Fujifilm QuickSnap | FUJI X WEEKLY

The Camera that Fujifilm Should Make Right Now (but probably won’t)

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

There’s a digital camera that Fujifilm should absolutely be making right now, and it’s not the X-Pro4, or X-E5, or a full-frame model (although those would be great, too). There’s a specific camera that would fly off the shelves—the X100VI’s historic demand would pale in comparison. What is this camera?

The digital QuickSnap.

The Fujifilm QuickSnap is a disposable 35mm film camera that is beloved for its nostalgic lo-fidelity aesthetic, simplicity, and price. Fujifilm introduced the QuickSnap camera in 1986, with the slogan, “Everybody should enjoy photography with ease.” The QuickSnap was an immediate success, and was immensely popular for a very long time—it was even successful enough to survive the film crash of the 2000’s. People still buy and use QuickSnap cameras; they’re particularly popular for weddings, kids, and lomographers. Many people love the nostalgic experience of one-time-use cameras.

Interestingly, the most sold digital camera right now in Japan is a cheap Kodak digicam. Third and fifth places are also cheap Kodak digicams. Digicams are a dime a dozen (perhaps literally, if you win a collection on an auction site, or rummage through your parents or grandparents house). What’s missing in the photo world is a digital version of the QuickSnap, a film camera that partially inspired the digicam. I have zero doubts that it would be a massive success for Fujifilm, and would probably leave all digicams in the dust.

This is how I envision the digital QuickSnap:

First, it would need a digital sensor that obviously won’t be anywhere close to full-frame, since that would be both ridiculous and expensive. The Fujifilm Mini Evo has a tiny 5mp sensor; it would likely be a mistake to use that one, but they certainly could. I think that a 12mp or 16mp 1/2.3″ would be the most obvious choice, since those can be obtained by Fujifilm rather easily and cheaply. The sensor itself doesn’t matter all that much; however, cost and quality must be balanced extremely carefully. Too poor of image quality will hurt sales, while a too expensive price-tag will also hurt sales.

More important, though, is the picture aesthetic. Fujifilm should program it with their Classic Negative film simulation, including faux grain—something similar to my Fujicolor Superia 800 Recipe. The pictures created by the digital QuickSnap camera should look similar to the pictures that come out of an analog QuickSnap. As much as practical, the pictures need to look alike from the film and digital versions.

Next, it needs to function nearly the same as the analog QuickSnap. It should be super simple: a switch to activate the built-in flash, a wheel to cock the shutter and “advance” to the next frame, a shutter release button, a battery-level indicator, and maybe a one-press picture-transfer to an app. There should not be any LCD or electronic viewfinder to review the pictures.

The very basic optical viewfinder from the film camera should be carried over—the user experience should be as similar to the analog version as possible. Due to the crop factor of the sensor, a new lens will be necessary. The exact sensor size will determine what the lens should be, perhaps something like a 5mm or 6mm f/5.6 plastic lens that’s close to 30mm full-frame equivalent. What is important is that it is focus-free (fixed focus) and produces a similar aesthetic to the film camera.

A critical factor of one-time-use cameras is the film itself; namely, the tolerance for under and over exposure. Since the sensor won’t have this same tolerance, it’s necessary for the digital QuickSnap to have some amount of exposure control. It must have a light meter, as well as some (auto) control over the ISO and shutter speed. For the sake of image quality, the ISO should be capped as low as practical. If Fujifilm could utilize the D-Range Priority technology, I think that would help, too.

The digital QuickSnap should have internal storage that saves only 27 JPEG images. It could count the exposures mechanically exactly like the film camera does, providing an identical experience. Once the 27th picture has been captured, it won’t let you capture anymore until the memory has been cleared, either by wirelessly transferring the images to a mobile app, or via USB. The QuickSnap App should be super simple (and actually work), with an option within the app to auto-connect and transfer once 27 pictures have been recorded, or manually connect and transfer if preferable. The camera should also be able to connect to the Instax app, and transfer (and print) directly from there. The camera should charge via USB, and could also transfer the images using a USB cable. Once the pictures have been removed from the camera, it would then allow the user to capture the next 27 frames.

The QuickSnap App, aside from photo transfers, should have a few simple options, for those who wish to do a little more with their pictures. A retro-styled date stamp. Maybe a few filter overlays that don’t radically change the picture aesthetic (examples: high contrast, low contrast, warm, cool, color boost, reduce color, etc.), and maybe a handful of light-leak affects. The more simple the better. Maybe Fujifilm can even offer a service where 4″ x 6″ prints can be made and mailed out to customers who wish for an even more authentic experience.

