Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat

2025

➥ Design & Build Quality

➥ Key Features

➥ Performance

➥ Pros & Cons

The Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat is a stylish and versatile instant camera designed for those who enjoy creative experimentation with photography. It offers a blend of retro instant film charm with modern features that allow for more flexibility and artistic control compared to other instant cameras on the market. Here’s a detailed review of its design, performance, and unique features:

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Design & Build Quality

The Lomo'Instant Automat has a retro-inspired design that’s available in various stylish finishes, including classic black, sleek white, and more colorful, artistic editions. The camera’s body has a solid feel without being too bulky, and its compact size makes it easy to carry for events, outings, or travel. Lomography has paid attention to detail, with a high-quality plastic build that balances durability and lightweight portability.

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Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2

Key Features

Automatic Exposure: One of the standout features of the Lomo'Instant Automat is its fully automatic exposure system. The camera adjusts the aperture, shutter speed, and flash output based on the lighting conditions, making it easy to use for beginners who don’t want to fuss with settings while still offering enough flexibility for more experienced users.
Multiple Shooting Modes:

Bulb Mode: This mode allows for long-exposure shots, which is great for capturing light trails or night photography. You can leave the shutter open for as long as you want to create more dramatic effects.
Multiple Exposures: The camera allows you to take multiple exposures on a single frame, letting you create artistic and experimental images by overlaying different shots. This is a unique feature that sets the Lomo'Instant Automat apart from other instant cameras.

Instax Mini Film: Like many instant cameras, the Lomo'Instant Automat uses Fujifilm Instax Mini film, producing small, credit-card-sized prints with a nostalgic, analog feel. The film is readily available and delivers consistent results with rich colors and contrast.
Wide-Angle Lens with Attachments: The Lomo'Instant Automat comes with a built-in wide-angle lens, which is ideal for landscapes, group shots, or indoor photography. Lomography also offers optional lens attachments like a fisheye lens and close-up lens for even more creative versatility.
Remote Control Lens Cap: A quirky yet useful feature is the lens cap, which doubles as a remote shutter release. This is particularly handy for group photos or selfies, allowing you to trigger the shutter from a distance.
Creative Features:

Colored Gel Filters: The camera comes with a set of gel filters that you can attach to the flash to add a burst of color to your images. This is a fun, easy way to play with different moods and tones in your shots.
Exposure Compensation: The camera includes a +1/-1 exposure compensation dial, giving you control over how bright or dark your photos turn out.

Key Features

Small Format Instant Prints: The Polaroid Go uses Polaroid Go film, which produces square prints that are about half the size of traditional Polaroid photos. The film size (66.6mm x 53.9mm) is much smaller than the classic Polaroid format, making the prints cute and compact, perfect for scrapbooking, journaling, or sharing with friends.
★★★★★
Total Rating (5.00)
Design & Build Quality
Rechargeable Battery: The camera comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, which is a major convenience for frequent shooters. The battery is charged via a USB cable and can last through several packs of film, making it efficient for day-to-day use without needing to constantly replace batteries.
★★★★★
Total Rating (5.00)
Double Exposure Mode: One of the standout features of the Polaroid Go is its double exposure capability. This allows you to overlay two images on a single frame, opening up creative possibilities for artistic, surreal, or playful shots. It's a nice feature for photographers who like to experiment with their instant photography.
★★★★★
Total Rating (5.00)
Selfie Mirror: The Go Generation 2 includes a built-in selfie mirror on the front of the camera, making it easier to frame self-portraits. It’s a small but thoughtful addition for those who enjoy taking selfies with their instant camera.
★★★★★
Total Rating (5.00)
Flash and Exposure Control: The camera comes with an automatic flash that adjusts based on lighting conditions. There’s also a small exposure control button that lets you make slight adjustments to the brightness of your photos, giving you a bit more control over the final result.
★★★★★
Total Rating (5.00)
Compact Viewfinder: The viewfinder is small but functional, allowing you to frame your shots with relative accuracy. Given the camera’s compact size, it works well for casual snapshots, though the viewfinder can sometimes feel a bit limiting when trying to capture more detailed compositions.
★★★★★
Total Rating (5.00)

Performance

Image Quality: The Lomo'Instant Automat produces vibrant, bold photos typical of Instax Mini film, but its features allow for a bit more creative control over lighting and exposure. The colors are punchy, and the details are generally good, although the focus can sometimes be soft, especially in close-ups. The automatic exposure system works well for most environments, but it tends to struggle a little in very low light or overly bright conditions, where you might need to adjust the exposure compensation.
Multiple Exposure and Bulb Mode: These modes add a lot of creative possibilities. Multiple exposure shots can be a fun way to layer different scenes or subjects on top of each other, and Bulb Mode allows for some dramatic long-exposure effects, perfect for night photography or light painting.
Flash Performance: The built-in flash is strong and performs well in low-light conditions. The addition of gel filters adds another dimension to your photography, letting you experiment with different lighting effects.

Pros

Automatic exposure makes it easy for beginners while offering manual controls for more experienced photographers
Multiple exposure and long exposure (Bulb Mode) capabilities for creative flexibility
Stylish, retro design available in various finishes
Remote control lens cap for easier selfies and group shots
Wide-angle lens with optional lens attachments for added versatility
Fun creative features like color gel filters and exposure compensation

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cons

Instax Mini film can be expensive, especially for frequent shooting
Image sharpness can be hit or miss, particularly in close-up shots without the lens attachment
Struggles slightly in very low-light or overly bright conditions despite automatic exposure
No screen or digital viewfinder, so you have to rely on the optical viewfinder, which might not always perfectly align with the final shot

Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat

Verdict

The Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat is an excellent choice for those who want more creative control and flexibility in their instant photography. With features like multiple exposure, Bulb Mode, and the ability to use different lenses and flash filters, it appeals to both beginners looking for an easy-to-use instant camera and more advanced users who want to push the boundaries of instant photography.

Its stylish design, combined with fun and versatile features, makes it stand out from the more straightforward instant cameras on the market. While it does have some quirks, such as occasional focusing issues and film costs, it’s a fantastic camera for anyone who enjoys experimentation and creative photography.

Battery Life

The Lomo'Instant Automat is powered by two CR2 batteries, which can last for several packs of film. However, CR2 batteries aren’t as commonly found as AA batteries, which might be an inconvenience depending on your location.