Review: Fujifilm INSTAX 300 for Paranormal Investigation & Spirit Photography
Photo: Fujifilm Instax 300 with images taken.
Instant cameras, like the Polaroid cameras of the 1960s and 70s, have been highly recommended by an instructor of mine, Loyd Auerbach, a 30+ year paranormal investigation expert and author for use in paranormal investigations. According to Mr. Auerbach, instant film is actually the most difficult to manipulate for us, but much easier for spirit to manipulate. The bottom line is that in his experience, "old school" photography works best for photographing Spirit.
Given that, I had purchased a Fujifilm Instax Mini 50S Camera last year and had some success using it on paranormal investigations. In at least one photo (shown below), I captured a mist inside a house with confirmed paranormal activity.
Photo: Image taken with the Mini 50S camera showing a mist in the location numerous sensitives
and psychics felt the presence (circled in the photo on the right).
That said, the photos were tiny (1 3/4" by 2 1/2", measuring ONLY the image, not the white background), making them difficult to review. To review them, I would scan them first and then was able to see much more in the image. By contrast, the 300 model takes 3 9/10" by 2 1/2" images, which is significantly larger and easier to review on-the-fly. This is the key feature that convinced me to purchase the newer model.
Photo: Comparison of images taken with the Fujifilm Instax 300 (left) and Mini 50S (right) cameras.
Also of note is that the flash on either model cannot be turned off - it is automatic. I did not have too much issue with this, but you should be aware of this going in.
Another important consideration is the size of these cameras. The 300 is large and heavy. It isn't something I would necessarily use for casual photographs, but it would be fine to use during a paranormal investigation, in my opinion. The Mini 50S is smaller and more lightweight, which is perfect for quick photos, like at a wedding (!), but the limited picture size is a killer for immediate review (at least for me!).
Film for both can be expensive - I paid $16.97 for a 2 pack (20 pictures total) for the 300 film, while the Mini 50S film was $12.97 for the 2 pack (both using Amazon Prime). Since I use it only for paranormal investigation, this isn't that big an issue. I go through a 2 pack or so on a standard investigation - either photographing the home in general, photographing a known "hot spot" of activity from all angles, or only taking photos when I sense spirit's presence. I am a bit more cautious with this camera because of the cost of film and always pair it with digital cameras so that any differences in photos can be readily seen. So I wouldn't recommend it as a stand-alone, but as an additional camera with better likelihood of picking up Spirit, it can't be beat.
As you might expect, I'm still experimenting with this 'old school' method and will certainly share more information as I use it on investigations, so stay tuned for more!
I look forward to hearing your feedback on this article and the cameras, if you've tried them. intuitive1investigations@gmail.com
Cheers,
Carol Pollio
Dr. Carol A. Pollio
Director
Intuitive Investigations®
