Fujifilm unveils its INSTAX Mini 99 instant Camera

Fujifilm, leader of the approximately $1.25 billion a year instant film industry, just revealed the Instax Mini 99 camera which boasts several innovative features that distinguish it from any other previously released instax cameras.

Standing out as a marquee feature is the built-in LED lighting system, boasting six distinct colour effects. Unlike mere filter overlays, this system produces authentic looking light leaks and flares, via actual LEDs on the film plane that cast either green, orange, light blue, soft magenta, sepia or a white light leak. 

Like a 'real camera', you now have far better control over your exposures. You can use Indoor Mode to create longer exposures, or you can set the camera up on a tripod and use Bulb mode to expose the film for up to 10 seconds. There is also the very welcome addition of being able to lighten or darken your exposures via an exposure compensation dial.

Other interesting effects include: an analog vignette feature which seems to physically move a small plastic frame over the edge of the lens; and the ability to do double exposures where you can overlay a couple of images into the one frame.

Key features of the Instax Mini 99 include:
- A six-colour effect dial
- Manual switch for vignette control
- Five-level brightness adjustment
- Landscape and Macro shooting modes
- Shooting modes including Auto, Indoor, Sports, Double Exposure, and Bulb
- Flash control
- Self-timer

- Programmed electronic shutter - 1.8 to 1/400 second
- Dual shutters for portrait and landscape photography
- Precision-milled base grip tripod mount accessory that acts as a handy grip when unmounted
- Film size: 86mm x 54mm Picture Size 62mm x 46mm
- Shooting range: macro mode (0.3m to 0.6m), standard mode (0.6m to 3.0m), landscape mode (3.0m to infinity)

The Instax Mini 99 is slated for release in April for approximately $279.
You can find out more about the camera on the Fujifilm website.