Fujifilm Instant Camera & Instax film Printer

Fujifilm Instax 100 camera, Fujifilm Cheki 55i camera, Fujifilm Pivi MP-300 Printer

While I am all into digital camera and photo editing, I am particularly in love with the instant film.  It has its own character, and because of it lower resolution, it gives a natural retouch that your skin always looks smooth without needing to do anything!  =D  Anyway, the feeling of having an instant film in hand is not something that a high quality perfect digital copy can replace.

Fujifilm Instax Cheki 55i

For what I know, there is Instax Mini 7s, 10, 20, 25, 30i, 50s, 55i, and 8 is coming out soon. 

Fujifilm Instax Cheki 55i and its films.

Polaroid has always been more popular here.  Until few years ago, I finally saw the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S hit the US, selling in Urban Outfitters in the colour white for over $100.  Later on the model Mini 50s came out in what they called Piano Black.  While I love this glossy black colour, I got my Cheki 55i back in 2006. Besides the colour, there are 2 other differences between the 50s and the 55i.  The front shutter button and the 3 dots beneath lights up at the start up of the camera.  Also, the 55i comes with a close up lens that allow you to shoot up to 30mm (range 0.3m to 0.5m).  Without this lens the shooting range is 0.6m - ∞.

Spec:  Fujifilm Global
Detail user review that also includes the Mini 7S:  Review: Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s & 55i


Films: 
Film size: 54 × 86 mm.
Picture size: 46 × 62 mm.
Number of prints in a cartridge: 10
There are so many different designs and characters for the frame.  In the end, I like the plain white one the best.  I usually buy mine on ebay, but beware of the expiration date.  If you store your film (any films) in the fridge, this can lengthen their life a little longer.

I don't mind this cute Marvel frame since I love their game Ultimate Alliance.

Mochithings sells a lot of different films and accessories.  They even have the Frame Stickers!

Tokyo Masamune is another great site all about the Cheki including different models of the camera.  However they are in Taiwan and I don't think they deliver to other countries.  It's still great for references, that is if you can read Chinese.  They also have an actual store in Taiwan.


Lenses:

Holga lenses set, Cheki close-up "kit lens", Style'Flap wide angle lens.

Yes, lenses, for instant camera!  The Holga lenses set is actually for the Mini 7S.  It comes with 3 close-up lenses and 2 macro lenses.  I am still working on how I can mount them on my 55i.

     Close-up lenses 

 Macro lens

Wide angle lens from Style'Flap.

  Mount by an magnetic adapter.

The magnetic adapter needs to be permanently adhered onto the camera.  This might actually make it easier for me to figure a way out to mount my Holga lenses.

The photo on the left is with the wide angle lens.  It also has the vignette effect.

Fashion blogger Nicole Alyse.

There is a lot of other lenses and filters for different colours and effect.

Holga Creative Filter & Lens Kit FS-F7S  -This is for the Mini 7S only.

STYLE FLAP Instax Color-filter lens (only mini 55i/50)

Fujifilm Instax 100

I have not much to say about this because I don't really use this a lot.  It's too big for me to carry around (like it's not too big to carry my DSLR with at least 3 lenses... (￣(エ)￣)ゞ)

This camera does not do well with taking self portrait because I believe the shooting range is the same as the current model Instax 210, 0.9m - ∞.

Spec: Camerapedia

Film:  Size 108 × 86 mm; Picture size: 99 × 62 mm; 10 prints per cartridge.

Wide format films vs. mini films.

It also comes with different frames.

Fujifilm Pivi MP-300 Mobile Printer

There is also MP-70 and MP-100 for the Pivi line.

Last but not least.

Many years ago, when I first learnt about this printer, it was already late.  They are exclusive for Japan's market and it is limited.  I found one, ONLY one, selling on Ebay that is in the US for $350 including 100 films.  It was too expensive, and I thought they will always have it just like the Instax camera, so I want to wait until the price goes down (they were selling for around $130 retail in Japan) and get it later.  How I was wrong!  Fujifilm discontinued it!  I had been searching for another few years and no luck.  (That is why I bought all the lenses for the Cheki because I wanted to take really close up shot for Halo.)  Then couple months later, I knew a girl from Taiwan and she actually found someone was selling used.  With her help we bid it off and she shipped to me.  I probably spent about $300 including 100 films and shipping.  Thank you so much Lina!!  <3

And, ah, I just saw someone was selling it on ebay... after another 1/2 year...  But all good.  I'm happy.

