INSTAX Mini Cameras with FLASHING ORANGE Lights | Can I FIX It?

These FujiFilm Mini 9's and Mini 11's are part of the camera joblot I bought recently for £80, for some reason.
Whilst filming this, I learnt that the orange flashing light fault is VERY common on these things.
Let's see how many, if any, I can get working!
Hope you enjoy!
Steve
PS. I'm not an expert in repairs at all. I do this for fun, and it may not be the best or safest way to go about repairing broken stuff. I'm pretty good at melting plastic though. Please don't copy me - I'm an idiot.
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[@StezStixFix]

Stupid Orange Flashing Light

[@nullbyt]

Nice work with the board swap impressive soldering

[@posersk8er183]

Maybe a piece of dark colored tape over the orange flashing lights should fix the stupid orange flashing light 😂

[@ikkezegtie]

Watching your channel inspired me. I have had like 3 mulitmeters, multimmuters, whatever lol and never got to working with them. Santa saw my wishlist and i got myself a good station, ipa, leaded and unleaded tin, flux, wicks, capacitors, resisters, loop,lights etc etc. And after 5 years finally able to fix my studio monitors that once were blown out by a currency issue in my home. It saved me a lot of money as i didnt have to buy new powerboards, just replacing some capacitors and fuses.Thanks for everything i learned from you. Thanks for sharing your $0L1D humor. bless you

[@pixelpuppy]

so does your daughter like the camera? I think the younger generation really like the whole retro analog lo-fi stuff these days.

[@peterluxford6752]

Brilliant, Happy Christmas Steve

[@ennev]

The pink one where the photo comes out but are ruined is a mechanical problem. The two rollers squeeze the chemical across the photo are probably loose and doesn’t squeeze properly. I don’t know if there is an adjustment for the tension in these rollers. Maybe it got dropped and got warped.

[@TheKrogon]

it also could be a bad film. The chemicals inside could be a bit dry. I had that problem often with ancient Polaroid Film

[@darknase]

@@TheKrogon vaccum sealed new stock ... he opens it right in front of the camera.

[@TheKrogon]

@@darknase If the film is old, it doesnt matter if it was vaccum sealed.

[@kziad1]

​@@TheKrogondidn't he use the same film with the other camera?

[@TheKrogon]

@@kziad1 he tried a different film at 21:00. I am not saying i am right, it could be the rollers or the film

[@magu2k]

One of the best songs you have done, imo. awesome stuff. I always listen

[@zJericho101z]

At least we have lots of pictures of our Dave to treasure forever more.

[@morphhard682]

Merry Christmas Steve!

[@Freestila]

You have a screwdriver, works well to discharge the capacitor.

[@DazGeary]

Yer , that crap eye piece isn;t what the lens sees so any close shots will be very off center. Kids cameras.......🤣🤣🤣

[@solidamber]

You can't do ultra close ups on the polaroid style there is no focus system, the reason its its not centered is parallax the viewfinder doesn't look through the lens..you need a brightly lit subject a few metres away, and wait for the photo to develop,

[@Inugamiz]

Steve can change a simple fuse from a fan and still can make people laugh. Love this channel.

[@gerrymichaud3851]

The reason that the photos look off center from what you see in the viewfinder is called viewfinder parallax. It happens in viewfinder cameras and not in SLRs. The reason is the viewfinder is above the lens, and have to correct it by pointing the camera down a bit. SLRs don't have viewfinder parallax because you are looking through the camera lens itself. The first 35mm we were taught to use in photo school was a Leica M3 and we had to learn how to correct parallax. Some cameras had a line in the viewfinder to help.

[@vinny142]

Plus these camera's are meant to produce a "acceptable" image at the most common ranges. "4 inches from Dave" is a great title for a punk band but no the kind of location that will have these camera's produce a good image. It can't focus that close (it probably doesn't focus anyway) the flash will throw it's light past the subject, and it's off-center because of the parallax. It's usually fun to see Stez struggle, but sometimes I wish he'd do the unthinkable and google how these things work before starting the fix...

