instax with lcd screen free sample

This app is exclusively for the Fujifilm instax mini LiPlay camera. You can enjoy the following functions by connecting the instax mini LiPlay and this app via Bluetooth.

Announced in 2019, the Instax Mini LiPlay is the latest instant camera from Fujifilm. It pairs a digital camera with an inbuilt Instax Mini printer, and also introduces audio capture for the first time. You can also use the LiPlay to print images from your smartphone (or indeed any image file found on your smartphone), too.

The Instax LiPlay is the smallest and lightest hybrid instant camera in Fujifilm’s history, and is available in three different colours - Stone White, Elegant Black and Blush Gold (pink).

Inside the Fujifilm LiPlay is a 1/5-inch CMOS sensor which is capable of producing digital images of 2560x1920 pixels. The fixed lens offers a 28mm equivalent focal length, with an f/2 lens. Using the camera is pretty much entirely automatic, with a number of different effects which can be utilised for those who would like to get a bit creative.

The camera uses Instax Mini film, which is available to buy in a couple of different varieties, including with a traditional white frame, or with various different fun colours, such as rainbow, “shiny stay”, and “candy pop”. At the time of writing, a single pack of 10 Instax shots will set you back £9.93, but you can usually pick it up a little bit cheaper if you buy in bulk.

The Instax Mini LiPlay uses a fun design which is designed to be attractive to the target audience. With nicely rounded curves and three different stylish colourways, we can see it being popular particularly with a younger audience.

Being the smallest instant camera in Instax history, the Instax LiPlay is more transportable than many of the other cameras in the brand’s back-catalogue. It’s not quite pocket-friendly though, so you will need a small bag to store it in.

Designed to be as user-friendly as possible, learning how to use the Instax Mini LiPlay shouldn’t be too complicated. The camera is primarily designed to be used in portrait-format orientation, so that when the Instax prints are revealed, the larger part of the frame will be at the bottom.

On the front of the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay, you’ll find the lens, which is surrounded by a textured frame. Inside the frame you’ll see the flash, which can be switched on or off from the menu.

An intriguing button is found towards the bottom of the Instax LiPlay - it has a microphone symbol on it. This is one of the unique functions of the LiPlay - if you press this before taking a photo, you’ll activate a microphone which will record up to 10 seconds of audio before and after you take a shot.

The shutter release button is also found on the front of the Instax LiPlay, which feels slightly strange in use for those who are used to finding buttons in the more traditional place (on top of the camera).

Also on the same side of the Instax LiPlay is a slot for inserting a microSD card. The LiPlay comes with an inbuilt memory which can store approximately 45 images, while up to 850 images can be stored per 1GB of memory on a Micro SD card - so it’s worth investing in one of those unless you want to frequently delete your images.

Flipping to the back of the Instax Mini LiPlay and you’ll see that again it’s quite a simple set-up here. There’s a small, 2.7-inch 230k-dot LCD screen, which doubles up as the screen door for the film slot. Slide across a switch to open the film door when you want to insert a new pack of Instax film.

Instax film is incredibly simple to use - all you need to do is line up the small yellow line on the Instax film with the same yellow line on the camera and close the door when it’s in place. Be careful not to accidentally open the film door once you start using the film though, as you’ll risk exposing and ruining the film.

When the Instax LiPlay is on, you’ll see some helpful information on the screen. A dotted display at the screen shows how many prints you’ve got left in your film pack. You’ll see the navigation guide displayed on the screen, which is controlled by a four way navigational dial just underneath it.

Press the print button when you’re ready to print one of your shots - if you’ve recorded any sound then you’ll be given the option to print it with or without the QR code for scanning with your mobile phone.

At the bottom of the Fuji Instax Mini LiPlay is a micro USB port, which you can use to charge up the camera. The flash on the front of the camera will light up to let you know it’s charging, switching off when it’s complete.

The Instax Mini LiPlay is designed to work with a companion smartphone app, which is available to download for free. You can connect to the LiPlay via Bluetooth, and for the most part it connects quickly and seems to remain stable once the initial connection and setup has been completed.

Most useful is the “direct print” option, which allows you to print any image which you have stored on your phone. This effectively turns the LiPlay into a portable Instax Mini printer, and is a great way to use to print better photos than the onboard camera is capable of capturing.

Once an image has been printed out, you’ll need to allow some time for the Instax film to develop - in other words, don’t be alarmed when it pops out completely white. After a few minutes, the colours should have fully rendered.

The print slot is found at the top of the Instax Mini LiPlay, so make sure it is unobstructed when you press the print button. A nice quirk is that the camera display will show a graphic of the print coming out from the screen.

Instax printing is never about superb image quality, but rather the fun and quirky aspect of printing out your shots on instant film. Some Instax cameras are analogue, but one of the big benefits of using the LiPlay’s digital camera is that you can preview your shots before printing them - so you don’t accidentally print out a dud and waste precious film.

Put bluntly, the onboard camera on the Instax Mini LiPlay is nothing to write home about. It’s almost like using a camera from 10-15 years ago, boasting a low resolution and lacking detail. In bright conditions, the shots that it can produce are fine for the small size of an Instax print, though. In darker conditions, the camera struggles to focus (even with the AF assist light switched on), and using the flash is a definite requirement, too.

It’s best to view the digital versions of the photos as just a guide to let you know what you should bother to print. They don’t stand up on their own when viewed on a computer screen, and certainly aren’t ones you’re likely to want to keep or use for any other purpose than for printing in the small Instax size.

This is a selection of sample images from the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay camera, which were all taken using the 4.9 megapixel JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

There is a lot to like about the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay, depending on your opinion of the Instax brand as a whole. At around £150, it’s perhaps slightly too expensive to be considered an “impulse purchase”, but it’s still cheap enough to be appealing to those who are fans of this kind of thing.

Sadly, the biggest let down for the LiPlay is the quality of the onboard camera. While it produces shots which are just about adequate for the Instax mini print size, as digital files they leave a lot to be desired. I’ve found it’s best if you almost ignore that the digital files exist, and only use them in order to decide whether or not you want to print a shot. Alternatively, for kids or anybody without a smartphone or dedicated camera, it might also be appealing.

