Instax SQ1 vs SQ40 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Why Do I Recommend The Instax SQ40?

• The Instax SQ40 features a premium leatherette body finish that enhances grip, reduces fingerprints, and elevates its vintage aesthetic compared to the plastic design of the Instax SQ1.
• Instax SQ40 has a refined retro-inspired design that doubles as a fashion accessory, unlike the SQ1’s playful, toy-like appearance.
• It includes a flatter and cleaner grip design that improves portability and slips more easily into bags, compared to the SQ1’s bulkier, protruding handgrip.
• The Instax SQ40 comes with a subdued matte black color scheme that matches a wider range of outfits and settings for consistent, stylish everyday use, while the SQ1 uses bright and youthful colors.
• Instax SQ40 features updated branding and exterior accents that provide a sleeker, more classic visual appeal compared to the SQ1.
• It features the same analog functionality as the SQ1 but presents it in a more elevated form factor to enjoy identical performance in a more visually sophisticated device.

Maybe the Instax SQ1 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Instax SQ40. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

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What Common Both Can Do?

• Instax Square Film Format: Both models use Fujifilm’s Instax Square film, producing prints of 62 mm × 62 mm, giving a balance between portability and a retro aesthetic. The film is fully compatible and interchangeable across both models.
• Lens & Focal Length: They share the same 65.75 mm lens (equivalent to ~32 mm on a full-frame camera), making them ideal for general-purpose photography, including selfies and portraits, without optical zoom or manual focus.
• Selfie Mode with Mirror: Both cameras include a built-in mirror next to the lens and support a selfie mode that shortens the focusing range (to 30–50 cm), perfect for handheld selfies with accurate framing.
• Auto Exposure & Shutter Speed: Both feature fully automatic exposure systems that adjust shutter speeds (1/2 to 1/400 sec) based on scene brightness. You don’t need to adjust anything manually—just point and shoot.
• Flash System: Each camera has a built-in flash that fires every time, with automatic light intensity adjustment to prevent overexposure in bright environments.
• Battery Type & Life: They run on 2 CR2 lithium batteries, lasting for around 30 packs of film (roughly 300 shots), providing similar user experience in terms of power efficiency and usage time.
• Viewfinder & Framing: Both use a simple reverse Galilean viewfinder with a central target spot to assist framing—standard for Fujifilm’s analog Instax cameras.
• Fully Analog Experience: Neither model features digital screens, app pairing, or memory. They are designed to deliver a pure, analog, point‑and‑shoot experience with minimal setup—perfect for casual or nostalgic use.
• Operation Method: Both cameras use a twist-to-power-on barrel that also switches between standard and selfie modes, providing a tactile and intuitive user experience.