about two dozen different options, both monochrome and themed, suitable for different events such as parties, weddings or travel.
The Instax camera is easy to use, and even children can easily operate it. There are no complicated terms and setup is intuitive. The main thing is to set the focus correctly and aim through the viewfinder.
Main features and equipment Instax SQ-6:
image size: 62 mm x 62 mm;
automatic exposure control;
selfies mode;
timer function;
3 color filters included;
double exposure function;
the ability to turn off the flash.
It comes with a camera strap and two lithium batteries that last about 300 shots. Film cartridges are available separately. Instax SQ-6 features and shooting modes: all camera controls are located on the back panel; the MODE button cycles through all available modes, with the selected mode illuminated by an orange LED; below the MODE button are the self-timer and flash off buttons.
Shooting modes are arranged from left to right FUJIFILM Instax Square SQ6:
Auto - suitable for most subjects;
Selfie, Macro and Landscape - change the focus distance and settings to achieve the best results;
double exposure - combines two shots into one print; (L) and (D) - makes the photo lighter and darker, respectively, than in auto mode.
A yellow marker in the upper window indicates that the camera is charged, and a number in the lower window indicates how many shots can still be taken.
The shutter release button is more suited for selfies, but when shooting regular shots, the location of the trigger can be confusing - first you try to press it, then you remember that the shutter release is in a different place, and only then you take the shot. However, with time you can get used to this location of the shutter button. When shooting selfies, the small mirror on the lens helps with the layout of the frame, but in other cases you'll have to use the viewfinder. If your arms are not long enough, you can use a tripod and mount the camera on it. The manual does not recommend using the camera in cold or hot conditions, as prints may be too light or too dark. Nevertheless, in light frost (-8 °C), I got out of the car, took the camera out of the bag and took a couple of shots, put the prints in the inner pocket, and the pictures turned out no worse than in a warm room. The Instax camera should not be expected to replace other types of cameras, digital or film. Its purpose is to bring joy and positive emotions by capturing life's important moments.
Each card becomes a piece of a fun story that can be signed, put in a wallet or stuck on the fridge. Plus, images are captured almost instantly, pushing other ways of making tangible prints to the back burner. The SQ-6 produces cute and cutesy images, with landscape shots showing a lomography effect, and others reminiscent of Instagram filters that were popular a few years ago. When taking macro shots, you should be careful and aim at the upper right corner of the composition rather than the center, as the viewfinder shows - at short focusing distances, the parallax effect is noticeable. During double exposures, when one frame is superimposed on another, it can be difficult to combine them in memory, the first image with what is seen in the viewfinder. Failed attempts and unexpected results that can only be seen after a minute and a half or two minutes add to the fun of shooting.
The Instax SQ-6 is the golden mean of Fujifilm's instant print cameras. It's not as small as the mini and not too big like the Wide, and the square print size makes it a little easier to choose frame orientation. This camera will make a great addition to your smartphone or other digital camera. It's easy to use, and the resulting photos are sure to please you. While the Instax SQ-6 has some limitations, such as the non-standard battery format, these are offset by its usability and build quality.
The flash always fires unless you select a flash-free mode. The flash has a range of 30 cm to 2.7 m and a charging time of 0.2 to 7 seconds. If you find the flash too bright when shooting close-ups, you can easily and inexpensively solve the problem by covering the flash with an ordinary cloth. This will diffuse the light and give the photo a more natural look. The kit also comes with three color filters that mount on the flash and allow you to change the overall hue of the photo. The viewfinder is located slightly away from the lens, so what you see through it doesn't always match the image the lens sees, especially when shooting at close range. This phenomenon is called the parallax effect. Be aware of this shift when shooting, especially from less than one meter away. On the back of the body is a frame counter and a simple mode selection panel. If you want to learn more about the technique, the SQ6's shutter speed (shutter speed) ranges from 1.6 seconds to 1/400th of a second. The shutter speed is automatically selected and you won't be able to change it.
To start using the Instax SQUARE SQ6, follow these steps:
Insert the two CR2 batteries that come in the package.
Carefully open the Instax Square film package and place it in the compartment, aligning the yellow marks.
Turn the camera on and press the shutter button to remove the black slide that protects the film from light.
The frame counter will now display 10, indicating that you are ready to shoot.
The Instax Square film used in the SQ6 is very similar in quality to the Instax Mini - the pictures are just a little larger. Colors are rich and vibrant, with fairly accurate reproduction of tones, although they are a bit cooler. If the focal length is chosen correctly, photos are sharp and detailed. However, the level of sharpness of the SQ6 is inferior to the SQ10 with its more accurate autofocus system. Again, it's best to avoid overly bright scenes or objects such as mirrors, which can reflect flash light back into the lens. In heavily over-lit areas of the photo, a black dot can appear, as in the example below.
In summary, here are a few things to avoid when using the SQ6:
Don't pull the card out of the slot beforehand, wait until it is fully extended. Hasty removal of the photo can damage the mechanism.
Do not insert the cassette in direct sunlight.
Do not open the film compartment until you have shot the entire cassette, or the remaining pictures will glow and turn white.
If you're in doubt, the Instax Square SQ6 is probably the best beginner's camera in the Instax range today. It's beautifully designed, easy to operate, and the Square format is perfect - not too big and not too small. The only problem is the lack of the ability to combine modes such as Darken and Landscape, but to be fair, the Mini 8 and 9 have no modes at all and are the most popular Instax models. Perhaps this is to make shooting easier for beginners and not to clutter up the interface. If you want more control over the camera, you can opt for the Instax Mini 90. Although it uses the Mini's small format, it allows you to combine modes. Let's hope that one day Fujifilm will introduce the SQ model that combines the best qualities of both cameras!
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