Having the ability to record and “print” sound is a bit of an intriguing quirk, but it’s pretty much just a gimmick that you’ll probably ignore after the first couple of attempts. After all, if you wanted to create a picture with a sound - wouldn’t you just record a video on your phone? Again, for kids or those without a phone, it’s likely to be more appealing than otherwise.

The best news is that the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay can be used as an Instax Mini printer, which for most people in possession of a half-decent smartphone, will be the preferable way of using the LiPlay. However, if you’re going to do that, you could dispense with the camera altogether and purchase an Instax Share SP-2 printer, which at £99.99 will save you £50 off the price of the Instax LiPlay. On the plus side, the LiPlay brings the benefit of Bluetooth connectivity, which is a little more reliable than the Wi-Fi found on the Share SP-2.

That moves us neatly on to the cost of prints. At around £10 for a pack of 10 shots, printing Instax is never going to be the cheapest hobby in the world. While the resulting prints are lots of fun, you do have to think before you press print - “is this shot really worth £1?”. Still, the LiPlay producing digital files means at least you won’t waste that expensive film with under/over exposed photos, blurred shots or those that have been framed poorly.

Overall, the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is a fun and quirky addition to the Instax range, but its best function is as a printer. The inbuilt digital camera produces shots which are just about OK for the purpose of printing to Instax, but otherwise you’re better off shooting with a normal phone or camera if you want to keep them as digital files. The best audience for this model is young people and children who will likely be drawn in by its fun nature, and not be so bothered about the lower quality of the digital files.

The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ20 is a hybrid instant camera that takes digital pictures and makes instant prints. Does it offer the best of both the digital and analog worlds? Read our in-depth Fujifilm Instax Square SQ20 review to find out...

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The new Lomo"Instant Square is a fully automatic instant camera that"s the first ever analog model to use the square Instax film format. You can also use Instax Mini film by changing the camera back, increasing its versatility. Is this the best instant camera on the market? Find out by reading our Lomo"Instant Square review now...

Fuji"s smallest, lightest instant camera ever is more of a digital camera with a built-in printer, albeit one that still uses Instax format film. You compose with an LCD screen, not a viewfinder, and if your shots don"t look too hot you don"t have to print them, which is less wasteful - if not quite as charming as a true instant camera. The digital versions it saves aren"t particularly detailed or high quality, but audio recordings add extra novelty, and its smartphone companion app is second-to-none. No other Instax can slip into a pocket like the LiPlay can, and it"s reasonably priced too. It"s not perfect, but it is the best hybrid around right now.

When I first heard the rumors of the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay, I admittedly groaned. In my opinion, the company’s last attempt at fusing digital and analog together was subpar. But with their second attempt in the form of the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay, I’m pleasantly surprised and shocked. This is THE SMALLEST INSTAX FILM CAMERA. And not only is it small, but it reminds me of a suped-up compact camera from yesteryear while it also embraces lots of new fashionista influences. The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is going to appeal to so many different types of photographers.

The instax mini LiPlay [“Lee-Play”] is a new-generation hybrid instant camera that"s packed with new, unique and exciting features. This includes a unique new “Sound” function which allows you to play a voice message or personalised audio through a unique QR code that"s embedded in the instant instax mini print.

The instax mini LiPlay will be available from 14th June 2019 priced at £149.99 and comes in three unique colours - Stone White, Elegant Black and Blush Gold.

Today, instax launches its highly anticipated instant camera “instax mini LiPlay” [“Lee-Play”], a new-generation hybrid instant camera, packed with new, unique and exciting features.

The smallest and most lightweight hybrid instant camera in the brand’s history, the instax mini LiPlay’s unique innovations make capturing and creating real photos of special life moments more creative and fun than ever before.

“Sound” function: users can use the unique new “Sound” function to play a voice message or personalised audio through a unique QR code embedded in the instant instax mini print.

Frame Designs: With ten pre-installed design frames included with the instax mini LiPlay, and an additional library of 20 available through the instax mini LiPlay app, there are up to 30 fun frame designs that can be added to prints, providing snapchat-like** filters in an instant world.

“Remote Shooting” function – Take photos while standing away from your camera with a smartphone operation, perfect for capturing group photos with friends and family.

The camera body boasts a compact, streamlined and stylish design, with its lightweight casing making it easy to carry on the go. It also features a 2.7-inch LCD monitor at the rear of the camera to allow you to choose your picture before pressing print. The camera also offers brightness adjustment and six filters to create the perfect picture before you hit print.

The instax mini LiPlay will be available from the 14th June 2019 at an SRP of £149.99 and comes in three unique colourways; Stone White, Elegant Black and Blush Gold.

Each of the three colour variants has an individual surface finish creating interesting texture details. The Elegant Black camera features an eye-catching embossed finish, while the Blush Gold version dazzles with a smooth lustrous touches and Stone White edition has a stone-like surface achieved with a unique spray coating.

Karina Thomsen, Head of Marketing, Photo Imaging,“We’re excited to bring this innovative product to the UK and finally reveal the instax mini LiPlay after much anticipation. The smallest and lightest hybrid instant camera within the instax series, instax mini LiPlay combines some of the best and most popular features from the instax family. We have added some exciting new innovative elements that will really allow people to capture their life in a fun, creative way. From a new sound function, to direct print from your smartphone. We look forward to seeing everyone’s reactions and how the instax mini LiPlay will come to life.”

instax has also announced, today, two new film products. The first a new metallic instax mini film “CONFETTI”, which will give prints a dazzling touch and is compatible with all cameras in the “instax mini” series. The second new film is the “Star-illumination” which is a design of the night sky with colourful stars scattered across the print and is compatible with all “instax SQUARE” series. Both new film products are available in 10 print packs.

The instax mini LiPlay is on sale in the UK from 14th June 2019 in Amazon, Jessops and Selfridges and will soon be available in Currys PC World, John Lewis and Urban Outfitters; with a suggested retail price of £149.99. instax SQUARE Instant Film ‘Star-Illumination’ (10 shots) will have a suggested retail price of £9.99 instax mini Instant Film ‘Confetti’ (10 shots) will have a suggested retail price of £8.99.

