Save the Polaroid

While checking up on this site, I realized that a post I had put up about a month ago had actually been posted as a new page with a link at the top (oops!).  Some of you may have missed it.  I’m posting it again with an update:  Fuji Instax film and camera are now available to the public.

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I arrived home from my vacation to this press release in my inbox.  Sounds promising.  I’m looking forward to trying it out.

Flickr Instax Group

Fujifilm Instax Site

FUJIFILM BRINGS INSTAX 200 INSTANT FILM CAMERA
AND INSTAX INSTANT COLOR FILM TO U.S. MARKET

Instant Photo System Delivers Quality Instant Prints for
Law Enforcement, Health Care, Commercial Use

VALHALLA, N.Y., November 14, 2008 – FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. today announced it is introducing the popular Instax 200 Instant Film Camera and Instant Color Film to the U.S. market, making available an instant photo system that has enjoyed success in Asia and Europe for years.  With its automatically-adjusting flash, high-resolution retracting lens and a big, clear viewfinder, the Fujifilm Instax 200 captures and delivers vivid, high-quality prints in an instant.  The compatible Instax Instant Color Film is professional grade and provides superior performance.
“In recent months, as availability of instant film has dwindled, we’ve received inquiries from customers in a range of markets here in the U.S. including health care, law enforcement, insurance, real estate, and others, who really need to continue using a traditional instant film solution” said Christian Fridholm, vice president of marketing, consumables, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A.  “We believe that people familiar with instant photography, but who are new to the Fujifilm Instax brand, will be impressed with the intuitive design of the Instax 200, and will be especially pleased with the vivid colors and bright whites delivered by our Instax Instant Color Film.”
The Instax 200 and Instax Instant Color Film will begin shipping in late December and will be available for purchase through Fujifilm’s professional dealer network.  MSRP for the Instax 200 is $69.99 and a 20-pack of Instax Instant Color Film is $28.99.
The Instax 200 Camera includes design features such as:
-       LCD control panel displaying focal distance and film count
-       Programmed electronic shutter, 1/64-1/200 sec
-       Automatic flash for low-light shooting
-       Two-range selectable shooting options: 0.9-3m and 3m-infinity
Instax Instant Color Film includes features such as:
-       Wide Picture Format (Image size – 3.90” x 2.44”)
-       Sharp, Vivid, Super Fine Grain Prints
-       ISO 800
-       Highly Stable Emulsion (useable from 41-104 degrees F)
The Fujifilm Instax System offers an appealing alternative to previous users of Polaroid cameras utilizing Polaroid Type 600 Films.
The Instax 200 Camera uses Fujifilm Instax Instant Color Film, which was first introduced in 1997 and has been sold successfully in other parts of the world since.  Fujifilm started producing instant films in Japan in the 1980’s and began introducing branded peel apart type instant films (FP100C, FP100B, FP3000B) in the U.S. in 2003. With Instax Instant Color Film, the image develops in front of your eyes eliminating the need to peel it apart. All Fujifilm instant films imported into the US are professional grade films, and therefore are sold only to dealers and photo labs that support the professional photography market. FUJIFILM instant films may be purchased at the same locations that sell traditional FUJIFILM professional film (Color Reversal, Color Negative and B&W).

About FUJIFILM
FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. is a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, providing digital and analog photographic Imaging Systems and Motion Picture Film products and services to consumers, professionals and businesses.  For more information on Fujifilm U.S.A. products, customers can call 800-800-FUJI or visit www.fujifilmusa.com. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm U.S.A. via RSS, subscribe free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Corporation (NASDAQ:FUJI) brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, photofinishing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 15 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2007, employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2008, had global revenues of $24.7 billion. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.