Lately, I’ve been thinking about the kinds of photographic adventures that really get me going. The more I think about it, the less it looks like a dream gig and more like some out-of-the-box project that only brings me (and hopefully others) joy. That’s why JollyLook’s Instant Wide Development Unit has caught our attention.
An Instax Wide Back for Your Next Project Camera
We make don’t shy away from the world of DIY cameras, in fact, we have built up quite a history of covering these creative endeavors from photographers all over the world. The launch of JollyLook’s Instant Wide Development Unit will help photographic mad scientists bring Instax Wide instant film to everything from pinhole cameras to custom-made film backs for retro cameras.
One of the standout features of the JollyLook Instant Wide Development unit is that you can expose an image without using batteries or another external power source (for reference, Instax film cameras typically need an external power source to expose and advance the film). In short, when you turn the crank, an internal hook pushes the exposed film up into the rollers. The rollers then catch the film and press it through, popping the chemical pod at the bottom and evenly spreading the developer across the entire photo. No batteries, no electronics, just pure mechanical simplicity.
Outside of the unit itself, the Instant Wide Development Unit will include foam springs that help keep the Instax Wide film cartridge in place. This is a nice touch that will help you begin experimenting as soon as possible.
Jollylook Instant Wide Development Unit: Who It’s For
One of the more challenging questions I get from time to time comes from non-photographers or non-enthusiasts asking what to gift the photographer in their life. While they might be looking for the answer to be a new bag, accessory, or even new gear, the most thoughtful gifts tend to be things like the Instant Wide Developer unit. By nature, photographers are creative beings who often want to or need help expanding the limits of their creativity. DIY projects that are possible with tools like this are most certainly going to score you some brownie points.
Tools for Creativity
Creativity is often an item that doesn’t make it to many photography products’ spec sheet. It should, and while it may seem like a given, the truth is that lately I’m considering the tools I use based on how they might help or improve my creative vision. The JollyLook Developer Unit, like many of their other products, is built with the purpose of sparking creativity, and that alone is worthy of a second look. While I’ve yet to embark on building a DIY camera journey, it’s great to know that there are companies out there that will help me along in the process once I get started. Taking a look at some of their customers’ own projects, I can’t help but be inspired and rethink my relationship with both my gear and my creative work.
The JollyLook Instant Wide Developer Unit is currently available for pre-order on the JollyLook website and costs $60. It’s a small price to pay for your next big project.