I have always been fascinated by instant film processing cameras. I remember as a child getting to take a couple of shots with a family-friend’s original Polaroid and being amazed by its ability to create a fully processed photo within minutes.

The latest rendition of such a camera is the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay, targeted at the selfie youth market. (Not that there is anything wrong with that! I have taken the odd selfie here and there too…)

Unlike earlier Fujifilm Instax models which performed a little ‘toy-like’, this one is a hybrid digital/instant camera which unlocks the restrictions of an otherwise analogue product.

Despite its Blush Gold finish (also available in Elegant Black and Stone White) and sparkly appearance, the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPLay is solidly constructed of a rigid feeling plastic.

Nothing feels loose or rattly when handling the camera, especially the large door where the Fujifilm Instax Film is loaded. This is critical given that the door ensures zero light penetration to expose the film inside.

Fujifilm Instax cameras have always had odd design choices and I must admit that most seem bulky and bulbous. An obvious reason for is to allow the canister of 10 Fujifilm Instax film slides to be pressed right up against the front element and shutter. All other features of the camera are built around that core structure.

It is mostly rectangular with softened edges and corners. The camera is actually held vertical with small plastic nubs on the base to allow for the camera to be placed on a flat surface.

On the side are three customisable feature buttons along with the power button. On the back of the camera is the Fujifilm Instax film access door. This door is slightly raised to accommodate the LCD screen along with the menu buttons and selection dial.

There is also a raised nub for your thumb to rest against when holding the camera up for a shot. At the top is the felted gap for the Instax film to slide through once the shot has been taken.

When I first picked up the LiPlay I found it incredibly awkward to hold and shoot – mostly because it required to be held vertically rather than horizontally like I am used to in my day to day interactions with cameras. But as with all tools, use them enough and they become second nature.

There are two parts to the menu system with the first allowing for camera settings to be changed and the second is to use the command ring to select image changes such as filters and frames.

Knowing how to load the Fujifilm Instax film into the back of the LiPLay is very intuitive with a clear yellow marker indicating where the place the film and align it. The door has a very snug fit to ensure that there is no light leakage to expose the film.

The Mini LiPlay is easy to hold in the one hand (right hand only) thanks to the way your hand curls around the side of the camera while your thumb is snug again the thumb nub on the back. Your shooting finger tends to align perfectly with the rather large shutter release button on the front.

Given that it has a polished and highly rounded body, it would be wise to ensure that you use the included wrist strap. Whilst the ability to hold the camera is comfortable and ensures a good grip, it is not a highly secure grip, making it not ideal as a camera for kids with their smaller hands.

With a half-press of the shutter button, the autofocus will hit the target in the middle of the sensor and then confirm with a solid green square on the screen.

In lower light, the Mini LiPLay can struggle to capture focus quickly and in some cases will hunt for focus. If it cannot obtain a clean focus then it will confirm that with a solid red square in the middle of the screen.

Given the sensor size, this is to be expected and anyone shooting with any instant camera should know it isn’t meant to be shot in low-light without a flash.

As mentioned., the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is not designed with the kind of sensor and processor to combat low light conditions. However,it does have a few tricks up its sleeve to combat this…

The first is that the built-in flash on the Mini LiPlay doubles as an Autofocus Illuminator. This assists in achieving great autofocus in low light especially with objects closer to the camera.

The second feature to assist with low light performance is with the adjustable Exposure Compensation function. This allowed for the exposure to be manually changed up or down two stops of light with 1/3 increments. Fujifilm Instax cameras have always struggled with low light in the past and it is great to see that Fujifilm is addressing this with smart solutions built in to the Mini LiPlay.

The images shot with the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay have a good quality of sharpness and contrast. Again, however, it is difficult to tell exactly as the resolution of the image on the screen is quite low.

The printed images from the Mini LiPlay have a trustworthy consistency as with all Fujifilm Instax cameras. The images have enough sharpness and contrast to allow for image recognition, while still retaining that ‘vintage-vibe’ that Instax users are drawn to. Someone using this camera obviously cannot expect high-resolution prints.

The Mini LiPlay and the Mini LiPlay smartphone app, allow for a direct print function. This allows you to choose any of the images from your smartphone image library to be sent directly to the print function on the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay performs exceptionally well and actually surprised me with some of its clever and creative features. There is sturdy reliability that comes with the Instax range of products. Their purpose and concept are very simple – take fun small images and have immediate gratification with a printed image. That is what attracted me to the instant film cameras I experienced as a child.

Given that the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is targeted to a youth market, all advertising and box art for this product show young women having a blast with small groups of people. It is fair to say that this product is perfectly matched to that demographic. Whilst writing this review of the Instax Mini LiPlay, my 17-year-old daughter found the camera and fell in love with it instantly.

The most important features is that the camera has a companion app available for smartphones. The Mini LiPlay app allows you to connect directly with the camera.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay comes with a small amount of built-in memory that will allow around 45 images to be saved to the camera. The memory can easily be expanded by adding a microSD card via the slot located on the side of the camera. Images can be selected deleted or the entire volume deleted from the memory.

The camera will then print a QR code in the corner of the image. With a QR code reader on a smartphone, the recipient of that printed image can scan the code and get a 10 second sound message!

Given that the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is marketed at young adults, the retail price is fair and affordable especially given the full range of highly desirable features for that market.

I have always found that the biggest cost consideration for purchasing any Fujifilm Instax camera is the film. Fujifilm Instax film comes in a pack of ten sheets to create ten printed images. In the past, Fujifilm Instax cameras were not digital hybrids so what you shot was always printed no matter what. At least now with the Mini LiPLay, you can select which images you really want to print so as to minimise print waste.

When purchasing film for the Instax, I would recommend looking for bulk packs such as this Film Value Pack of 60. They will be far cheaper per sheet in the long run than just buying a box at a time.

It’s also important to keep an eye out for all the accessories that are available for the Fujifilm Instax range. There is a wide range of different film with coloured and themed frames. There is also a pack of Fujifilm Instax film that is monochrome with a black frame, such as this.