Spec:  Pivi MP-300

User review 1:  Polaroid PoGo vs. Fujifilm Pivi

User review 2:  Sorry this is in Chinese, but it's very detail so you may take a closer look.  Not much detail review on the Pivi can be found in English.

Pivi MP-300

The major technical differences between the MP-300 and the previous models are the support of the unlimited photo size and it's USB PictBridge enable, meaning you can directly plug in cameras with PictBridge and print from it.  Here is the detail in differences:  Ebay Guides

Film:  The format is the same as the Checki's but it does not share the same film.  Fujifilm once had the NP-1 printer that can use the Cheki film.

Accessories:

Can print without taking it out from the case.  You have to buy the adapter separately unless you just want to run it on battery.  The adapter from the Sony PSP works perfectly, so if you have one already you can save some money.

The Pivi does not support Bluetooth, neither can you plug into the computer and expect it to work.  The USB only works with the camera PictBridge, so you better still have that old cellphone with infrared!  But no worry, there is a way to make it work.  

I've read that not all IrDA adapter works.  I got mine from Newegg and it works fine.  StarTech USB2IR3 Adapter

These are taken by the Cheki 55i.

These are printed with the Pivi from the digital copies.

This is a wall holder for instax photo. 

There are many accessories for the instax mini photo, from photo album, frames, to decorative pens.  I don't like to write on the photo, and if I need to write on the border, just use Sharpies, or labels.  As for storage, the film is about the same size of a business card, so any business card portfolio would do.

If anyone would like to know more details and samples on either the Cheki 55i or the Pivi MP-300, just let me know.  ｡◕‿◕｡

Speedy Hair Care: Panasonic EH-NA30 + Moroccan Oil

Back then when I had long hair, I hate blow drying them because they took forever to dry and at the end my scalp was hot (I have a lot of hair).  One day a friend told me about the Panasonic EH-NA30, that it conditions your hair while drying because it emits moisture ions called Nanoe.  Being skeptical, I searched online for users review.  Couldn't really find much but this one blog had a detail review.  She said the drying time cut down about 1/3, plus her hair was less fuzzy.  She also posted up comparison photo of her hard drying by a regular and this one.  So, I decided to give it a shot.

My son Halo~

On the day of receipt, I actually needed to take a shower for my son, Halo.  It always took me a long time to dry him and he got pretty stressed by it, so I used this new gadget on him.  I did noticed Halo dry much faster.  Also he was a lot smoother that he almost slipped out of my arms...

I then tried it on myself, it did dry about 1/3 time faster even on medium setting (normally I had no patience to last till my hair completely dry.)  I have a lot of split ends so normally my hair is fuzzy at the end after drying.  But with the Moroccan Oil and a bristle brush, my hair was so smooth that it felt like I had just gotten a hair treatment done!  Plus my scalp wasn't heated.  I couldn't help but kept touching and ran my finger through my hair.  Having an enjoying face, hubby thought I went narcissistic.

So I told my hubby about it how fast it dried and how the mighty nanoe worked, he said "Wow, a hair dryer that the more you blow dry, the wetter it gets!"  >.>

It has a switch for turning the nanoe emission on and off.

Few days later, because my hubby washed his hair late so he had to blow dry it.  All of a sudden I heard he yelled out "WOW, THIS IS REALLY FAST!  AND I WAS ONLY USING COLD AIR..."  I immediately give him the "I told you" look.

Comes a healthy quick drying nozzle and a styling nozzle.

I usually just use the first one.

Now I really enjoy blow drying my hair!  \(^.^)/

This product is not on the US market; I got it from ebay.  However, make sure you get from Taiwan as they use 110-120V, which is compatible with the US voltage.  Japan uses 100V and it may work, but I have never tried.

This cost me $140 including shipping.  Panasonic came out with a new model EH-NA94 in 2012, and the last time I check was over $200!  It has a scalp conditioning mode, but I read reviews that they didn't really feel any difference on that aspect.  Please let me know how it is if you have one, or going to try it.

Apply Moroccan Oil on towel dry hair, then blow dry it with this beauty.  Don't worry, your hair will not be oily at all after it's dry.  You only need very little oil, and avoid putting them on your scalp.  Whether the nanoe is a miracle or not, the less time you actually dry your hair with heat, that alone already help damage your hair less.

Though my current hair is short in the back, still have to take care of the sides. ^^

This is a detail review on the dryer from another user: Pampered your hair with Panasonic Nanocare EH-NA30 Hairdryer