The Instax Wide 400 builds on the simplicity of instant photography and controls, literally.

In an increasingly AI-driven and digital world, analog instant cameras and retro cameras remain popular, fueled by a combination of nostalgia and charm. Instant cameras, in particular, stand out for their simplicity and functionality that hasn’t changed over time.

Fujif$175 Instax Wide 400 film it builds on instantly recognizable designs and expands them with more features. As someone who appreciates simple, easy-to-use instant cameras and often shoots with the Instax Square, I was interested in trying out a model that offers great photos and landscape photography support.

The Instax Wide 400 is designed for taking group photos, portraits, and when perfect fit is needed. It produces 62 × 99 mm prints, almost double the size of Instax Mini photos, giving you more space to capture each shot.

As a compact camera, it doesn’t need to take pictures and is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. Its appeal lies in the fun and simplicity rather than the advanced controls.

With its one-button design, the camera has no manual controls. It automatically controls the flash, focus, and other settings, leaving you to just take the picture and shoot.

When the lighting is right, the images are printed with good color and fine detail with additional enhancements. I was very impressed with this quality because it was able to find accurate colors and distance points.

However, the simplicity of the camera has some drawbacks as there is not much you can do to make the photos look better if you are not in a good lighting position. I had better low-light shots because, in the dark scenes, like the dark trees against the bright sky, the details blended together.

The rest of the camera is equally straightforward. To use the camera, you rotate the lens vertically. The first click opens a close-up view for subjects 0.9 to 3 meters away. Turning it once again changes the shape of the distance course over three meters. Rotating the lens vertically turns the camera off.

The camera comes with a close-up lens attachment that snaps forward for close-up photography. I found that the combination was great for helping to avoid looking up and distracting things when I was getting close.

Loading the cartridge is easy, with guide lines to help you position it properly in the camera. The door closes securely using a twist lock that closes. There is also a small indicator on the back that shows how much film is left.

Coming in at 162 mm x 98 mm x 123 mm and 1.4 pounds, the camera is quite bulky. It is much larger than the Instax Mini cameras and the Instax Square models. However, I wasn’t too surprised by the size, because it’s understandable that big pictures need a big camera.

That said, it’s not something you want to carry without a bag, and while the shoulder strap helps, I was very conscious and careful not to hit people or things in busy areas. Although Instax offers a camera lens sold separately, I didn’t receive one with my review unit, so I can’t speak to that.

Since it’s so much, it’s pretty cool, and managed to catch the attention of a few people when I tried it. An employee at a downtown gelato shop stopped by to admire it, calling it “a cool camera.”

That kind of attention is part of the attraction.

The camera’s autonomy is a good thing, as it allows everyone to shoot without the need for someone else to press the shutter button. It works by pushing the shutter to the side and choosing one of four times, from two to 10 seconds. The camera emits a sound indicating that the time is running, and the red lights provide a visual countdown.

If you don’t have a tripod, the camera strap includes two angle adjustment devices that help level the camera on a flat surface. To use one, insert it into the slot on the bottom of the camera, set the shutter, and slide it back into the frame.

Camera films are available in white, black frame, metallic border, and monochrome. Fujifilm sent me a standard white film along with my exposure unit, which is the film I used for this review. Each video box comes with 20 sheets and costs between $25-$28.

As for colors, the Instax Wide 400 comes in two colors: green and jet black. As someone who loves a good shade of green, I like that the camera color offers a fun, fun game.

Overall, I think this camera is a great option for people of all ages, as it provides high-quality images while being easy for kids and teenagers who are new to photography.