The Mini LiPlay is all about thefun factor and documenting great memories. It is designed for a demographic with a serious set of social needs and expectations and the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPLay certainly meets those needs… so much so that I now have to get one for my daughter!

The Instax Square SQ6 feels solid and durable, and it stands apart for its exceptional image quality and ease of use. The cost of its 3.4-by-2.4-inch prints have gone up to a still reasonable 90¢ each recently, and while their 2.4-by-2.4-inch image area is about half an inch smaller in each dimension than classic Polaroids, the SQ6’s results look just as good, if not better. The Instax film reproduces a wider range of tones and more pleasing-looking colors than any other option currently available—including Polaroid’s revived instant film cartridges. The SQ6’s exceptionally sharp lens further improves quality, even compared with other Instax cameras, and its exposure-compensation controls and multiple-exposure mode give you options if you want to get creative.

The Instax Mini Evo is the best attempt at a hybrid instant-and-digital camera we’ve seen so far. It offers all the analog charm of an instant camera but with digital control over which images to print onto Instax Mini film using a small LCD screen. At about 70¢ per image, that’s a thrifty restraint to ensure you’ll only print your favorites. A smartphone app unlocks features that the tech savvy will have fun fiddling with, including remote shooting and printing images from a smartphone library.

If all you need is a fun toy for taking easy snapshots, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is perfect. Its compact body feels durable, with controls that are intuitive enough for you to pass this camera off to a family member, and its 3.4-by-2.1-inch prints (with a 2.4-by-1.9-inch image area) cost only about 60¢ per print, so it won’t break the bank. But its photos aren’t as sharp or saturated as those of our main pick, it doesn’t offer as much creative control, and its batteries last for only about 100 shots, whereas our top pick promises 300 shots per set of batteries.

The Wide 300 produces larger, wider prints at a lower price than the Instax Square SQ6 and runs on AA batteries, but the camera is quite a bit larger than most modern instant cameras and gives you fewer options.

For larger, wider-angle prints, we like the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300. Ideal for landscape and group shots, it produces 3.4-by-4.3-inch photographs (with a 2.4-by-3.9-inch image area and classic white borders) that are closer in dimensions to old-school Polaroids. Those images cost about 90¢ each, which is about the same price as the Instax Square SQ6. With only one button for exposure compensation and another for flash output, you can just point and shoot, but it’s considerably bulkier than our top pick, and you get fewer creative options.

Even with the ability to take excellent photos with our phones and instantly share them across the world, there’s something magical about the old-school instant camera. With just a click of a button, you can capture a moment in a photo that you can see and touch almost immediately. Images captured by an instant camera aren’t as pristine or perfect as modern digital cameras, but their soft images and imperfections are often a big part of the allure.

All of the models featured in our best instant camera guide here are enjoyable to use, but each offers a different set of features at a different price point. As a result, some are more appropriate for a child or the budding photographer, while others are more advanced and provide added creative control (for a price). When it comes down to it, though, we consider print quality, ease of use, and affordability to be the hallmarks of a quality shooter. That’s why we picked Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 as the best instant camera for most people, as it ticks all three boxes wonderfully.

If you’re looking for more creative control or features like filters, however, the Instax Mini Evo is our choice, one that boasts great image quality and allows you to choose which photos you’d like to print. Other instant cameras, like Polaroid’s Now Plus and Kodak’s Mini Retro 3, also offer a variety of advanced creative modes for those who desire more.

Most instant camera brands also sell films of varying quality in a range of styles. Some are decorated with colorful frames and patterns, while others are black and white. They also vary in shape and size, from small rectangular prints you can stick in your wallet to square-shaped ones. You can also buy wider prints, however, and some brands even sell film with an adhesive backing that allows you to use the resulting images as stickers.

If all you’re looking to do is just click a button and get a decent print for a reasonable price, we recommend Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11. It’s a basic instant camera that’s easy to set up and use, which makes this a good choice for kids or those new to photography. It took us less than five minutes to insert the included AA batteries and film (not included), quickly read the instructions, take a photo, and print. The image took about 20 seconds to begin showing up and less than a minute to fully appear.

The Instax Mini 11 uses credit card-sized Instax Mini film that typically costs around $0.99 a sheet and comes in packs, some of which offer up to 20 prints for around $19.99, although you can currently buy it for $13.98 from Walmart. You can easily purchase the Instax Mini film at most major retailers, unlike some other films, such as the film needed for Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Square Retro.

The Mini 11 has a number of other niceties as well. I appreciated the larger-than-average viewfinder and the fact the camera comes with a small counter that displays the remaining number of shots, which is a feature many of the other instant cameras I tested lacked. It’s easy to lose track of how many photos you’ve taken, especially while out for drinks with friends or sightseeing during a vacation. Yet, given each print costs about $1, it’s important to be mindful of how many shots you’ve got left.

All in all, the Instax Mini 11 is a basic camera that caters to all ages and experience levels and gets the job done — and done relatively well. It doesn’t feature Bluetooth or pair with a companion app that allows you to edit photos, nor does it offer advanced features like filters, lens options, or portrait modes. But if you’re looking for an instant camera that offers a great, traditional analog experience, this is it.

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 is the best instant camera for most people. While it lacks more advanced features, the simple instant camera takes good-quality shots quickly and easily and offers a built-in selfie mode.

Fujifilm’s newest instant camera, the Instax Mini Evo, is my colleague Becca Farcase’s favorite — and it’s mine as well. A hybrid camera that bears a resemblance to Fujifilm’s more expensive Fujifilm X100 line of cameras, it looks good and boasts vintage dials and buttons so stylish that they even caught the attention of passersby as I walked around Los Angeles taking photos.

It’s easy to balk at its $199 price tag, but this camera offers a level of flexibility that could save you money in the long run if you plan on using it a lot. That’s because the Instax Mini Evo includes a full-color LCD screen that lets you see and select which images you want to print before doing so, which can help you avoid wasting film on unwanted shots. The added flexibility gave me more room for creative experimentation, too, as I wasn’t worried about running out of film. I also loved using the Instax Mini Evo app to print photos from my smartphone. Plus, unlike the Instax Mini 11, it’s not battery-powered. While it’s a shame the Evo uses a Micro USB port for charging, the fact it’s rechargeable means you don’t need to keep wasting money on buying new batteries.