While the size and design should still closely resemble the film version, I think the digital QuickSnap must feel a little more sturdy, and not so cheap that it would easily break if dropped. If Fujifilm could offer it for less than $100, that would be most ideal. A camera like that would be a huge hit, thanks to its nostalgic charm, ease of use, straight-out-of-camera aesthetic, and affordability.

You’re welcome, Fujifilm.

Don’t want to wait for a digital QuickSnap, but still want the look? Check out these articles:
Getting a Disposable Camera Look with DispoLens
Getting that ’90’s Film Look with Fujifilm Cameras

For those wondering, the four pictures in this article were captured with a Fujifilm X100VI using the Superia Negative Recipe.

Getting a Disposable Camera Look with DispoLens

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Fujifilm X-E4 + DispoLens + Godox Lux Junior Flash*

DispoLens is a 3D-printed body-cap with a recycled disposable-camera lens on it, made by DispoStudio in Switzerland. The lenses are from Kodak FunSaver and Fujifilm QuickSnap cameras, and you don’t know from which yours is from. FunSaver cameras have a 30mm f/10 lens, while QuickSnap cameras have a 32mm f/10. They’re pretty similar, and it probably doesn’t matter much at all if it’s from a Kodak or Fujifilm disposable camera—either one will produce a near-identical image.

You can’t buy the DispoLens from Amazon or any camera stores, only from DispoStudio’s Etsy shop, where you’ll find it for $51.02 USD. My copy, obviously, is for Fujifilm X-mount, but they also make them for Sony E-mount, Nikon Z-mount, Canon RF-mount, Micro-4/3, Leica L-mount, and Leica M-mount. DispoStudio has a couple of other products, too.

There’s not much to the lens. You twist it on like a body cap. Once it clicks into place, you’re good to go. On your Fujifilm camera, make sure that you have Shoot Without Lens enabled, or else it won’t work.

This lens is “focus free” which means that it is prefocused. About five or six feet to infinity is “in focus” but nothing is especially sharp. The lens is soft throughout the frame, but more so as you move away from the center. Probably eight feet to maybe 50 feet is the most sharp. This is all a part of the charm, which some people will love, and others won’t.

DispoStudio says that “DispoLens recreates all visual organic imperfections that come from using a disposable camera lens, like halation, chromatic aberration, vignetting, softness and imperfect image projection. Please keep in mind that DispoLens does not recreate the colors that film cameras are typically known for.” However, that’s where Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipes come in. If you want a ’90’s film look, I have a number of Recipes to try! Pairing the DispoLens with a Fujifilm camera, my Film Simulation Recipes, and a flash is a great way to recreate the nostalgia of disposable-camera photography from your childhood.

For this project, I used my Fujifilm X-E4, the DispoLens, a Godox Lux Junior flash, and my new Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe. I shot 27 frames, just like a disposable camera—I’ve included most of those pictures below.

How does the DispoLens compare to the Xuan Focus Free 30mm F/10 Body Cap Lens? The image quality is very similar—probably identical—but the build quality is much different. The DispoLens is significantly superior. It looks better, and seems much less likely to accidentally break. If you want a disposable camera look, the DispoLens is a great way to achieve that. Find it on DispoStudio’s Etsy page.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Godox Lux Junior — Amazon B&H

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Getting that ’90’s Film Look with Fujifilm Cameras

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

*Captured with a Fujifilm X100V + Kodak Max 800 Recipe + 10% CineBloom filter + Flash*

A lot of people are interested right now in achieving a 1990’s film look. If you’re unfamiliar, the specific aesthetic is that of cheap 35mm point-and-shoot and disposable cameras. You know, the 4″ x 6″ prints from the 1-hour photo lab that’s in your (or your parent’s) photo album or picture box. If you are older than 25 (and maybe as young as 20) there might be some nostalgia associated with this look. If you own a Fujifilm model, it’s not too difficult to achieve the ’90’s film aesthetic straight-out-of-camera.

While Kodak was king of film, a surprisingly significant extent of this aesthetic was influenced by Fujifilm. There are a few key reasons for this.

First, Fujifilm’s QuickSnap disposable cameras were a huge hit, and Kodak was often playing catch-up with their FunSaver line. While both were really popular, odds are that if you are looking at a disposable camera picture, it was captured on a QuickSnap, which often used a Fujicolor Superia film.

Second, for those pictures captured on reloadable point-and-shoot cameras, while Kodak sold more film, Fujifilm sold a heck-of-a-lot, too. The majority of pictures were likely shot on Kodak emulsions, but a very large chunk were captured with Fujicolor film.