[@acidhelm]

I think that first camera has a light leak in the body, based on how the same part of each photo was totally exposed. As for why Dave wasn't in the center, the viewfinder in those cameras is offset from the lens, so you aren't seeing the same thing as the lens is. It's not like an SLR where you're looking through the lens. If you're taking a photo of something close, you have to account for that offset when you're framing.

[@mdoyle1981]

Parallax Error

[@chrisprobert6]

@ acidhead. Trigonometry is fun, and easy, if you paid attention in class. I believe parallax is a made up word😅

[@mdoyle1981]

Parallax is a made up word; made up to define the apparent shift in an object's position depending on the viewing angle. English is fun and easy, if you paid attention in class.@@chrisprobert6

[@harsszegi]

Hey, are there any plans creating a video about creating the songs for the videos? E.g how you select / create the base music, the whole process. I mean you basically release a new video every week with new music for it as well, this on it’s own is amazing. And the music for this video was spot on!

[@nmills5367]

Yea! Do an AMA. That would be fun!

[@paszTube]

I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

[@StezStixFix]

😁 glad someone did!

[@paulmawhorter2713]

Those capacitors are brutal. I have been shocked a couple times with them and it is far worse than a mains 120v shock. Just beware not only do you have to stay away from the capacitor contacts but also from the circuit board. Also if you don't have a fancy capacitor discharger a big flathead screwdriver works well😂.

[@hmartinlb]

The construction of these is insane. Who hardwires up boards like this? Is it 1950 again?

[@JASPACB750RR]

Steve your channel is awesome. The humor, the music, the editing and composition. It’s all unique and makes for a fun, entertaining, and educational viewing experience. Also, taking on things such as that board swap is inspiring. I don’t doubt my ability to do this work as I’ve spent many years in the past doing solder work installing flash/tune chips on OBD1 ecus, repairing damaged traces and cold/broken solder joints on weather exposed ecus, modifications to make JDM ecus work in USDM cars, etc. But for those who may not know how to do work such as this, you take the fear out of it. Worst that will happen is something that’s broke will still be broke. And you show that in the end the learning experience, skills, and knowledge gained are sometimes worth more than the repairs. Glad I found your channel way back when. And glad I stuck around. Been here since 15k sub mark.

[@infin1ty850]

Hell yeah, I didn't expect a Wednesday video, at least not this early in the morning. Made my Wednesday.

[@matthewhaddon599]

As with most cameras they would probably work better in good daylight. I have tried fixing cameras in the past with limited success. They are very fiddly especially without a schematic or repair manual. I did manage to get a Nikon D100 working with a donor, but it's easier to just buy a working one.

[@Davedarko]

"let's take a picture of something that isn't Dave" - points camera at me.

[@KrozMcD]

You discharged the capacitor, but then hooked camera up to power supply with finger close to capacitor! Would desoldering one of the wires temporarily be a safe thing to do while working on it?

[@kennybacchus1488]

INSTAX. Mini. Cameras With flashing. Orange Lights can. Fix

[@zaprodk]

I looked into the orange blinking light on Mini 8/9 and started drawing a schematic, getting some idea of how the PCB works, testing all the components etc. but ended with the realisation that it's a firmware corruption that happens. Once "bricked" there is no way back. Very shitty design. We have a working Mini in the house that I built from combining two cameras and i'm hoping it will never corrupt the firmware.

[@SmoothEmJay]

As a kid, I once cut into one of those huge capacitors with uninsulated scissors. You only ever do it once.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

yes you do need to meware of flash capacitors. You can get a kiss wih a nice bite out of those. (I have tried).

[@hugegamer5988]

Bonus points for touching one lead with one hand and the other with your other hand so you take it through the chest. I got stunned and light headed and sat down hard. Almost passed out! Just through one hand hurts bad enough.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@hugegamer5988 yeah it hurts enough just across one fingertip. The camera I was working on had a much smaller (physically) cap han this to but I think it was a made for purpose flash cap. I never tried it on my tongue like a 9v battery though.

[@Stucc0Dude]

Those caps can give you a huge zap. Found that out futzing around with one of my digital cameras that took a fall. Dave was offset because of parallax error. Those cameras don't look through the lens so up close shots are off center. College photography class bubbling up from deep storage.

