Fujifilm Unveils Instax Link Wide Smartphone Printer
Fujifilm South Africa has launched the Instax Link Wide smartphone printer allowing users to print images from their smartphone on Instax Wide format film, which is twice the size of the regular Instax Mini prints.
This is the first Instax smartphone printer to do so, building on the popularity of the Instax Mini Link (Mini film) and the Instax Share SP-3 (Square film) printers before it.
Like previous printers, the Instax Link Wide connects to smartphones through a dedicated app via Bluetooth. The app, specifically designed for the Link Wide, offers a variety of functionality to take advantage of the larger print size.
The new printer will also be the first to feature Instax-Rich mode for enhanced colour saturation.
The Instax Link Wide offers a unique draped design,with stylised metallic touches at the front and top of the device and includes a matching stand to set it up or to facilitate easy operation.
Weighing just 340g, the Instax Link Wide is powered by a built-in battery which allows this smartphone printer to be carried anywhere and can be recharged via a USB cable.
The larger Instax Wide print has been available since 1999 when the Instax Wide 100 camera was launched. The Wide prints measure 86mm x 108mm, double that of Instax Mini prints (86mm x 54mm). This makes the Wide format highly suitable for group photos, landscape photography or wide-angle shots that benefit from a larger print area.
Apart from the regular Wide white border film, Fujifilm is also launching the new black Wide-format film, which helps accentuate each photograph thanks to a dark border.
Enhanced functionality via the app
Fujifilm has designed a dedicated smartphone app to make printing as easy and feature-rich as possible. Once connected, users can instantly transfer an image to the Link Wide by swiping up from the bottom edge of the smartphone screen. It’s also possible to select a favourite moment from a recorded video by scrolling through video frames to select one to print.
Interestingly, users can add a voice note, website link, location data or hidden text to printed images through the app.
There are a total of 29 design templates, including designs perfect for special events such as birthdays or celebrations. The colours and fonts in the templates can be freely adjusted to create a perfect greeting card on demand. Users are also able to decorate images with the emojis that come with their smartphone’s operating system, or use some of the 100 design stickers from the app.
The Instax Link Wide app will be available for free for both Apple and Android devices while Fujifilm shooters using the X-S10 mirrorless camera will be able to bypass the app by printing directly from the camera to a connected Link Wide.
Availability and Pricing
The Fujifilm Instax Link Wide smartphone will be available in South Africa on 22 October 2021, in both Ash White and Mocha with a recommended retail price of R2 499
Instax Wide White border film will be sold in packs of ten, retailing for a recommended R195 while the Black border film for R210 per pack.