The Instax Mini Evo comes with a large LCD screen that doubles as a viewfinder and allows you to choose which photos to print. Becca Farsace / The Verge

Like Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11, the camera took less than five minutes to set up and uses Instax Mini film. However, you can actually turn off the flash on the Mini Evo, which helped me take far better photos, as did the large three-inch LCD screen you can use as a viewfinder. You can also use the menu to adjust how bright you want the film to look when it’s printed out. That was helpful given neither the Evo nor the Mini 11 is particularly great at capturing dark environments, though it didn’t solve the problem completely either.

Being able to adjust the brightness of the prints helped me capture night photos and a low-light immersive exhibit a little more clearly and realistically, which is a feature the Instax Mini 11 doesn’t offer. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Of course, it’s not a perfect device, and there are some downsides to consider outside the price. For instance, although you can add some filters and make a few edits using Fujifilm’s companion app, it just isn’t as feature-rich as some of the apps available for the other digital and hybrid instant cameras I tested. The Evo’s extensive menu system also wasn’t particularly easy to navigate, and it took me some time to figure out how to turn the flash on and off. Plus, if you rely on internal storage solely, you can only take 45 images before the device is full. Still, all of these are minor issues, and I was very happy overall with how portable the stylish camera is, as well as how easy it is to take good photos quickly.

Fujifilm’s stylish Instax Mini Evo is the best premium instant camera. With it, you can choose which photos to print, while also boasting good image quality.

Whereas the Instax Mini Evo’s companion app is more functional, Kodak’s hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro is all about fun. The camera’s accompanying mobile app allows you to apply frames, stickers, filters, and a plethora of customization options to photos, making the camera great for scrapbooking. There’s even a beauty feature within the app to conceal blemishes, as well as a set of Snapchat-like filters you can use to add, say, dog ears, making this a fun instant camera to use as a mini photo booth of sorts at parties.

Like the Instax Mini Evo, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro comes with an LCD screen (albeit a much smaller one) you can use to decide whether or not you want to print a shot. It also supports Bluetooth, and you can use the Kodak Photo Printer app to upload photos to social media or to print decent, relatively crisp photos from your smartphone. Unlike the Mini Evo, however, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro retails for around $150 and includes a pack of a film (it’s also often on sale for a lot less). It also uses cheaper film; you can pick up a 60-sheet cartridge for about $19.99 at the moment, which equates to roughly $0.33 a shot. The fact the film is cheaper arguably encourages play and creative experimentation.

However, there are notable drawbacks to the Kodak Mini Shot 3. For one, the camera prints larger, 3 x 3-inch square photos on Kodak’s film — which feels lower-quality and more flimsy than Fujifilm’s and Polaroid’s. Also, although you can add colorful borders within the app, they’re modern-looking as opposed to retro, which might be a turnoff for some.

Perhaps my biggest issue with the Kodak Mini Shot 3, however, was that it doesn’t print photos taken with the camera itself anywhere as crisp nor as clearly as it does pictures shot with a smartphone. Photo quality wasn’t consistently as good as the Mini Evo’s or Mini 11’s nor, for the most part, as clear and sharp. The photos also sometimes had an excessive pink tint that interfered with quality. It doesn’t store images the way the Mini Evo does, either, which means you can’t decide whether or not you’d like to print them later.

Design-wise, the Mini Shot 3 is noticeably heavier and not as stylish as the Mini Evo. Having said that, there is the option to buy a white and black model that, at least on paper, looks nicer. Also, while I eventually got the hang of the camera and found it easy to use, it took a little longer for me to set up out of the box, as there were more instructions to follow than with Fujifilm’s cameras. The instant camera doesn’t run on disposable batteries and wasn’t fully charged when it arrived, which means I was also only able to use it for a few minutes before charging. Yet after recharging it with the included Micro-USB cable, it lasted most of the day afterward.

Nonetheless, if you don’t mind compromising on photo quality and want a relatively affordable hybrid camera that comes with a bunch of fun app features, the Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is a good choice.

Kodak’s hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro instant camera comes with a fun companion app you can use to add frames, stickers, filters, conceal blemishes, and more. As long as you don’t mind the so-so image quality, this is a good digital instant camera for parties.

The Polaroid Now Plus is a good combination of old school and modern but was way too big for me to hold with just one hand. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

If you’re looking for an instant camera that offers the most old-fashioned, instant-film experience, the Polaroid Now Plus is the camera for you. Compared to the other instant cameras on this list, the Polaroid Now Plus most closely resembles vintage instant cameras like the Polaroid 600 with its classic, retro-inspired design. Meanwhile, its square I-Type film prints and iconic Polaroid-style frame give photos a more authentically vintage look.

Yet, at the same time, the Polaroid Now Plus also comes with the convenience and usefulness of more modern features, like the ability to recharge with the included a Micro USB charging cable. It also offers Bluetooth support and a companion app boasting several creative modes that allow for greater photographic control. These include a remote shutter, a self-timer, and a “Polaroid Lab” where you can adjust the exposure and various color settings. The app also features a handful of shooting modes — including a manual option and one for capturing multiple exposures — while the camera includes a set of five colored lenses you can snap onto the front. These were enjoyable to play with and allow for more artistic expression.

If there’s one thing the Polaroid Now Plus isn’t known for, it’s portability. Given how heavy, large, and awkwardly sized it is, it’s not the kind of instant camera you can easily slip into your purse or carry around. Plus, it takes up to 15 minutes for prints to develop, and you have to make sure it’s not exposed to light while developing. That’s quite an inconvenience if you’re out with friends, say, at the beach on a sunny day.

If you’re looking for an instant camera that can easily print a good, clear photo without much effort on your part, this is not the camera for you. Of all the cameras on this list, the Polaroid Now Plus struggles with low-light environments the most, making it extremely difficult to capture a good shot in darker conditions. Images are not as clear in comparison to Instax film, and both contrast and color saturation levels tend to be quite low. While this gave my pictures more of a vintage, dreamy look that felt artistic — and you can use the Polaroid Lab to slightly adjust saturation and exposure settings — that could prove to be a lot of work and frustrating for some.