[@Andy-fu6vp]

Those instax mini 9s, you have to read the instructions to get the best results. There is a dial that you turn to what the orange light recommends for the lighting conditions. Then you will get a much better photo. Instax mini 11 is much better as it does it all for you. Yes these caneras are picky as they only like to uae Alkaline batteries. Bought many "faulty, flashing orange light" and turns out just the previous owner didnt use the correct batteries lol. Great video!!! Was frustrating to watch as i was screaming out about youre looking at thw wrong side 🤣🤣

[@carrollraines]

I have no idea what is going on, i was watching racing videos when youtube recommended this video, i don't know who dave is or why they take so many pictures of him. but it was the best 25 minutes of my day. sometimes I find myself in the situation where I think some project is going to be fun and it ends up being tedious but I am too stubborn to give up, so I identified a lot with this video. thank you so much because I needed it.

[@pintokitkat]

Steve, does the word parallax mean anything to you?

[@hugegamer5988]

You mean those old microcontroller boards from the 2000s? /s

[@MC-Racing]

I used to work in a workshop on cameras, those flash caps sting like hell :-)

[@Scott-Lee-Snell]

Hi, Scott in the UK here. Even though the position you held the camera in whilst taking the photo may not of been resulting in the pictures not working properly, it really frustrated me though the position you had the camera in whilst taking the picture. 😄 You had the camera the wrong way round. Which was confirmed to me when you said, "why is Dave at the top of the picture". The reason why he is at the top is because you are holding the camera from top to bottom, when you should be holding it side to side. With what position the camera is in when you are putting the film in, that's the position you should also be taking the picture with. Or in other words, the battery compartment should be at the top when taking the picture, but you was taking the picture with the battery compartment on the side. (Or is it me that's wrong about that? And that perhaps those cameras aren't supposed to be held in the traditional manner 😅) I first came across your videos by the way back in March. At the time I was looking for videos about soldering a headphone jack, and none of your videos appeared during that time, But then after I had done the job, and didn't need those kind of videos anymore, one of your videos then appeared. So I watched it, and i like (and get) your humour so iv watched quite a few of your videos since. 👍

[@DarrenVaughan-j6j]

Hi Steve. I really enjoy your videos. It amazes me how you can come up with so many cool rhymes. Here’s hoping you and your family have a very Merry(Happy) Christmas!!!!

[@zaprodk]

24:02 The top image is exposed in the pack, so yes it is ruined. Pictures under it will not be ruined, otherwise they would get ruined when you expose an image. Each picture does not let light pass (not enough to matter at least)

[@thecapper1]

Hi Steve! Following up on the comment about the "parallax effect": One of the drawbacks of cheaper cameras is that they don't have through-the-lens viewing, so the closer you get to the subject, the more off-centered it will be. You wouldn't notice it (probably) if just snapping photos of people.

[@jonathaningram4672]

Always good to watch your videos, quite entertaining. I've used polaroid cameras before and although initially you do get an image it does take a long time for the picture to fully fix. I saw a video years ago where someone would take a portrait picture of someones face and use a stylus pen to it before it develops to alter their features, was funny to look at.

[@retrobear9367]

id be so tempted to mix the case colors up.

[@chrisj2848]

Happy Christmas Steve!

[@StezStixFix]

Same to you Chris, have a good one! 🍻

[@SparksNZeros]

funny you pointed out the capacitor, people used to make ghetto tazers out of disposable cameras because of those caps. always a good safety tip to discharge them safely!

[@richardcahill3406]

I’ve watched pretty much all of your videos and perversely enjoyed this the most - perhaps it was the sheer irritation exuding through the camera. Glad I’m not the only one who embarks on completely pointless and fruitless projects 👍🏻

[@garymucher4082]

I think you are taking close ups when the camera is fixed focus for general pictures at some distance. Go outside and take a few pictures to see... The reason "Dave" is not in the center is because your view finder is off to a side. Thumbs Up!

