Insta360, makers of fine action cameras, just announced a slew of accessories for its 8K-capable Ace Pro 2, one of which will turn it into an instant camera. It’s joined by new lenses, a grip, and some additional Leica colour profiles. Insta360 reckons it’s the first to offer an action-cam-turned-instant-cam, costing £545 (∼R12,200).
Polaroid360?
“With help from Leica, we’ve redefined the action camera. It’s no longer just for capturing thrilling action sports, it has become a creative tool for serious photography,” said Max Richter, Insta360’s co-founder and VP of marketing (via PetaPixel).
At launch, you won’t be able to pick up the accessories on their own. Instead, you’ll need to get hold of ’em as part of a bundle that includes the Ace Pro 2 itself. Sorry, loyal Ace 2 Pro buyers. The company hasn’t said when they’ll become available to purchase separately, either. To make matters worse, some of the bundles are US-only.
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Fortunately, the Pocket Printer — which makes up part of the £545 Flash Print bundle — isn’t in one of those. It includes the Ace Pro 2, the Pocket Printer, a hood for the screen, a leather carry-case and the new Xplorer Grip Pro. While the Pocket Printer can connect to the camera wirelessly over Bluetooth, it can also hook up to the grip for a proper all-in-one instant camera experience.
If you manage to lay your hands on the Pocket Printer, it should prove more than sufficient, if a little expensive. A replacement cartridge will set you back around $10, which fits 20 prints. It’ll shoot out 3in 300dpi laminated prints, though with a watermark featuring the Ace 2 Pro logo that likely can’t be turned off. As for what the device will cost by the time it reaches South Africa — hopefully as a standalone purchase — we don’t like to imagine.
