instax with lcd screen manufacturer

Fujifilm has announced the Instax Mini Evo, a new digital camera that prints to Instax Mini film. The company describes it as a new Instax flagship that has been “designed with a premium and classical touch;” and it has several retro elements including top-mounted dials and a print control that works like a film advance lever.

Like other hybrid Instax cameras, the Mini Evo has an LCD screen to help you frame your digital shots before printing. The Mini Evo includes ten lens effects that can be combined and applied to photos, and Fujifilm says that it has twice the exposure resolution of previous models. Image quality from Fujifilm’s previous hybrid Instax cameras hasn’t been great, so we’ll have to see how this one works out in practice.

The Mini Evo also works as an Instax printer, meaning you can print out pictures from your smartphone wirelessly. In the opposite direction, Fujifilm has added a new feature to let you save printed Mini Evo photos to your phone complete with embedded Instax frames, so you can share them as digital Instax snaps.

Fujifilm has just announced its latest Instax camera, the Instax Mini LiPlay. Like prior Instax Mini cameras, the Mini LiPlay takes lo-fi rectangular images that are developed instantly. It also has the ability to capture digital images and audio at the same time, which you can view on its LCD screen or transfer to your phone through Fujifilm’s Mini LiPlay app. It’s like a smaller version of the Instax Square SQ10 from two years ago, with a new added gimmick. It will be available starting on June 14th for $159.95.

Fujifilm’s Instax cameras, synonymous with influencers and the occasional sweet 16 party, have never been known for their impressive image quality or high-end features. They exist to capture high contrast aesthetic prints instantly in a classic white frame. Anything these cameras do beyond that is an added bonus, and the Mini LiPlay is full of those.

Instead of the viewfinder found on all other Instax cameras, the Mini LiPlay has a 2.7-inch LCD screen for framing and review, which proved to be extremely useful and reminiscent of a 2005 Kodak Easyshare point and shoot. It’s not a very high-quality screen, but it’s good enough to see framing and exposure. I missed looking through a tiny viewfinder for about two minutes when I first picked up the camera, but being able to see top-down shots and the exact exposure was worth the loss. Once I learned where everything was within the menus, navigating the screen was easy. Above all else, the screen allows you to choose which photos to print. And when, at most, you have 10 prints available in your camera at a time, this proves to be the most useful feature.

You can use a microSD card slot to save photos from the 1/5-inch CMOS sensor and upload them to a computer if you don’t want to use the app. Unsurprisingly, the digital images are not great: the photos are high contrast, and they blow out the whites to create the instant film aesthetic Instagram loves. Loading the Fujifilm Instax Mini film is easy, and I actually prefer the mini size as opposed to the wide or squared simply because it fits in my wallet.

Like other instant cameras, the Instax Mini LiPlay is fun to use, and the screen allowed me to be as shutter happy as I wanted to get the perfect shot without wasting loads of film. The audio feature, on the other hand, is a complete waste of time. Fujifilm claims 100 prints on a single charge via the camera’s Micro USB port, and I found this to be true.

The screen is a nice addition to the instant camera experience, but for $160, you have to be really committed to the instant film life, considering you will still have to buy film to support it.

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).

The Instax Mini LiPlay is Fujifilm"s attempt to up its instant-photo game. Using the same credit-card-sized Instax film as previous releases, like our favorite Instax, the Mini 90, the LiPlay offers a more pocketable form factor.

It also has a glass lens and is an impressive stand-alone mini printer. With an app, you can print photos from your smartphone. The much-touted ability to embed audio in your images using a QR code is less impressive, but I"ll get to that later.

The LiPlay is a hybrid. Unlike most other Instax cameras, you can review your images on an LCD screen and decide whether or not to print them. This puts an end to wasting film on images where someone"s eyes are closed. This alone could mean a considerable long-term savings over direct-to-print models like the Mini 90.

That said, my favorite feature of the LCD isn"t the ability to review so much as the animation that happens when you print: It scrolls your image up off the screen at almost exactly the same speed the actual print emerges from the camera. It"s a nice touch that makes that digital-to-real-world transition more immediate and fun.

