Mint – the HK-based camera business out of the ashes of The Impossible Project and Polaroid before it – has moved instant analogue photography decidedly up-market with the $1300 InstantKon RF70, boasting full manual control of shutter speed aperture and focus, and using Instax Wide film (99mm x 62mm).
The bellows-style rangefinder InstantKon RF70 has six aperture selections. The largest, f5.6, is equivalent to f2.4 on a full-frame 35mm camera. The relatively wide aperture provides shallow depth of field (as shallow as 490mm) and, according to the press release, ‘phenomenal bokeh’.
The portrait-oriented 93mm lens comprises 3 aspherical glass elements and is multi-layer coated. Close focussing is from .75mm.
There are 14 shutter speeds, from 1/500 – 1sec, with manual (‘Bulb’) long exposures up to 10 minutes. The camera is equipped with built-in flash.
Other features:
– 2.5mm audio jack for triggering external studio flash;
– A film eject lever lets you do unlimited multiple exposures;
– Light meter;
– LCD display for ND recommendations;
– Compatible with standard cable releases, standard tripod socket;
– Five-year warranty.
Extras include a lens hood and an ND filter set (ND2, ND4, ND8) with an in-camera indicator telling the user which filter to use. (With a top shutter speed of just 1/500 sec, ND filters will come in handy, particularly in bright daylight.)
The InstantKon RF70 takes two AA alkaline batteries. It weights 806 grams. There is also an InstantKon RF Auto, with a more limited selection of shutter speeds but full aperture and focus control.
The InstantKon RF70 has an RRP of $1300, while the InstantKon RF70 Auto is $1120.95. Both come with the (surely unprecedented) 5-year warranty. The RF70 Lens Set (ND filters) is $129.95 while the lens hood is $79.95 RRP
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