For the most part, I barely could see images I took indoors, and I found I was only able to get the clearest shots when the light was directly behind me during the day — more specifically, in the morning. Given the Polaroid Now Plus lacks an LCD screen for selecting photos, it’s easy to waste film, which can prove expensive. After all, you only get eight I-Type sheets for $16.99, and that’s in addition to forking out $149.99 for the camera. Luckily, the Polaroid Now Plus has a small counter on the back so you can keep track of your shots.

Whereas the Polaroid Now Plus is huge, the Polaroid Go is tiny. When I first held it, I couldn’t help but find it adorable. It easily fits into the palm of my hand — which is saying a lot given I’m petite and a little over five feet tall. In fact, it’s so small there were times I forgot I was even carrying it in my purse, making this easily the most portable instant camera on our list. It even produces the tiniest prints of all the instant cameras I tested, which could be nice if you’re trying to save some space and want something even smaller than Instax Mini prints.

Weighing just over a pound, the Polaroid Go is also the lightest instant camera I’ve ever held, and you can easily use it with one hand. That’s actually pretty convenient, given I sometimes struggled to take pictures with the heavier Polaroid Now Plus and, to a lesser extent, some of the other instant cameras I tested. In fact, if the images produced looked more true-to-life and didn’t require you to hide them from light for about 15 minutes while developing, I’d be tempted to call this the best instant camera for travel or small children.

The Polaroid Go is one of the most affordable Polaroid cameras currently on the market, with film that costs just a little more than Fujifilm’s Instax Mini shots (or about $19.99 for a 16-sheet double pack). Thankfully, the low price doesn’t come at the expense of image quality. While the Go struggles with capturing low-light environments like the bulk of the cameras on our list, it’s not to the same extent as the Polaroid Now Plus. Surprisingly, it was easier to capture clearer photos indoors, which meant I didn’t waste as much film. Contrast and color saturation levels are still low, but in a way that still exudes the vintage, almost dreamy look of the photos the Now Plus prints.

Unlike the Polaroid Now Plus, however, it lacks creative modes and more advanced features, although double-pressing the flash button does give you double-exposure shots. There’s also no Bluetooth support and thus no fancy app that will allow you to add extra effects – although, thankfully, it is rechargeable and includes a Micro USB charging cable. In addition, as mentioned, the prints are even smaller than the Instax Mini, which could be a drawback for those who prefer larger, more traditional Polaroid photos. While it produces similar vintage-style shots, design-wise, it doesn’t look anything like old-school Polaroid cameras either, which could also take away from the retro experience some desire.

That said, none of the older Polaroid cameras came with an app either. All in all, the Go’s simplicity makes it a suitable candidate for those seeking a camera that provides a more traditional instant film experience – one they can take advantage of just about anywhere.

Camera tech for video has come a long way in recent years, with faster autofocus, subject tracking, eye tracking and smarter lenses that stabilize the frame. But in the rush to make hybrids why are aren"t we giving video shooters the tools they need?

The Canon EOS R8 is the company"s second ever sub-$1500 full-frame camera (just). It"s a compact, entry-(ish)-level body with a lot of EOS R6 II to it. But there are also some limitations. We look at what it is, what it isn"t and how it stacks up against its peers.

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO is an autofocus stabilized macro lens that delivers up to 2x magnification (4x with a 2x teleconverter).

What makes the new app more fun? Fun Modes. Party Print creates collages from multiple phones, while Match Test takes images of two people (or two images of one person) and prints a combined image. It"ll also tell you how "compatible" it thinks the pair is, which is gimmicky, but what party doesn"t lighten up with a little gimmickry?

There’s a reason Fujifilm still has film in its name, and it’s not because of Provia, Astia, or Velvia — it’s because of Instax. The Instax Mini LiPlay is the latest model in the wildly popular line of instant film cameras, and it’s unlike any that have come before it. More than just a camera, it’s also a mobile printer. In fact, the LiPlay (which I’m not exactly sure how to pronounce) is basically an Instax Share printer with a digital camera bolted to the front and an LCD screen on the back.

But most importantly, the LiPlay is a brilliantly fun product that offers one of the most refined experiences of any instant camera, even if it’s lacking some advanced features found on other Instax models. The companion mobile app is very well-designed and easy to use, while the audio recording and clever QR-code-based playback system are surprisingly entertaining additions.

The button arrangement doesn’t help with that, either. The shutter button is on the front right of the camera, and it’s hard to reach with your index finger without your other fingers covering up the flash or lens. The audio record button is also on the front, but on the opposite corner, while three shortcut buttons and the power button are on the left side. None of it makes any sense, but I guess you’ll get used to it. It’s part of the Instax charm.

The shortcut buttons let you quickly apply a favorite frame and see a live preview before you take a picture; you can also apply frames later. The camera comes with many frames built-in — you can add anything from speech bubbles to color effects, and more stuff can be added from the mobile app (additional details on this later). You probably won’t get a ton of use out of them, but they can be fun in some situations.

As a digital camera, the Mini LiPlay is nothing exceptional, and it doesn’t need to be. I’m sure it has some number of megapixels, enough to make a 1.8 x 2.4-inch Instax print, and that’s really all I need to know. Image quality is not what I’d call great, but it does manage to retain that old-school instant film look.

The screen is nothing special, either. It’s low resolution and always looks washed out, but again, I don’t really care — it’s an Instax camera. My only real complaint is that it’s not a touchscreen. I’m guessing this was a cost-cutting measure, but a touchscreen really would have made sense on this product, given its likely popularity with younger customers who grew up on touchscreen interfaces.

And printing is a lot of fun. The screen plays an animation of the photo sliding up toward the film slot, which then “turns into” the print itself as the film gets spit out of the slot. This is silly, but like so many things in instant photography, it put a smile on my face — I never got tired of it.

As fun a camera as it is, I think the LiPlay is even better as a mobile printer. You’ll get better results by taking a picture with your phone and sending it to the camera to be printed, rather than shooting with the LiPlay itself. Note that “better” doesn’t mean “good” — I also printed a photo I shot with a $10,000 Hasselblad and $5,000 lens and it still came out looking like a cheap instant picture, but that’s kind of the point.

