Exploring New Possibilities With Instant Photography Using the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass

The first time I was introduced to instant photography was in high school. My cousin and I borrowed my aunt’s instant camera and, with what few films were left, we deliberately planned our shots ahead. Knowing we only had very limited chances of getting it right, we used our phones to take a test shot then carefully swapped the camera to the phone’s exact placement for a printed copy of its exact angle.

A few years later, my sister got me my own instant camera for my birthday. Despite having it for about seven years now, I’ve only used it once. I'm constantly in fear of wasting film and for this reason, I’ve built a complicated relationship with instant photography, and have been reluctant to shoot with one.

When I got my hands on the Lomo’Instant Wide Glass for the first time, my reluctance shifted to intrigue. Using this camera was an interesting experience because it offered me more control over my shots while also giving me the option to shoot casually. It seemed like it had so much potential so I just had to let loose, waste a few films, and test it to its limits!

Photo credits: @francinegaebriele

What appealed to me the most was the zone focusing ranges (0.3m, 0.6m, 1-2m, and infinity) as I enjoy shooting portraits at different distances. Right off the bat, I wanted to make the most out of the sharp glass lens and get the right technique for a close-up shot. I had some trouble with measuring the right distance for the best results, but even then, I managed to capture clear photos and get a good amount of detail.

Photo credits: @francinegaebriele

I was eventually down to my last Instax film with so many more buttons I had yet to test out. I was deciding whether to experiment with multiple exposure using a Lomo'Instant Splitzer or wait for the sun to set and use the bulb mode out in the street. I’ve done long exposure shots on digital and I have a good grasp of how to manually achieve the shot so I went with the latter as I’d have less chance of wasting my last shot.

The sun went down, the cars on the street had their lights on, and the camera was all set and attached to a tripod — but this time, I was worrying whether to turn down the exposure or not. A good 10 minutes had passed before I finally pressed the shutter for about 8 seconds with the exposure compensation switch untouched. I was happy with the final shot — and honestly grateful that I didn’t forget to take the lens cap off again! — but I would also be interested to see the results I’d get if I opted for less exposure and kept the shutter open for a bit longer.

Photo credits: @francinegaebriele

I’ve definitely become more excited about instant photography because of what the Lomo’Instant Wide Glass has shown me. There's still so much I want to do using this camera so I'll definitely try it out again. For now, I'm just glad I got to let loose and shoot!


Get your hands on your own Lomo'Instant Wide Glass Camera from our Online Shop and start experimenting with instant photography!

written by francinegaebriele on 2025-02-03 #gear #people #instant-photography #first-impressions #lomo-instant-wide-glass

Mentioned Product

Lomo'Instant Wide Glass

Lomo'Instant Wide Glass

Widen your world with the best instant camera on earth, featuring a multi-coated glass lens for unmatched sharpness and unbelievable color on Instax Wide film.

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