When comparing Mint SLR670 vs Lomo'Instant Wide, the Slant community recommends Lomo'Instant Wide for most people. In the question“What are the best instant cameras with a vintage look?” Lomo'Instant Wide is ranked 2nd while Mint SLR670 is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Lomo'Instant Wide is:
While this camera does not give you full manual control, it still leaves plenty of room for creativity, with its shooting modes and the ability to take double exposures (i.e. expose the same sheet of film twice or more to blend the images). The bulb mode is great for long exposures and night photography. The fixed shutter speed mode is especially useful when used together with external flashes.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Stylish, classic-inspired design
This camera's design is based on the classic Polaroid SX-70, with a metal and leather body construction. Mint has redesigned the motherboard of the SX-70 and replaced the outdated electronic eye of the camera with a modern one, capable of measuring the available light to adjust settings as needed.
Pro 3 helpful non-manual modes
Besides the manual mode, there are 3 others: auto, bulb (for long exposures - great for dark environments and night photography) and T mode (for extra-long exposures - pressing the shutter button once opens it and it only closes when the button is pressed again).
Pro Good manual mode control
The SLR670 has good manual mode control, with variable shutter speed between 1/2000s and 1s, making it notably fast for an instant camera. Its unusual to find this kind of option on instant cameras.
Pro Cheap, vintage accessories are easy to find
Since the SLR670 uses basically the same classic Polaroid camera body, there is a wide choice of photo-related accessories like flashes and lens attachments. Though most of these are now pre-owned, there’s still plenty that can be found in good condition, for good prices.
Pro Clear, easy to use viewfinder
The viewfinder is bright and easy to use even with glasses.
Pro Tripod support
This camera is mountable on a tripod.
Pro Very portable
The SLR670 has a unique folding design that collapses into a compact size of 4.17" x 7" x 1.69", making it well suited to use as a travel camera.
Pro Manually adjustable focus
The focus can be adjusted manually using a continuous scroll wheel.
Pro Advanced shutter speed control with “Time Machine”
Mint had integrated a new electronic component called “Time Machine” into this camera. It enables advanced shutter speed control. When not in use, it can be disconnected from the camera, putting it in auto shooting mode, leaving only the focus and exposure compensation options available.
Pro Can use ISO 100 and ISO 600 film
This camera is prepared to use ISO 100 and ISO 600 film.
Pro Creative control with settings and modes
While this camera does not give you full manual control, it still leaves plenty of room for creativity, with its shooting modes and the ability to take double exposures (i.e. expose the same sheet of film twice or more to blend the images). The bulb mode is great for long exposures and night photography. The fixed shutter speed mode is especially useful when used together with external flashes.
Pro Available in value packages with two extra lenses
There's the option of purchasing the Lomo'Instant Wide in a package deal that includes an ultra-wide angle lens (21mm equivalent) and a macro lens (up to 0.1m focus). These two lenses complement the default, general purpose, lens (35mm equivalent).
Pro Wide variety of accessories
This camera comes with an extensive array of accessories: a wide-angle conversion lens, a macro lens, a splitzer, as well as additional viewfinders and color filters. Other manufacturer and third-party accessories are also available for reasonable prices. It's worth nothing there's the option of buying the camera without any accessories, and then buy the accessory kit individually later, but this is less cost effective.
Pro Very good value per shot
This instant camera uses the Fuji Instax Wide film, which is twice as big as the Instax Mini format (the actual image size is 3.4” x 4.25" on a 2.1” × 3.4" card). A pack of Instax Wide film costs around $10 for 10 photographs, so one shot will cost $1. Considering that, when comparing to the Mini format, you get bigger photos for a very small price increase, this camera offers great value per shot.
Pro Commonly available batteries
Unlike some other cameras, that use uncommon battery types, the Instant Wide uses common AA batteries.
Pro Can be used on a tripod
This camera is mountable on a tripod.
Pro No selfie film wasting
The built-in selfie mirror makes taking self-portraits much easier, eliminating the risk of wasting film on wrongly framed guesses.
Pro Classic, attractive design
Design-wise, the Instant Wide has a classic feel, coming in five different color options.
Pro Wide film for big pictures
This camera uses the bigger-that-usual Instax Wide film cartridges, which is one of the reasons why it’s bigger than the alternatives.
Pro Infrared activated shutter
The shutter can be activated via an infrared emitter built into the lens cap.
Pro Focus can be set manually
This cameras focus is set manually, with markings between 0.5m-1m / 1m-2m / 2m-infinity.
Pro Possibility to sync with external flash
The camera can be synced with an external flash via a PC sync socket.
Pro Flash on/off can be set manually
The flash can be turned on or off manually.
Pro Sensor for properly adjusted exposure level
The Instant Wide camera uses an ambient light meter for exposure measurements, which works great under bright lighting, but struggles in dark environments.
Cons
Con Expensive
Since the SLR670 bases its design on refurbished SX-70s, it doesn’t come cheap. But what you're paying, you get a very unique retro-looking camera with modern electronics and outstanding customer service.
Con Manufacturer-made accessories are expensive
Accessories made by Mint are available, but for a premium price.
Con Film is not widely available and is expensive
The SLR670 uses the SX70 film, which has a square image format of 3.1” x 3.1" on a 3.5” x 4.2" card. Mass production of this film has been discontinued and, as of Spring 2017, it is only offered by one small company (Impossible Project ) which has increased the price dramatically. Eight shots with this film cost $23, or nearly $3 per shot.
Con No timer
This camera doesn't have a timer, making timed group pictures impossible.
Con No double exposure mode
The SLR670 doesn't support double exposure.
Con No integrated flash
The lack of an integrated flash can be annoying, and the only way to solve it is purchasing an external flash.
Con Not the most handy camera to carry around
The Instant Wide is big and boxy (7.32" x 9.76" x 4.57"). If you plan to take it with you on a trip, you will need to reserve some space. The main reason for this is the fact that it uses wide film and AA batteries.
Con Limited exposure compensation
Exposure compensation is limited and can only be set to -1, 0 or +1 EV.
Con Light meter doesn't work properly in badly lit setting
The light sensor for exposure adjustment struggles in dark environments.