In an increasingly AI-driven and digital world, analog instant film and retro-style cameras remain popular, fueled by a combination of both nostalgia and charm. Instant cameras, in particular, stand out for their simplicity and an experience that has remained largely unchanged over time.

Fujifilm’s $175 Instax Wide 400 builds on the familiar instant photography experience and expands it with a wider format. As someone who appreciates simple, easy-to-use instant cameras and often shoots with an Instax Square, I was interested in trying a model that offers larger prints and support for landscape photography. 

The Instax Wide 400 is built for capturing group shots, scenic landscapes, and moments where fitting more of the scene into the frame really matters. It produces 62 × 99 mm prints, about twice the size of Instax Mini photos, giving you a lot more space to work with in every shot.

Since it’s a simple point-and-shoot camera, it requires no prior photography experience and is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. Its appeal lies in fun and simplicity rather than advanced controls.

With its one-button design, the camera offers no manual exposure controls. It automatically manages flash, focus, and other settings, leaving you to simply frame the image and take the shot.

When lighting is ideal, the images print with nice color and a good amount of detail with some extra saturation. I was quite impressed by the quality because it managed to pick up accurate colors and distant details. 

However, the simplicity of the camera does have some trade-offs because there isn’t much you can do to make photos brighter if you’re not in an ideal lighting situation. I did end up with some less-than-ideal shots because, in scenes with strong contrast, like dark trees against a bright sky, the details tended to blur together.

The rest of the camera is equally straightforward. To power on the camera, you rotate the lens counterclockwise. The first click activates close-up mode for subjects about 0.9 to three meters away. Turning it once more switches to landscape mode for distant subjects beyond three meters. Rotating the lens clockwise powers the camera off. 

The camera comes with a close-up lens attachment that snaps onto the front for close-up shots. I found the attachment was good at helping for avoiding focus and blur issues when taking close-ups. 

Loading the cartridge is simple, with guide lines to help you align it correctly in the camera. The door closes securely using a twist lock that latches shut. There is also a small indicator on the back that shows how much film is left.

Coming in at 162 mm x 98 mm x 123 mm and 1.4 pounds, the camera is quite bulky. It’s noticeably bigger than the Instax Mini cameras and the Instax Square models. However, I wasn’t too surprised by the size, since it makes sense that larger photos would require a bigger camera. 

That said, it’s not something you’d want to carry around without a bag, and while the shoulder strap helps, I was still very conscious of it and careful not to bump it into people or objects in busy spaces. Although Instax does offer a camera case sold separately, I didn’t receive one alongside my review unit, so I can’t speak to it. 

Since it’s a bit bulky, it’s pretty noticeable, and it ended up attracting the attention of a few people when I was testing it. A worker at a downtown gelato shop even stopped to compliment it, calling it a “cool looking camera.”

That kind of attention is part of the appeal. 

The camera’s self-timer is a nice feature, as it makes it possible to include everyone in a shot without needing someone to press the shutter button. It works by pushing a lever on the side and choosing one of four durations, ranging from two to 10 seconds. The camera emits a ticking sound to indicate that the timer is active, and red lights provide a visual countdown.

If you don’t have a tripod, the camera’s strap includes two angle adjustment accessories that can help prop and position the camera on a flat surface. To use one, slide it into the indented space on the camera’s underside, set the self-timer, and step back into the frame.

Film for the camera is available in standard white frame, black frame, metallic borders, and monochrome. Fujifilm sent me the standard white film alongside my review unit, which is the film I used for this review. Each box of film comes with 20 sheets and costs between $25-$28.

As for colors, the Instax Wide 400 comes in two options: green and jet black. As someone who loves a good shade of green, I liked that the color of the camera gave it a more playful, fun vibe.

Overall, I think this camera is a great option for people of all ages, as it offers high-quality images while remaining simple enough for kids and teens who are just starting out in photography.