Third, a lot of 1-hour photo labs used Fujifilm’s machines, chemicals, and paper. Even if the film was Kodak, Fujifilm still had an influence in the final picture aesthetic. The majority of snap-shooters in the 1990’s in the U.S. were dropping their film off at cheap labs inside drug stores or box stores, such as (for example) Walmart. Because Fujifilm sold their photo development equipment and supplies at a slightly lower price than Kodak, many of these labs went with Fujifilm over Kodak. Also, if you had the film scanned by the 1-hour lab (and placed on a CD), it was likely done with a Frontier scanner by Fujifilm.

If you want to recreate this ’90’s film aesthetic on your Fujifilm camera, the best starting point is the Classic Negative film simulation, because it is closely based off of Fujicolor Superia film. Any Film Simulation Recipe that uses Classic Negative as the base is going to get you halfway there. For those who own a Fujifilm camera that doesn’t have Classic Negative (X-Trans III and older, plus X-T3 & X-T30), look for Recipes with Classic Chrome (such as Kodak Gold 200 and Kodacolor) for a retro Kodak look or PRO Neg. Std (such as Fujicolor Superia 800 and Fujicolor 100 Industrial) for a Fujicolor look.

I shot with 10 different Film Simulation Recipes that use Classic Negative as the base for this article. As of this writing, there are over 45 Recipes that use Classic Negative, so there are many more to choose from—just because I didn’t use a particular Recipe here doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t work well or that you shouldn’t try it (finding Classic Negative Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly App is easy for Patron subscribers). I do think these 10 are all good options, and they produce a variety of characteristics. Some are more contrasty and some less. Some are more warm and others more cool. Some are more vibrant and some less so. Take a look at each, and if you are drawn more to the pictures in a particular Recipe, give that one a try for yourself.

10 Film Simulation Recipes

Kodak Max 800

Fujicolor Analog

Fujicolor Superia 100

Superia Premium 400

Fujicolor Superia 1600

Fujicolor Natura 1600

Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled

Pulled Fujicolor Superia

Nostalgia Color

Agfa Ultra 100

Gear

Fujifilm X100V

We discussed Film Simulation Recipes before talking about gear because choosing the right Recipe is more critical than the gear you use. With that said, gear is important, too. One critical component is flash. While not all ’90’s film snapshots were captured using a flash, a lot were, and so it has become associated closely with the aesthetic. I used flash in all of the Recipe example pictures above.

The Fujifilm X100V has a great fill-flash built into the camera, making it an ideal choice for this style. It also has a leaf shutter, which makes flash photography much easier. There are other Fujifilm cameras that also have a flash and leaf shutter, such as the X100F, X70, and XF10 (to name a few), but the X100V is the only one that also has Classic Negative.

One problem with using the X100V is that the fixed lens is too good. It’s not really believable as a ’90’s point-and-shoot (although there are some examples that have high-quality glass). To tone it down a little, I used a 10% CineBloom diffusion filter, which helps to produce a more analog-like rendering.

When using the Fujifilm X100V, choose the Classic Negative Recipe of your preference, screw a diffusion filter onto the lens (you’ll need an adapter if you don’t have one already), and turn the flash On (TTL). You’re now good to go!

Fujifilm X-E4 + Lens + Flash

Of course, you don’t need a camera with a built-in flash to do this. My Fujifilm X-E4 doesn’t have a flash, for example, but by attaching an external unit, such as my Godox Lux Junior, to the hot-shoe on top of the camera, I can now do flash photography. This is a lot trickier than using the X100V, and takes some practice if you don’t have experience with a flash, but it is certainly one way to do it.

What I do appreciate about this approach is that the camera is interchangeable-lens, which means you can use a more lofi option, such as the 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 II. This is softer glass with strong vignetting, and perhaps not one you’d use much for other purposes; however, for replicating the aesthetic of a cheap point-and-shoot it is great!

Combining the Fujifilm X-E4 with the 7Artisan 18mm f/6.3 II lens and using the Godox Lux Junior flash is an affective way to replicate a ’90’s film aesthetic. All of the Fujicolor Analog and Agfa Ultra 100 examples above were captured with this combination, as well as some of the other pictures. If you don’t have a built-in flash on your Fujifilm camera, this is a good way to achieve the look.

While the picture quality from cheap point-and-shoot and disposable cameras were not considered great, this is how many important memories and ordinary life moments where captured in the 1990’s. Many people look back with fondness on these photographs. The image aesthetics conjure up nostalgic feelings, so it should not be too surprising that this look is currently in-style. You can achieve it yourself on your Fujifilm camera without much fuss—it’s mostly just choosing the right Film Simulation Recipe and turning the flash on.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X100V — Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-E4 — Amazon B&H Moment
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 II — Amazon B&H
Godox Lux Junior — Amazon B&H

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.