WHAT’S NEW
MiNT LAUNCHES
THE THINKING
PHOTOGRAPHER’S
INSTANT CAMERA
THE INSTANT PRINT camera revival shows
so no signs of slowing down (see comment p6),
but the vast majority of models available now
are essentially simple point-and-shoot types. The
long-awaited MiNT InstantKon RF70 is a very
different animal and provides much more control
over both exposure and focus. It uses the Fujifilm
Instax Wide print format – which is rated at ISO
800 and gives an image area of 62x99mm – and
the print is manually ejected so there’s plenty of
scope for creating multiple exposures.
The InstantKon RF70 employs a classic folding
design – similar to a Polaroid Land camera from
the 1960s – with the lens mounted on bellows,
while the main body incorporates an optical
viewfinder, a separate mechanical rangefinder
to assist focusing, and a built-in exposure meter
(coupled, but non-TTL) linked to a LED indicator.
It also sports a conventional shutter speed dial
and there’s a built-in pop-up flash. The lens has
a three-element optical construction (which
includes aspherical surfaces) with a focal
length of 93mm – which is close to the standard
focal length in the 35mm format – and a
maximum aperture of f5.6 (equivalent to f2.
in the 35mm format). The minimum focusing
distance is 75 centimetres.
For manual exposure control there’s a choice
of six aperture settings down to f22, and a shut-
ter speed range spanning one second to 1/
second, plus a ‘B’ timer which can be set for up
to ten minutes (and also offers a ‘T’ control op-
tion). The shutter is a leaf-type so flash sync is at
all speeds. There’s the option of aperture-priority
auto exposure control with ‘A+1’ and ‘A-1’ set-
tings giving +/-1.0 EV of exposure compensation
respectively. The exposure indicator – located be-
tween the viewfinder and rangefinder eyepieces
- shows red when either under- or overexposure
will happen and green for correct exposure. The
viewfinder itself has a magnification of 0.44x and
includes both a brightline frame and close-up cor-
rection marks (to compensate for parallax error).
Other notable features of the InstantKon
RF70 include a cable release socket, a tripod-
mounting socket and a 2.5 mm audio-type
minijack input that can be used for coupling
an external flash. Optional accessories include
an ND filter set and a lens hood. There’s also a
slightly down-specced model called the Instant-
Kon RF70 Auto which lacks the manual shutter
speed settings. Both models are powered by a
pair of AA-size batteries.
The InstantKon RF70 is priced at $1300 and
the Auto version at $1120.95.
MiNT cameras are distributed by Brands
Australia and for more information visit
http://brandsaustralia.com/mint/
FUJIFILM’S MOST
COMPACT G
LENS IS HER
FIRST SHOWN AT thela
of the GFX 50R at Photokin
2018, the most compactpr
lens for Fujifilm’s mirrorless
medium format digital cam
era system has finally arrive
The ‘pancake’ style Fujinon
GF 50mm f3.5 R LM WR
weighs in at a mere 335gr
and perfectly complements
compact GFX 50R camera
combination weighs inat 1.
which is pretty light fora mediumformatkit.
The optical constructionutilisesnine
elements in six groups, including one aspherical
type to help counter both spherical aberrations
and distortion. The external construction is fully
weather-sealed to match the capabilities of the
GFXcamerabodies,providing protection against
theintrusionofdustandmoisture, and insulation
ub-zero temperatures
degrees Celsius.
ewFujinon GF 50mm
LMWR is the tenth G
t lens from Fujifilm and
ocallength is equivalent
0mm in the 35mm format.
measures just 48 millime-
s in length. The minimum
usingdistance is 55
ntimetres, and the mini-
maperture is f32. There’s
ne-blade diaphragm to give
ther,more-rounded out-
effects, and it provides
djustments on one-third
stopincrements.Thescrewthread filter fitting
diameteris 62millimetres.
Available in Australia from the late
September, the Fujinon GF 50mm f3.5 R LM
WR is priced at $1649. For more information
visit http://www.fujifilm.com.au
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Webuy&sellnewand
usedProfessionaland
Classiccameras.
The
CAMERA
EXCHANGE
LeicaM
Unit17, 277 MiddleboroughRd
BoxHillSouthVIC 3128
Tel: 0398984999
http://www.cameraexchange.com.au
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LEICA SPECIALIST
W Instant but with
options — MiNT's
InstantKon RF70 provides
control over both
exposure and focus.