By Moses Kolo

Continuity

Northern political stakeholders, academics, youth groups and civil society actors on Saturday converged at Arewa House Kaduna for a town hall organised by the PBAT Door-To-Door Movement to appraise the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The event, themed “Critical Appraisal of Government and Reforms Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 2027 Question,” featured discussions on economic reforms, governance, infrastructure development, fiscal policies and national stability.

Speaking in his opening remarks, Mr Sunday Adekanbi, National Coordinator of the Movement, said the forum was convened to encourage honest conversations around the administration’s policies and to counter what he described as misconceptions surrounding ongoing reforms.

Adekanbi said the engagement also provided an avenue to interrogate the “2027 question,” insisting that continuity of the current reform agenda remained necessary for sustainable national development.

According to him, President Tinubu has demonstrated leadership through what he described as a “silent yet systematic revolution” across critical sectors of the economy.

“He touched every critical aspect of this country through reforms aimed at economic recovery, institutional strengthening, infrastructure development and youth inclusion,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr Sunday Dare, Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, said Nigeria was gradually moving from reforms to recovery following bold economic measures introduced by the administration.

Dare noted that although the reforms had brought temporary hardship, they were necessary to reposition the country for long-term prosperity and competitiveness.

He said the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and revenue restructuring were difficult but inevitable decisions needed to avert fiscal collapse.

According to him, previous administrations avoided such measures despite the growing distortions in the economy.

“Leadership is not about comfort; leadership is about responsibility. The President took decisions others were afraid to take because the country could no longer continue on the old path,” he said.

The presidential aide added that the administration was investing heavily in infrastructure, human capital development and economic modernisation to prepare Nigeria for the demands of the 21st century.

Dare cited interventions such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as part of efforts to expand access to education and empower millions of young Nigerians.

Also speaking, Prof. Solomon Gushibet, said the Tinubu administration inherited an economy burdened by structural distortions, fiscal leakages and declining investor confidence.

Gushibet, who also is Head, Center for Financial Economics, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru-Jos, said reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification represented a transition from economic dependency to productivity-driven development.

According to him, no nation achieves transformation without sacrifice, adding that the administration had shown political courage by undertaking reforms previous governments avoided for decades.

Gushibet said signs of economic stabilisation were gradually emerging through improved revenue generation, reduced fiscal leakages, increased investor engagement and relative stability in the foreign exchange market.

The professor, however, acknowledged existing challenges, including insecurity, rising cost of living, debt pressures and implementation gaps in some policy areas.

He urged the Federal Government to strengthen social intervention programmes and improve communication around reforms to address public concerns and reduce economic hardship.

Gushibet maintained that continuity remained essential for the reforms to achieve long-term impact, stressing that major economic transformations globally often require several years before yielding full benefits.

He warned that abandoning ongoing reforms midway could reverse progress already achieved and undermine investor confidence.

On his part, Mr Ahmed Maiyaki, Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, said increased federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy had enabled the Kaduna State Government to expand social intervention programmes and improve service delivery across key sectors.

Maiyaki noted that a major outcome of the policy was the introduction of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses providing free transportation to civil servants, students and residents, which he said had saved over N2.8 billion within 10 months.

He further explained that the administration of Uba Sani had prioritised education through a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees, infrastructural upgrades and accreditation of academic programmes in state institutions.

According to him, Kaduna State University and Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic had recorded notable improvements, with several courses receiving full accreditation due to sustained government investment.

Maiyaki also highlighted progress in security and healthcare, stating that previously volatile areas such as Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Chikun, Kajuru and Kachia were witnessing improved peace and economic activity.

He added that the state had upgraded 255 primary healthcare facilities, recruited thousands of health workers and improved welfare conditions to strengthen healthcare delivery across Kaduna State.

The stakeholders at the forum generally called for sustained national dialogue, policy consistency and inclusive governance to consolidate the gains of ongoing reforms and strengthen democratic stability ahead of the 2027 elections. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

MGK/ YMU

Edited by Yakubu Uba