Lomo'Instant Automat Glass Review

In the fascinating world of instant photography, the Lomo’Instant Automat Glass stands out as a pioneer, offering an unparalleled blend of artistic flexibility and optical quality. This camera, distinguished by its wide-angle glass lens, is designed for enthusiasts and adventurers alike, aiming to bring unprecedented sharpness and clarity to the instant photography experience. With its compact design, automatic exposure settings, and a suite of creative features, the Automat Glass encourages photographers to explore the boundaries of their creativity, from expansive landscapes to intimate portraits

The Lomo'Instant Automat Glass: Renowned for its Glass Lens

The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass is a standout instant camera in the Lomography lineup, renowned for its exceptional glass lens—the first of its kind in instant photography. This review will cover its design, image quality, features, usability, and overall value, offering a comprehensive look at what makes the Automat Glass a unique choice for instant photography enthusiasts

Design and Build Quality

The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass features a stylish and compact design that’s both retro and modern. Its build quality is solid, with a durable exterior that can withstand the rigors of travel and outdoor use. The camera is distinguishable by its wide-angle glass lens at the front, which not only serves as a significant functional enhancement but also adds a touch of elegance to the camera’s aesthetic. It’s relatively lightweight and comes with a strap for easy carrying, making it a great companion for on-the-go photography.

Image Quality and Performance

The most notable feature of the Lomo’Instant Automat Glass is its 38mm f/4.5 glass lens, which provides sharper images, richer colors, and better low-light performance compared to plastic lenses found in most instant cameras. The wide aperture allows for beautiful bokeh effects, making it excellent for portraits and close-ups. With automatic exposure settings, the camera adjusts itself to the lighting conditions, although results can vary depending on the complexity of the scene. The wide-angle lens is perfect for landscape and group shots, offering a broader perspective than typical instant cameras.

Usability

The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass is designed with user-friendliness in mind, featuring straightforward controls that make it easy to capture great shots without fuss. The automatic exposure control helps novice users avoid common mistakes like under or overexposure. The learning curve is minimal, making it suitable for photographers of all levels, though experimenting with creative modes can offer depth for more experienced users

Key Features and Specifications

Key Features:

Glass Lens: The first instant camera with a wide-angle glass lens, offering superior sharpness and a wider field of view compared to traditional plastic lenses.
Automatic Exposure: Features automatic exposure settings, making it easy to capture perfectly exposed photos in any lighting condition.
Unlimited Multiple Exposures: Allows for creative multiple exposures on a single instant print, giving photographers the ability to layer images for artistic effects.
Built-In Flash with Color Gels: Includes a powerful flash to illuminate your subjects, with color gels for adding vibrant hues to your photos.
Wide-Angle Lens: The 38mm lens (equivalent to 21mm on 35mm film) is ideal for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, and group shots with ample detail and a broad perspective.
Close-Up Shooting: Capable of focusing on subjects as close as 0.1 meters, perfect for detailed portraits and macro shots.
Bulb Mode for Long Exposures: Supports long exposures of up to 30 seconds in Bulb mode, ideal for nighttime photography or creating light trails.
Splitzer for Creative Splits: Comes with a Splitzer accessory, allowing photographers to divide their shots into creative segments.

Specifications:

Film Type: Uses Fujifilm Instax Mini film, producing credit card-sized photos.
Lens: 38mm f/4.5 glass lens.
Shutter Speeds: Variable, including a Bulb mode for long exposures up to 30 seconds.
Focusing Distance: Stepless from 0.1m to infinity, with a manual focusing mechanism.
Flash: Automatic electronic flash with manual on/off option. Includes color gel filters for creative lighting effects.
Battery: Powered by 2 CR2 batteries, providing ample power for numerous shots.
Exposure Control: Automatic, with exposure compensation controls for tweaking brightness.
Tripod Mount: Equipped with a standard tripod mount for stability during long exposures or group shots.
Viewfinder: Direct optical viewfinder for composing shots.

Pros:

Wide-Angle Glass Lens: The camera’s 38mm lens (equivalent to 21mm on 35mm film) is made of glass, offering superior sharpness, contrast, and clarity compared to plastic lenses, making it exceptional for landscape and architectural photography.
Automatic Exposure: It features automatic exposure settings, ensuring well-lit photos under various lighting conditions without manual adjustments, simplifying the shooting process.
Multiple Exposure Mode: Allows photographers to superimpose images on a single film frame, offering creative freedom to experiment with their shots.
Bulb Mode: Enables long exposures, which is perfect for night photography or capturing light trails, adding versatility to the types of photography you can explore.
Built-In Flash with Color Gels: Comes with a powerful flash and color gels, allowing users to add different hues and tones to their photos, enhancing creativity.
Closest Focusing Distance in the Instant World: Boasts an impressive close-focusing distance, enabling detailed macro shots that aren’t typically possible with instant cameras.

Cons:

Learning Curve: While offering numerous creative features, mastering them and understanding the best situations to use each can be challenging for beginners.
Price Point: Given its advanced lens and features, the camera might be more expensive than basic instant models, which could be a deterrent for casual users.
Battery Type: Depending on its design, it may use less common battery types, making replacements inconvenient compared to models that use AA batterie

Verdict

Considering its unique glass lens and the creative potential it unlocks, the Lomo’Instant Automat Glass offers great value for enthusiasts of instant photography. While it may come at a higher price point compared to some basic models, the quality of images and the creative features justify the investment. The ongoing cost of film is a consideration, as with all instant cameras, but for those prioritizing image quality and creative flexibility, it represents a worthwhile expenditure.

The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass distinguishes itself in the instant camera market with its high-quality glass lens and creative features, offering unparalleled image clarity and artistic potential. Its blend of ease of use, compact design, and exceptional performance make it a favorite among instant photography enthusiasts seeking more from their photographic experience. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or new to the world of instant photography, the Automat Glass provides a unique tool to explore your creativity and capture memories in stunning detail

Competitors of the Automat Glass

The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass faces competition from a variety of innovative instant cameras, each with its own unique features aiming to captivate photography enthusiasts. Notably, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic stands out with its retro design and advanced shooting modes, catering to those who seek versatility and style. Polaroid’s Now+ camera brings to the table its iconic instant film format along with Bluetooth connectivity, offering creative controls through a mobile app for a modern twist on instant photography. Meanwhile, the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 appeals to those desiring larger prints, emphasizing its capability to capture wider scenes and group photos with ease.