[@jasonisringhouse3486]

Dave's on film

[@mistermatix8241]

It's ironic that the Mobo was silkscreened "SCAM". That's what these cameras are, film packs are expensive, and quality is awful. They're not even good for kids as cost is ridiculous and build quality is similar to a market bought, Chinese toy. It's sad that Fujifilm had a real reputation in the imaging market, and now they just seem to (ahem) focus on these Polaroid knock offs. I know they still have their high end side, but their prosumer, or compact markets have all but gone (due to smartphones probably) I suspect these "instax" cameras are made by a 3rd party manufacturer and Fujifilm thought "we'll have a bit of that". The only market these appeal to is the hipster market, but even then they'll have digital cameras better than those

[@speedydemon666]

Hi my SEGA MEGADRIVE 2, the names on my golf game sometimes, on the screen are pixilated and you can't read them any idea's.

[@dot_frost]

The amount of things you could have known by just reading up a little bit on how these cameras and the film work.... So frustrating....

[@SAGA2000KZ]

Great video! I'm trying to fix my instax mini 11 where capacitor C19 and resistor R49 was blown. Is it gonna be possible for you to measure that component values so I can find the replacement?

[@lindathomas5500]

Pretty sure it is just expired paper. Typically it has to be used within 12months, if not your images will look just like those!

[@keeperofzengarden]

Ok man I love your videos but this was infuriating. You taking picture after picture and looking at the wrong side. Please, you have to work on your investigative method.

[@PollokPoochesDogWalking]

Aww im 7 months too late to tell you those cametas arent for taking photos of stuff 6 inches infront of them! You need to take photos of things 6 foot away for it to be centered and in focus! ❤

[@Fifury161]

£80 not well spent (plus whatever you paid for the film!), entertaining though! Happy Christmas!

[@kiphakes]

Stupid Instax Cameras

[@StezStixFix]

Yes they are! PS, many thanks for the xmas card, you legend! 👍

[@84parsons]

Thanks to you I managed to get a zip not working from ebay for £6. And fixed it. With a simple clean. Whoop whoop ❤

[@LaraAmelia7]

Oh my God, the anxiety until you turned them over I was shouting at my TV turn them over TURN THEM OVER haha

[@jed2055]

Several comments on cap zapz and parallax but my two bobs worth is that dicking around with these money pits is never gonna be worth it. Crap photos that cost for me here in Oz, a buck each. No thanks. If you want to try fixing an instant paper printer go for a dye sublimation type, preferably a Canon, otherwise there's probably a bin just near you mate . . . use it.

[@zaprodk]

20:52 Nooooo, they are coming out EXACTLY as they should be. The black coating is the opacifier on the rear of the film. Once spread and black all over it's all good. Image will appear on the other side of the film (White side) ...

[@chris_hertford]

If I remember rightly from polaroid's in the 80s put the picture face down or in darkness while they develop so you don't overexpose the image!

[@curtiskorb3494]

I don't know what device Rage Against the Machine was screaming about, but from my experience, I'm pretty sure it was a printer.

[@jsm879]

Very disappointed that the closing song wasn't Hey Ya! by Outkast...😉

[@zaprodk]

21:31 It's an ANALOG camera. The chemicals needs to work. There is no analog process that will give you the result instantly. It's /not/ a printer!

[@funkyuk1]

pissing myself laughing at you a) looking at the wrong side, b) not waiting for them to develop, c) burning through cash 🤣

[@JoeyToob]

Steve love the channel. I have subscribed. Just wanted to mention when you point up to refer to some other video or link, I don't see anything ! No worries though just letting you know.

[@andrasszabo7386]

Large caps? I just short them with an "otherwise useless" screwdriver and enjoy the fireworks :)

[@Zooumberg]

My Roku remote is a pain when it comes to batteries. I have to have the same two all the time. This is despite having many, many brand new Amazon rechargeable.

[@logothaironsides2942]

cor now that is a good reason not to buy one of these for someone. What a rip off! Those silly little pictures are not worth the bother AND cost a bomb and thats if the camera does work. I do like watching steve battling to fix them though :)

[@mikeuk1954]

😂😂 Well, I enjoyed your struggles....Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@funkyuk1]

pink camera with the oval patterns. the rollers aren’t working evenly. check the springs / clean the rollers.

[@swingstylez]

You could have used the pen, or you could have discharged the cap, ElectroBoom style! 😁

[@zaprodk]

Never shake instant photos (both Polaroid and Instax) - It will screw up the chemistry and smear the image.

