Fujifilm Cheki
If you can find them, triple packs of Polaroid 600 film in Japan are about $60 each. That is about two dollars a picture. For a price that is less than thirty polaroids, Fujifilm recently released a new edition of their popular (in Japan) Cheki instant camera.
The only new thing about this model is the 2 colors that it comes in (”Chocolate”, and white) but it is cute and it is selling well, I was told. It seems that all the polaroid shooters are switching over to Cheki and it’s little business card sized pictures.
The film is called Instanx Mini, and is about 700 yen a pack (10 photos)- the two 5 packs in the picture are 3150 yen each- that’s 100 photos for the same price as thirty polaroid ones. You can find packs of Cheki film at local DPEs and even most convenience stores.
Despite the digital takeover, instant cameras still are unique in that they (nearly) instantly give you an actual and tangible photograph soon after clicking the shutter.
BONUS: Fuji Cheki commercials
commercial 1 fits oh so nicely with the Japanese tourist fantasy- not the American stereotypical one where they all have polos and glasses and big SLRS, but the Japanese one where they go into southeast asia alone and have all these sweet and interesting experiences with the sweet and interesting locals.
commercial 2 features breakdancing.
John,
I was joking with Justin about shooting my final show for my MFA at Pratt in Polaroid. He nearly smacked me round the head. Really I just gotta stop shooting, start developing, printing and editing.
Comment by Ben — 7/6/2008 @ 12:07 pm
That is the thing, the second part (after shooting) of it all…
I wonder what’s going to happen with those huge polaroid cameras- the ones that used to get taken around to different art schools and cost students $150 for 30 min.
Next time you see Justin, ask him about his website and Blog, because some of us sure do miss it.
Comment by John — 7/6/2008 @ 12:26 pm
John, do you know where I can get one of these in Tokyo?
Thanks!
S
Comment by Scott — 8/23/2008 @ 7:24 pm
they are found at any yodobashi or Bic Camera store– you should have no trouble finding either color.
Good luck-
Comment by John — 8/23/2008 @ 8:11 pm
Got it at Bic Camera! Thanks for the tip.
Comment by Scott — 8/31/2008 @ 2:37 pm