A word of warning: Printing from your phone becomes dangerously addictive. I said the Mini LiPlay can save you money by allowing you to be selective about what you print, but it also opens up a world of opportunity by letting you print so quickly from your phone. As a photographer and camera reviewer, I’ve shot thousands of photos on many different cameras, and with how easy Adobe Lightroom CC makes it to save those images to my phone, the desire to view them as Instax prints is strong.

It’s no surprise that Instax cameras are popular selfie tools (there’s a built-in mirror next to the lens so you can frame yourself) and the LiPlay takes your egocentric self-expression a step further by letting you talk about yourself as you photograph yourself.

This is the cool part. When you press the print button on an audio photo, you have the option to “print with sound.” This will generate a QR code and overlay it on the print (you can place it in any corner or right in the center). When someone scans the photo with their phone’s camera, they will then be taken to a website where they can listen to the recorded audio and see the original image unobstructed by the QR code. It’s a bit like a hidden message, and I think some people will have a lot of fun with it. The image and audio are stored at a unique sound.instax.com link.

Let’s back up a second. The Mini LiPlay isn’t actually the first hybrid Instax camera. The Instax SQ10 and SQ20 from 2018 also combine digital sensors with instant film printers. Those cameras print with the larger Instax Square format and include a host of creative options, from being able to shoot a short video sequence and print a single frame from it, to multi-exposure shooting and collage printing. But they lack the app connectivity of the Mini LiPlay and can’t make prints from your phone.

The Mini LiPlay is designed to work hand-in-hand with a new mobile app of the same name. Camera manufacturers don’t have a great track record when it comes to app development — Fujifilm’s own app for its X-Series mirrorless cameras is merely acceptable — but the Mini LiPlay app absolutely nails it. There’s a simple setup process to pair the camera with your phone over Bluetooth; after that, the camera connects instantly when you turn it on, every time. There’s no secondary Wi-Fi connection to worry about, and I never had to restart the app or the camera to get it to connect — it just worked.

This is, of course, the way it should be, but having experienced so many connectivity issues with camera companion apps in the past, the effortless nature of the Mini LiPlay app was very welcome.

From within the app, you can print photos from your phone’s camera roll, control the LiPlay camera remotely (including a live preview), view and listen to your audio photos, and program the frame shortcut buttons. (Being from the Pacific Northwest, I naturally assigned these to the umbrella, antlers, and foliage frames — but only because hipster, hiking, and hops weren’t options.)

Instant cameras are a novelty, but the Instax Mini LiPlay keeps that novelty from fading by combining a camera and mobile printer in one. The sound-recording feature is also a surprisingly fun addition. All of this functionality is fit into a device that’s even smaller than a normal Instax camera, and the headache-free mobile app means you’ll actually want to use it.

This camera represents a great idea and we hope Fujifilm releases more models in this line, perhaps one that uses Instax Wide film. Currently, the sole Instax Wide camera on the market is very bulky, partly due to the need for a big lens. A digital version of this camera could be made much more compact, making the format more practical.

There are many other options in the instant camera game, including a few that combine printers and cameras into one. The Canon Ivy Cliq comes to mind at just $100. Zink prints don’t have to develop like Instax film does, so they’re ready sooner (but they do take longer to actually get spit out of the camera) and you can stick them anywhere thanks to the adhesive back. The Cliq doesn’t have an LCD screen or the LiPlay’s audio-recording capabilities, however. Fujifilm also makes a wide variety of Instax film frames with different colors and patterns, which can enhance the fun, especially if you’re buying a camera for your kids.

Since it combines printer and camera functionality in one, I think you’ll get more life out of the Mini LiPlay than any other Instax camera. It also feels decently well-made and we expect it will hold up to normal wear and tear for at least a few years.

Yes. The Instax Mini LiPlay is a ton of fun, and I really enjoyed using it. One caveat: The mobile print function is where I spent most of my time, so if you think you won’t need the camera portion, you may want to consider the Instax Share SP-3 printer, which prints to a larger format and includes additional creative print capabilities.

FUJIFILM Corporation (President and CEO, Representative Director Teiichi Goto) has launched the new instax mini Evo Hybrid instant camera (mini Evo), available on 1st February 2022. With a sophisticated and classic look that is synonymous with Fujifilm’s iconic approach to camera design, the mini Evo’s unique hybrid format combines the excitement and enjoyment of analog instant camera functionality with the capabilities of digital photo technology to store, share, and print images.

Unique to the mini Evo is ten integrated lens modes and ten film effect filter options that offer 100 different combinations for photographers to express themselves and create one-off, unique shots. And when paired with instax mini instant film, the mini Evo creates the highest-ever quality instax instant prints to date, 600 dpi, when printed directly from the camera.

The instax mini Evo is a unique, high-end addition to the instax family,” saidToshi Ida, President FUJIFILM Europe. “This hybrid camera and printer was designed to give photographers the flexibility to choose an analog experience or digital where you choose images to instantly print, which images to share and which images to store for later access. Offering 100 ways to capture images and the highest-ever instax instant print quality, all in a timeless classic design, the mini Evo is a unique companion for chronicling and sharing life’s milestones in an instant.

The new instax mini Evo Smartphone App*1 that comes with the mini Evo and utilises Bluetooth*² technology adds a number of new advanced features. Firstly, ‘Transferred Images’ allows for the transfer of any instax framed images captured on the mini Evo, to your smartphone. The mini Evo also doubles up as a photo printer with ‘Direct Print’; where you can print any photo from your smartphone camera roll. And that’s not it, remote shooting capabilities and image storage options are also included for the ultimate in versatility.

If you"re like most of us, you probably haven"t touched a point-and-shoot camera in years — they"ve long been outmoded by smartphones, with the exception of some high-end and novelty models. The Fuji Instax Mini Evo is one of those: it"s a retro-styled digital camera and an instant photo printer in one. It doesn"t take great pictures, and it costs more than it should, but the thing"s so dang cute, you might just want one anyway.