[@urglegurgle5807]

Ah. Parallax error due to the nature of separate lens for film and viewfinder and being too close to the subject for camera design, hence Dave not being centred.

[@marco-ck6kp]

Hiya pal big fan 👍. L Button working as power button on nintendo switch. Can it be fixed. Keep up the top content 👍👍

[@MrJDNJ]

I seem to remember when my family had a polaroid camera (back in the 70s) you had to keep the picture in a dark place to let it fully develop.

[@tugossk]

You probably are going to spend more on film than all those cameras are worth. That's my biggest problem with polaroid - a bit of film is worth more than the camera. Those printers are cool tho.

[@idm8885]

Even if you fix it uncle steve they take really crappy pictures just buy a a Canon Selphy printer CP series :D

[@willrobinson7599]

Think u wasted ta time and lots 9f money on them , but they did make interesting videos lol. Happy Xmas fella

[@christopherdecorte1599]

I can't believe that cap stores so much voltage. Also the cost of film the camera should be free, just my opinion lol.

[@chris-pike]

Good to see you fixing these cameras there steve and have a Merry Christmas heres to more fixes in 2024 👍

[@zaprodk]

14:50 One of the springs for the rollers are not pressing down enough to squeeze the chemicals correctly. Probably a broken plastic post for the spring.

[@BadgerSquatch]

Woo!

[@Dannon1111]

lol you're showing your age. You are waaaay to close for a camera like that to take any good pictures. I enjoy your videos. Keep it up

[@atom_________6815]

hey steve can you make the song jingle bells from just the sounds of your meters/ tools/ moocow sucker etc...

[@BrettCooper4702]

Out of focus is because if you look on the lense the focus range is from 0.6m to infinity. So you need to be at least 0.6m from the object.

[@chanyphilly8266]

Rubbish cameras. No wonder you see so many of them second hand, the price of the films!

[@funkyuk1]

the films / prints have a pouch of chemicals that is squeezed out over the encapsulated print as it passes through the rollers. you will also see this pattern happen with badly stored or very old films that have dried up/ evaporated

[@jameslawrence8734]

At 22:45 you're getting hit by height over bore. It happens with people and firearms when they're new to the sport of shooting and shoot a close target.

[@lordshrek_]

Light peach, pink, dark pink. for a sec i thought i clicked the wrong app...

[@williamtallonneau877]

18:00 maybe you should Take pic or the footage of what ur doin...😅

[@zaprodk]

22:45 - Parallax error. You are looking out trough the corner of the camera while the lens sits in the bottom center, and you're up close, even too close. What the viewfinder and lens is pointed at is not the same point.

[@ParaSytius]

So many opportunities to put in Flash movie and Queen references. Gone.

[@OneOfManySams]

When i initially test these cameras i use an old film cartridge that i load back up with some spent photos just to save me wasting a new pack on some crap camera i have bought as spares 😅

[@wisher21uk]

Stupid cameras hope you and your family have a great Christmas 🎅 😊

[@snik2pl]

This printer, is it just an lcd in a box? If it is using light sensitive films i wonder how it puts image on paper. Cameras are straight forward, shutter lets light in and done

[@007HPeter]

1/2 a step from opening the pizza box upside down... 14:00

[@franckozon]

Nice

[@newCrysis]

Shake it like a Polaroid picture. You of all peps should know that song.

[@zaprodk]

12:46 It's nothing to do with how "clean" the energy is. It's the voltage sag when the mechanics operate that brown outs the processor.

[@zaprodk]

8:05 the IGBT is fine. If it was shorted the flash capacitor would not charge up.

[@SneakySquirrell]

Felt so sorry for you for whole video understanding that you going to find out that pictures are on the other side 😅 great stuff though!

[@koz]

The price-per-photo of these things just makes them a total rip-off. Working or not. :)

[@expendable7281]

Merry Christmas steve, Do a story of dave Christmas special .

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

I could see your blood pressure rising. Stupid cameras.

[@Dreded100]

Time to enjoy the digital age. Who needs polaroids anymore?

[@zaprodk]

22:26 They are not great because you are closer than 90 centimeters which is closest distance. It says on the front of the camera!