Instax Square is a fun format that gives you a larger image than the teeny-tiny Instax Mini while keeping the cameras compact. As of the writing of this guide, the SQ1 and the SQ40 are Fuji’s main Instax Square cameras. If you’re wondering which one to get, I recommend the more affordable SQ1 (you can pick one up at Amazon).
The Instax SQ1 and SQ40 are identical cameras, so this guide will show you how to use both the Instax SQ1 and SQ40 cameras. You’ll see images of both cameras throughout, but rest assured the only difference between the two is the outer shell material. All buttons, switches, and latches are in the same place with the same icons.
Don’t lose those fragile battery doors!
Insert Batteries
Step one is to insert batteries into your camera. The SQ1/SQ40 uses 2 CR2 batteries. These relatively exotic tiny AA-looking things are (typically) single use lithium batteries. The battery panel is on the side of the camera and opens by sliding forward. Be careful not to lose the battery hatch cover, as it comes off entirely. It’ll feel a bit crunchy, as the battery cover is the cheapest part of these cameras.
(If the fragile latch on the battery compartment door breaks, which isn’t unusual, I typically will just use a small piece of tape to keep it closed.)
If you’ve purchased the SQ1 or SQ40 new, then it should come with two CR2s in the box. These will last you a while (Fuji’s official estimate is 30 packs of film), but I recommend ordering some extra batteries to keep on hand since it’s not easy to find CR2s on short notice.
If you’re going on vacation or to an event, put fresh batteries into the camera before you leave and then you won’t have to think about it or worry about bringing extras until you return.
Insert film in the back so that the yellow line is visible to you. Line it up with the yellow line on the camera itself. It should fit flush with the camera body – if it’s not quite fitting take it out and pop it in, sometimes it can get caught in a weird way since tolerances are rather tight.
Insert Film
Now that you got batteries, now it’s time to put film into the camera. The Instax SQ1 and SQ40 both use Fuji Instax Square format film. Do not use Instax Mini, Instax Wide, or any kind of Polaroid film – those formats will not work. Be careful when searching, as Amazon and Google are so borked these days that they’ll recommend Instax Mini when you search for Instax Square.
Instax Square film comes in color and monochrome variants, as well as with a wide variety of border colors. Both color and monochrome work great with the Instax SQ1 and SQ40, with monochrome being a personal favorite.
You’ll know your camera has no film by looking into window on the back. If there is no visible yellow line, the camera is empty. If there is a visible yellow line, you can look at the dial below to check how many photos remain. When it says zero, you’re good to take out the old cartridge. Note that if there is no film in the camera at all, it will likely have an S in the counter.
Open your pack of new film and set it aside. Then, open the back door compartment of the Instax SQ1 or SQ40 camera. Remove the old pack if there is one. Now, place the new pack of film into the camera so that the yellow mark aligns with the other yellow mark on the back of the camera. If you don’t see a yellow mark on the film cartridge, you may have it in backwards, as there is only a yellow mark on one side. Once the cartridge is inside, close the camera. You’ll feel some resistance as you close it, which is totally normal.
Only open the back of the camera when you’ve completed shooting a pack of film or it is empty – old timers like me know that this will ruin the film by exposing it to light.
Now the film counter will likely read ‘S’ still, which is fine. Turn the camera on by turning the ring around the lens to the ‘on’ position. Hit the shutter like you’re taking a picture, and the dark slide will be ejected out of the photo slot at the top. The dark slide is a black cover that protects the film from light before it’s inserted into the camera. If you forget to do this step, you may be surprised by a dark slide ejecting from the top instead of a photo when you go to take a photo.
As my fellow old timers well know, while you’re taking photos, be sure to keep the back closed until you’ve shot the entire pack. Exposure to light will ruin any film that hasn’t been exposed yet.
The camera in ‘on’ mode.
Taking a Standard Photo
To take a photo of a subject further than 3 feet/1 meter away from the Instax SQ1/SQ40 camera, turn the ring around the lens from ‘off’ to ‘on.’ The lens will pop out, and when the orange light goes solid, you’re ready to take a photo. If the orange light is flashing, it just means its charging up the flash.
Frame your subject in the viewfinder, then press the shutter button on the front of the SQ1/SQ40 camera. The flash will go off, and then the photo eject from the top of the camera. Let the photo eject completely before pulling it out. You don’t need to shake the photo or anything to ‘dry’ it, just set it aside and the the opacifier layer will fade away to reveal your photo in approximately two minutes.
After taking a photo, film pops out of the top of the camera.
You can continue taking photos or you can turn the camera to the off position to collapse the lens back down for safe storage. If you leave the camera on, no worries, it’ll just go to sleep.
The camera in ‘selfie’ or closeup mode.
Taking a Selfie or Close Up Photo
‘Selfie’ mode is Fuji’s name for the closeup mode. This is what you’ll need to take photos of any subject .3 meters – .5 meters or 1-2 feet way from the camera, regardless of if it is a selfie or not. For example, this is the mode I need to use to take a photo of my frenchie, who I have to get close to in order to fill the frame with her cute face.
To enter Selfie mode, turn the lens ring past on and to the next mode.
The viewfinder does not change, so be aware that the closer the subject is, the more difficult it will be to frame accurately. The viewfinder looks through a window next to the lens, rather than through the lens itself, so it loses accuracy for closeups.
Hit the shutter button on the front of the camera. The image will pop out the top. Once you’re done, set the camera to ‘off’ to collapse and protect the lens.
If you are taking a selfie in Selfie mode on the SQ1/SQ40, hold the camera out as far as you can and use the mirror next to the lens to frame your shot. Hit the shutter button on the front of the camera to take your photo.
As with the other modes, once you are done, set the camera to off and put the camera away.
Use the mirror on the lens barrel to frame your selfie shots.
Troubleshooting
If you’re trying to take a photo of a small object like a flower and you’re noticing your photos are out of focus, make sure you’re in selfie mode. If you’re still getting blurry images, you may be closer than what Selfie mode can handle.
Also, if you are getting out of focus selfies or portraits, make sure you’re not too close. Even in ‘selfie’ mode, it’s easy for the camera to get too close to the subject to focus. Hold your arm out as far as you can when taking selfies, as erroring on the side of the camera being farther away rather than too close will help get more shots in focus.
If your subject appears dark or underexposed, you may be too far away. The flash on the Fuji Instax Mini SQ1 and SQ40 can struggle to reach subjects that are far away. This is why backgrounds indoors will often appear as black voids.
Finally, if there is no orange light when you turn the camera to on, you likely have a dead battery. The lens will still pop out, but nothing will happen when you try to take a photo. Also, if the orange light is continuously flashing without ever going solid, the batteries may be too weak to power the flash. Either way, the easiest troubleshooting step is to replace the CR2 batteries or even just reseat your existing ones by taking them out and re-inserting them.
Left to right: Fuji Instax Mini, Instax Square, and Polaroid
Going Further
That’s it! You’re now an expert on your SQ1 and/or SQ40 camera. I recommend picking up some of the black and white monochrome Instax Square film to play around with if you haven’t already.
If you enjoy instant film photography, you can also explore larger formats like Polaroid. Also if you would like more controls, the discontinued SQ6 is an excellent Instax Square camera with more features and controls you may be able to find useful. If you There’s a whole world to explore with analogue film, so I’m glad you’re giving it a shot!
If you’re looking to grab the SQ1 for yourself or a friend, you can pick one up on Amazon. Using these affiliate links helps me keep this site online and costs you nothing, I appreciate your support!
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