In which I bought an instant camera I don’t need but have coveted for years!

It’s here! Good job hitting that 8PM delivery time, USPS! (I don’t know why you offer 8PM delivery, but you do, so, well done.)

I already own instant cameras, of course, classic Polaroids of various models, but peel-apart film no longer exists and Impossible Project films are still expensive and experimental. (I don’t want to pay $2+ per exposure knowing they’re all lavender-tinged or are just going to turn black in a few weeks.)

I could also shoot 35MM film, and I still do from time to time, but I never get it developed because it, too, ends up being over a dollar a shot and apparently I’m cheap. Really cheap. It takes a lot of developed film to get good at using an antique camera (like my 1941 Argus C3 or the Yashica Electro 35 GSN), but the lag between shooting and developing means I never learn anything; immediate feedback is why instant film is so fun.

(God, I miss peel-apart instant film. The knowledge that I’ll never shoot the Land 103 ever, ever again makes me sad.)

Anyway, I’ve wanted one of these Mini 90 Neo Classics for quite awhile now but they’re usually in bundles full of stuff I don’t want (rainbow strap, plastic colored frames, pink lenses, etc.) at about $170. Found this one on eBay for under $70 and free shipping, so I bought it, along with bulk film, and accessories from China (clear protective case, selfie lens, cloud filter) for under $12 that should be here next month.

The battery is charging now so I haven’t used it yet, but it’s adorable! Here’s the shooting guide.

It does long exposures, double exposures, and has a kids mode for fast-moving subjects. The prints are tiny and probably mediocre at best, but it’ll be fun to play with! And film’s relatively cheap (well under $0.25 per exposure, if you buy in bulk) and ubiquitous.

I probably should have bought sheets for the bed, but I didn’t. Sheets are boring. Cameras are fun!

In unrelated news, the fridge smells bad and I’ll have to figure out why tomorrow.

UPDATE: o god it takes awesome little pictures! just like the old Polaroid film, only half the size! so fun to watch it develop! i am totally stoked!

I definitely need much more film.