Instax Mini Evo review
Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The Instax Mini Evo combines a classic design with functionality, but it is one of the most expensive instant cameras from Fujifilm.
Best Prices Today: Instax Mini Evo
There are numerous instant cameras and printers in the Instax line-up, but its latest hybrid option is one of the most innovative we’ve seen.
The Instax Mini Evo from Fujifilm combines all the bells and whistles of a classic digital camera with the novelty of an instant camera. But you do not just have to print snaps taken on the Evo – it can also connect to your phone and print photos, just like a standard portable printer.
I have spent some time with the Instax Mini Evo to see if these features are worth the price.
Design and build
Previously, I have found instant cameras such as theInstax Mini 11quite bulbous and hard to port around. I had no such issues with the Instax Mini Evo.
The camera measures 87 x 122.9 x 36 mm and weighs 285g. Its slim, rectangular shape means that it can slip into bags with ease without taking up a lot of room.
Batteries and a strap come included in the box, but the Instax Mini Film that it uses is sold separately. The design is reminiscent of what is seen on theInstax Mini 40, with black and silver accents and a retro, textured front that will suit those who prefer a more professional finish on their kit.
The camera is made from plastic, which should prove slightly durable against any knocks and bumps. On the back, there is a decently sized 3in LCD screen for the menu. This isn’t the brightest out there and does get some glare under sunlight.
The camera comes with dual shutter buttons so you can use it both in portrait mode and landscape mode – though the orientation of the prints makes portrait mode the most obvious choice for snaps. The front shutter button is also handy for selfies, which pairs nicely with the discreet mirror (useful for seeing if your face is in shot).
The power button sits on the same side as the lens. To print a photo, there is a little lever which you can pull, and it takes about 16 seconds to print an image. You can change the lens effects by turning the outer ring of the lens and change the film effects by turning the dial on the top of the device.
On the side, there is a microUSB port for charging, as well as a microSD slot, should you need further storage. The camera itself can only store up to 45 images internally, but you can expand this up to around 850 if you use a 1GB SD card.
The Instax Evo comes fitted with a lithium ion battery, which allegedly lasts for around 100 snaps. I had no trouble with the camera’s longevity. Even if you forget to turn it off, the device will power down automatically. When you do come to charge it, it takes around two and half hours.
Features and image quality
One of the advantages of choosing the Instax Mini Evo over a standard instant camera is the ability to pick from 100 different combinations of filters and colour options. You can also choose to turn the flash on or off or set it to automatic.
This product has dropped lots of the gimmicky social features found on theLiPlay(a previous hybrid camera from Instax), and instead focuses on the classic elements of a digital camera. There is face detection, an AF illuminator and more fun things such as mirror imaging and fisheye effects.
The camera has a quality of 4.9Mp with a focal length of 28mm. It shines best when used outdoors in daylight, but do not be expecting the same quality as what you will find on smartphones. The flash will help with some low-light photography, but the Evo has more trouble focusing on subjects of a night.
Whilst the physical buttons and dials on the Mini Evo are remarkably easy to use, the menu interface is annoying to navigate. Fortunately, I did not find that I had to go into this that often due to the abundance of manual controls.
Printing is incredibly fast on the Evo, and the images it produces have that classic vintage feel to them. You have the choice to either print them in natural mode, or rich mode which increases the warm tones. The photos are about the size of a credit card, making them perfect for slipping inside of a wallet.
Instax Mini Evo app
To take full advantage of the Instax Mini Evo’s features, you will need the Instax Mini Evo app, which is available on both iOS and Android.
Once you have connected the camera with your phone, you can print photos from your gallery, transfer images taken on the camera to your phone, and use the remote shooting feature to get a live feed of what the lens is capturing on your phone.
The overall layout of the app is incredibly simple to use, but the text could be a little larger for accessibility reasons, and there seems to be a lot of wasted space.
When printing photos you can also add filters, change the orientation, crop the images and use colour correction tools.
If you want to transfer images taken on the camera, you must print them first. This may be an annoyance if you do not want to waste your film unnecessarily.
Instax has a habit of creating multiple apps for different devices. It would be a lot easier if they just created a singular, streamlined app for all products.
Price and availability
The Fujifilm Mini Evo is more on the expensive end of instant cameras, priced at £174.99/$199.95.
If you are in the UK, you can buy it fromAmazon,JessopsandCurrys. In the US, you can purchase it fromAmazon US,Best BuyandTarget.
Note that many major retailers are currently out of stock at the time of writing – check theInstax websitefor a full list of who has the camera available to buy.
As with all other instant cameras, you should also consider the cost of film when purchasing. Typically a pack of 20 Instax Mini Instant Film costs around£14.99in the UK, and$18in the US. Other cameras such as thePolaroid Snapuse Zink paper for printing. Whilst this is much cheaper at£12.99 for 20 sheets, it is technically not real film.
For a camera and smartphone printer hybrid, you could also consider theInstax Mini LiPlay, which has an RRP of £149.99/$159.99. However, shooting features are not as useful as what you will find on the Evo.
You can look at how rivals compare in our charts of thebest instant cameras, as well as thebest instant printers.
Verdict
The Instax Mini Evo is one of the strongest instant cameras that Fujifilm has created. Combining the digital camera features with analogue buttons results in a fun shooting experience, and the fact that it doubles as an instant printer is the icing on the cake.
It looks more professional than cheaper Instax models, with a retro-inspired design. That said, be prepared to spend a pretty penny to get your hands on one.
Specs
Instax Mini Evo: Specs
Best Prices Today: Instax Mini Evo
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