The camera looks great. It"s a chunky little rectangle meant to give the impression it"s finished in metal and leather, with fun details like knurled function dials and a clicky, faux-film advance lever you pull to print photos. There"s a tripod mount on one side of the camera, and a MicroSD slot and micro USB port concealed under a flap on the bottom. The back"s got a three-inch LCD screen and some buttons to adjust settings, and there"s even an accessory shoe on top.

I just wish it felt a little nicer. Despite appearances, the Mini Evo is made entirely of plastic, which gives it a distinctly toy-like vibe. I don"t think that"s entirely a bad thing — it is a kind of toy, after all, and the low-rent feel is charming. It"d be much more charming in a less expensive package, though; I expect more refined hardware for 200 bucks. There"s also no viewfinder; you"ll have to use the LCD screen to compose all your shots. It"s bright enough to see outdoors most of the time, at least, but direct sunlight can be a problem.

It"s also, to be blunt, not a very capable camera. It"s got a 1/5-inch, 2,560 x 1,920 sensor (that"s about five megapixels) at f/2.0, and photos are what you"d expect. They look okay with enough light, but dynamic range is universally poor, and the tiny sensor struggles indoors without the help of the built-in flash. Instant cameras have never been prized for their image quality, and lo-fi snaps are part of the appeal here — the tiny instant prints the camera kicks out are going to look charmingly fuzzy anyway, regardless of the quality of the source file. Just be aware your phone certainly takes better photos.

To that end, you can connect your phone using Fuji"s Instax Mini Link app to print wallet-size instant copies of any digital photos. Film can get pricey, though. Even the basic film runs about $0.50-0.70 per shot. This isn"t an economical way to get wallet-size prints by any means.

Shooting with the Mini Evo is more entertaining than using your phone — partially thanks to its lens and film effects. It"s got 10 of each, and cycling through them is as simple as rotating the camera dials. The dial around the lens controls the lens effects while the one on top cycles through different films. When you get right down to it, the effects are just filters — but some of them, like double exposure and fish-eye, can be a lot of fun. Being able to combine lens and film filters means you"ve got a lot of options for honing the look of your snaps, too — 100 options, to be exact.

You"ll need to shell out for a MicroSD card if you plan on shooting for more than a few minutes; the Instax Mini Evo only has room for about 45 photos in its internal storage. You"re also going to have to dig out a micro USB cable to charge it. Fuji"s high-end cameras have made the switch to USB-C; the Instax Mini Evo obviously isn"t courting the same consumer, but it"s still a shame to see it use an outdated charger.

There"s nothing practical about the Instax Mini Evo, but there"s not supposed to be — it"s a novelty. If all you"re after is a way to get instant photo prints from your phone, Fujifilm sells standalone printers that"ll do just that for half what the Evo Mini costs. But the camera is cute, and working around its limitations can be a fun challenge. If it sounds up your alley and your budget can bear it, go ahead and grab one — just be sure you know what you"re getting into.

Many years ago Sony launched an ad campaign for their PlayStation 3 that utilized the slogan, “It Only Does Everything.” And that’s a shame. Because had Sony not coined that catchy phrase in 2008 it might’ve been used just as well by Fujifilm today to market their newest Instax camera. The Instax Mini Evo is a hybrid digital instant film camera that truly does everything.

It takes digital photos, allows us to apply filters and lens effects to these photos, and then gives us the freedom to decide whether or not we want to instantly print those photos. It’s got Bluetooth, built-in storage, a big LCD screen, a nice CMOS sensor, and a selfie mirror (admit it, you care about this). It even works as an Instax photo printer to print any picture or image from a smartphone via its own dedicated app (which works surprisingly well).

I’ve spent the past couple of months shooting the Mini Evo, and though there are two or three problems with the camera, it really is a wonderful thing. It’s easily the best Instax Mini camera that Fuji’s currently producing. And though it costs about twice what the average Instax camera costs at $199, the plentiful features of the Evo perfectly justify this higher price.

The major points, to briefly reiterate, are these- digital camera, makes instant photos on Fuji Instax Mini film, pairs to smartphones via Bluetooth and an app, can print photos from phones. Looks good doing it.

On the surface, this camera is doing nothing that other Fuji Instax cameras haven’t done before. However, the beauty of the Evo is that it combines all of these core design features with a slew (a veritable slew, I tell ya) of secondary features. At the core of these primary and secondary features is user control.

Fundamentally, the camera allows the user to make the photos they want to make and print the photos they want to print – two things that aren’t necessarily the status quo in instant film photography. We can decide how a photo should look and then decide which of these become instant prints. Polaroid cameras and the more rudimentary or truly analog Fuji Instax cameras don’t typically allow this (with those cameras, you get what you get, and you get a print of every shot – good or bad). With the Evo, we shoot and shoot and shoot until the photo looks right, and then decide at any time whether or not a photo is worthy of becoming an instant photo (which is nice, considering that every Instax Mini photo costs close to $1.00).

Compared to other Fuji Instax film cameras, the Evo offers a degree of easy creative control that’s simply unrivaled. The Mini Evo isn’t a Fuji X Pro, but it’s as close as an Instax camera can get.

The camera is designed intuitively and everything works the way that it should. Instant film photographers who have used a Fuji Instax or Polaroid camera in the past will instantly understand what to do to make a picture, and anyone who’s used a digital camera with an LCD and menu buttons will understand, too. That effectively covers everyone who would ever be interested in this thing.

We turn on the camera and, if satisfied to only go that far, we simply point and shoot. The camera does all of the hard work of focusing, calculating exposure, and making a picture. A photo is made and displayed on the LCD screen. If we want to print it, we crank the delightfully tactile print lever (the style of which will be recognizable to many film photographers for its callback to the film advance levers of many of the most popular 35mm film cameras), and an instant photo ejects from the camera’s film slot.

There are two shutter release buttons, one on top and one on the front. This makes shooting the camera in both landscape orientation and portrait orientation feel natural. It also give us an easy method for shooting selfies, which is nice. I like taking selfies with my kids. It proves that I was there.

Additional buttons on the top and back of the camera control the advanced user controls, such as exposure compensation,