Fujifilm Instax Link Wide
After the mini format, then square, Fujifilm finally declines its nomad printer in Wide. You can enjoy instant films in large format by printing photos from your smartphone.
Presentation
Fujifilm unveils a new portable printer, the Instax Link Wide. The word wide translates into "large" and thus perfectly designates the largest film of the manufacturer's Instax range. With a ratio of 3:2, the Instax Wide paper is placed alongside the Instax Mini and Instax Square.
With a design with rounded shapes, the Instax Link Wide wants to seduce the general public with a printer "fun" and easy to use, but also companies operating in the fields of communication or events. To achieve this, several creative and personalization functions are proposed.
Fujifilm has a wide range of cameras and instant printers in Mini format, such as the Instax Mini 11 or the Instax Mini Link, but also in square format - which is not without nostalgia reminiscent of Polaroid - with the Instax Share SP-3 and the Instax Square SQ20 box.
Ergonomics
If we are talking about a portable printer, it is difficult to carry the Instax Link Wide in a pocket. With its 139 mm width, it remains however easily transportable in a bag. Fujifilm includes in the box a small strap that can be useful.
The construction of the Instax Link Wide is good and there are no major defects. Completely rounded, the printer presents a successful and rather elegant "wavelet effect" on its whole surface, although the object is all plastic. The small imitation chrome finish is very nice.
Simplicity and efficiency
The use remains simple. A screen printed button "Instax" allows to turn off and on the camera with a small light animation. At the back, a switch allows to open the trap door to load the cartridge of 10 instant films.
On the bottom of the Instax Link Wide, a micro-USB format socket - let's remind Fujifilm in passing that it is rather the USB-C format that has become essential in 2021 - allows you to recharge the battery. Fujifilm has the good taste to deliver the Instax Mini Link with a rather practical support to store it vertically. However, it would have been necessary to position the connector on the side to be able to recharge the printer once placed on the dock. The autonomy announced by Fujifilm (100 prints) should be comfortable.
An easy-to-use application
To use the printer, you need to link it to a smartphone using a Bluetooth connection. Very easy to use, the Link Wide application takes the user by the hand from the first start. Then, it is possible to request a direct print or to make your own creations. Duplicating the print up to a maximum number of 10 prints is also a breeze.
We find several creative options to arrange, crop or modify the rendering of images. Filters are also present, including a new one that should revive the colors of a more natural photo. It is possible to personalize your pictures with emojis or decorative frames. Beware, the different choices can sometimes be a bit kitsch. You'll have to think twice before launching a print.
It is also possible to add a logo or a QR code. This way, GPS coordinates, a website, a text or audio message - 15 seconds maximum saved for 2 years - can be associated with the image that can be shared, for example as an elaborate business card.
The Instax Link Wide is very fast. We measured a transfer and a paper exit in less than 15 seconds in both cases. It is especially the development of the image which is a little longer and which also gives a certain charm to the Instax instant photo, contrary to the dye sublimation or the Zink technology. To see the final image appear, it will take between 4 and 5 minutes, at most.
Image quality
The measurement of the delta E of the Instax Link Wide prints highlights the improvement of the color rendering compared to the Instax Mini Link. While the latter suffered from important drifts in the green tones (delta E at 15,8), it is not the case of the Instax Link Wide which sees its delta E going down to a much more suitable 8,3 - a good number of portable printers turn around 10; the lower the delta E is, the less the colorimetric drifts are visible
It is on the yellow that the drift is this time the most perceptible, without however reproducing the poor performance of the Mini.
The application allows you to use a sepia, black and white or auto filter, for a more saturated and less natural rendering. We rather liked this option, as long as you only apply it to certain photos. For a more vintage look, you should leave the default setting ("none").
We particularly like the Instax paper which is still as charming as ever. It does not fail to make its little effect with the youngest as well as the oldest. With the Wide format, Fujifilm brings a new dimension to its range of instant printers and makes it even more attractive.
Conclusion
Fujifilm offers a successful wide format silver photo printer. If the cost per photo is quite high, it is difficult to find another flaw. Very easy to use thanks to an efficient application and equipped with many creative options, the Instax Link Wide produces images with a fairly faithful rendering. It will be convincing for a very large audience of "silver" souvenir lovers or professionals who want to bring a bit of originality to their communication.
