While the Polaroid brand may have invented Instant Film back in 1947 and is synonymous with instant camera prints – it’s actually Fujifilm that has taken pole position in the race to corner the estimated US$1.28 billion worldwide Instant Film related market. In fact, instax cameras are one of Fujifilm’s main money spinners and the reason they have been bringing out some great new cameras over the past few years.
My first dive into the world of instant prints was in the early 2000’s with the Polaroid i-Zone Pocket Instant Camera which produced tiny 1.5"x1" prints. They were very cute, but ultimately low quality. Soon after, I migrated to the much larger Polaroid 600 format and enjoyed the results, until I transitioned to shooting on a DSLR.
Fast forward to the early 2020's when I purchased the Fujifilm instax mini 11 to document a project and I became addicted once again to this fun format. The reasons to fall in love with the format is simple. We seem to be inundated with phone images that just fill our phones and hard drives with quickly taken and quickly forgotten images.
The instax analog print images are a one off image, and that in itself makes it feel collectable and special. There is no photoshopping or putting a skin softening filter – it's real life in it's rawest form.
The tangibility of a print, or the concentration behind making sure the framing and lighting is correct (don't waste a shot!), or even the window of excitement when shooting a selfie with friends – these are not feelings that are encountered whilst using a normal camera or your phone. Even the 2 minute wait to see if the image has turned out is part of a fun process in itself. On top of this, once you have started shooting a number of these prints, the process of collecting the prints appeals to us psychologically. For some reason these little 'time capsules' can feel extra special.
If you don't have an instant film camera yet, here are three of the latest Fujifilm instax cameras I can recommend taking a look at.
The instax mini EVO
Even though it is fun to have the mystery of whether a print will turn out, at times you may find yourself being pedantic and taking multiple photos to get it right. And at approximately $1 a photo, this can be an issue for some.
Enter the solution. The instax mini Evo (RRP $299) is a hybrid camera that shoots both instant film AND digital images. The camera itself is probably the coolest looking instant film camera on the market with its appealing retro looks and decent size.
A stand out feature not found on most cameras is the ability to add 'in camera' filters. There are some really fun effects that makes for very interesting photos. There are 10 lens effects and 10 film effects – so you can use these different combinations for 100 different looks.
The other good thing about this camera is that with other 'normal' instant film cameras – there is a fight over who gets the print. You don't get this problem as you can print off multiple copies of the one image for your friends and families to put on the household gallery i.e. the fridge door.
Yet another interesting feature is that you can use the Instax mini Evo as a printer. You can sync your phone or professional camera via Bluetooth and make multiple super cute prints. When giving out a birthday card, I often add an instax print of us together as a memory of our friendship – nawwww...
Of course, you can also save the digital images on a MicroSD card and then download to your computer – but you'd be hard pressed to think that the actual digital camera is going to replace your 'real' camera. The f/2.0 lens means you can shoot in lower light than some instant film cameras, but it gets fairly noisy over 400iso (it has auto ISO from 100 to 1600). But when printed on the 4.5X 6cm Instax film (actual print size) the images look great.
instax mini Evo specs:
Print size: 6.2cm X 4.6cm
Film size: 86mm x 54mm
Memory storage: micro SD (or 45 images internal memory)
Battery: Internal rechargeable Li-on battery
LCD: 3 inch
Digital image size: 2560 X 1920
Lens: 28mm (35mm eq)
Shutter: 1/4 to 1/8000
ISO: 100-1600
Exposure compensation: +/- 2 stops
Flash range: 50cm to 1.5m
Dimensions: 87 mm × 122.9 mm × 36 mm
Weight: 285g
The instax SQUARE SQ40
Back to a fully analog process. If you want to have larger prints – dare I say which are reminiscent of square Polaroid film, but with that instax contrasty punch of colour - then you have to get the larger instax SQ40 which is currently retailing at $229.
The SQ40 may not have the cool 1960’s analogue looks of the mini EVO, but it still is a very handsome camera in it’s own right and is reminiscent of early 1970’s mod design with its classic square silhouette, matte black rubbery surface and minimal chrome-like details. While the instax mini EVO may have the weight of a toy, the instax SQ40 has more heft and feels very solid.
The auto-exposure is uncannily spot on. Using some other brands, albeit with their older models, I'd find myself wasting film – or having to reshoot to get the desired outcome. But this camera seems to always get the exposures right. The SQ40's film speed is 800 ISO and interestingly, the minimum shutter speed may be only 1/400, but the lens aperture is f/65!
The camera offers two modes – 'auto' and 'selfie' (close-up range 30-50cm). The 'selfie' mode is just another name for closeup and you will have to compensate for parallax error by shooting slightly higher and to the right (see pic)
Shooting in square format is great for capturing some super symmetrical compositions, but beware – you may have to compensate the tiniest amount here or there to get it just right.
instax SQUARE SQ40 specs
Film: Fujifilm Instax Square instant film
Film developing time: 90 seconds
Shooting range: 0.3 m and beyond (use selfie mode for 0.3 m to 0.5 m)
Print size: 6.2cm X 6.2cm
Film ISO: 800
Battery: Two lithium batteries (CR2)
Lens: 2 components, 2 elements, f = 65.75 mm, 1:12.6
Shutter: 1/2th to 1/400th
Flash range: 0.3 to 2.2m
Dimensions: 134.2 mm × 120.2 mm × 60.5 mm
Weight: approx. 550g with film
The instax mini 12
Building on the brilliant success of the mini 11 is the instax mini 12. This is probably the most basic, best low-budget ($99) and cutest instax that you can get. It boasts a range of pastel colours to choose from, and the pop-art bubble design is something not really witnessed on any other camera.
Due to its efficiency to always capture a bright and well exposed shot no matter what ambient lighting you’re in, it would be a great camera for kids through to seniors (not just Gen Z as the campaign may suggest). You really need no camera experience. I never feel like I'm going to waste a print with this camera because I know the picture will always turn out.
The latest version is the best yet, with the biggest improvement including the ability to correct parrallex error for close-ups (image not being centred properly in the viewfinder). Previously you’d have to line up a circle in the middle of the diopter and that would generally be the centre of the image. But if you had to switch the lens to close-up (like on the SQ40), you’d have to re-centre by framing the image up and slightly to the right. The way the instax 12 fixes this dilemma is by automatically swapping the lens diopter when you rotate the lens barrel to ‘close-up’ mode.
instax mini 12 specs
Film: FUJIFILM instax mini Instant Film
Film developing time: 90 seconds
Shooting range: 0.3 m and beyond (use Close-Up Mode for 0.3 m to 0.5 m)
Print size: 62 mm × 46 mm
Film ISO: 800
Battery: Two AA-size alkaline batteries
Lens: 2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7
Shutter: 1 second to 1/250th sec
Flash range: 0.3 to 2.2m
Dimensions: 104 mm×66.6 mm×122 mm
Weight: 306 g (without batteries, strap, and film)
So there you have it – three of my favourite instax cameras from their current line up of nine cameras.
And with Christmas coming up, these cameras make a fun gift for either kids, or friends and family who may prefer something a little different than the usual gift of socks, undies, soap or a mid-priced bottle of wine.
You can find out more about the instax range on the Fujifilm website.