The images the LiPlay printed out were impressively sharp, better than the results I got from the Mini 90. The LiPlay lacks some of the extra features found on Fujifilm"s other Instax models. For example, there"s no double exposure or close-up mode. Thankfully, there"s still a way to set exposure compensation. Instax prints have a tendency to crush blacks and wash out highlights, so I often use exposure compensation to lighten shadows or darken highlights, depending on the scene I"m shooting.

There"s also a Back button, Review button, and Print button beside the LCD screen on the back. A Set button inside a typical camera 4-way direction wheel rounds out the controls on the back. The wheel lets you navigate the menus to turn Bluetooth on and off, control various print settings, and toggle other settings.

Yes, the Instax Mini LiPlay records audio, which at first brush sounds really cool, conjuring up visions of photos out of Harry Potter. Unfortunately, in practice it involves scanning QR codes and installing smartphone apps.

You take an image, record up to 10 seconds of audio, and then print the image with a QR code. You then give that image to someone else, and they can scan the code and listen to your message. The process works, but it"s a cumbersome way add sound to prints.

The new app doesn"t just play QR code audio; it also controls the LiPlay. You can set the effects for the three shortcut buttons and trigger the shutter for group photos, complete with a live view.

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. There is something here for not just the younger crowds but also the photographers who care about image quality. The lens on the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is one of the sharpest I’ve seen and used; it moves the camera away from plastics to glass. Then there is the Bluetooth accessibility that allows a photographer to wirelessly control the camera from the app. Indeed, Fujifilm packed a whole lot into the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is essentially a point and shoot camera. You not only get this feeling from the fact that it truly is one, but also from the design and ergonomics. We start our tour with the front of the camera. We can see the lens, the selfie mirror, and the textured surface. In addition to that, we find both the shutter button and the audio button. The audio button addition is a new one. To my understanding, it allows for attaching a voice memo to an image that can be scanned with a QR code.

The back of the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay has a giant LCD screen that is surrounded by buttons and a switch. The top switch lets you pop the film cassettes in and out of the camera. The bottom has the directional pad and other accessibility buttons.

When using the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay, I found the build quality to be better than many of the other plastic fantastic Instax Mini cameras that Fujifilm has put out over the years. However, it’s still not going to win any awards. There is no weather sealing to speak of and, due to the design of the wrist strap, I’m very positive that someone will nonchalantly drop the camera. Specifically, the wrist strap stays loose around the wrist and there is no way to tighten it. Why? I’m not sure. But I suggest getting another strap and putting it on ASAP.

Otherwise, the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay has a fair amount of grip built into the outer shell. Further, once you embrace holding the camera in the vertical fashion that it’s designed to be used, you’ll have no issues at all. Some folks may want a more DSLR-like grip, but those of us who use rangefinder style cameras will feel right at home. In addition to all of this, we simply must comment on the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay’s small size. Before writing this specific sentence, I got up to grab the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay and put it in the pocket of my chinos. It fits. If you’re looking for a reference size, consider a man’s wallet and then stack one or two more on top of that.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay has autofocusing capabilities like the company’s other analog-digital fusion cameras. Best of all, the autofocus works well in low light. At one point, I went to an exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York and took a few photos. Each and every time, the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay was able to nail focus. In brighter lighting, the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay never had a problem. Granted, the autofocus isn’t able to keep pace with the company’s GFX lineup or their X series lineup. But on the flip side, it’s not supposed to.

One of the cool things about the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is its integration into the digital world. You’re going to need to shoot a photo and then figure out if you want to print it later or not. You can use it as a classic compact camera if you wish and when you’re ready to print the photo, you can add a bunch of fun filters. In some ways, this is a response to Polaroid’s offerings. However, Fujifilm’s interface is far simpler. Despite the low-resolution LCD screen on the back, the interface of the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is still pretty simple.

Something that bothers me a bit about the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is the buttons near the on/off switch. These are specifically for any filters you assign to said buttons. Instead, I wish that it were able to do other things: immediately boot up Bluetooth operation, turn the flash on or off, or even allow for more manual exposure controls. Instax Mini film is fixed to ISO 800, and so the other variables are easy.

The image quality from the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is the best that we’ve seen thus far. The camera has a glass lens and therefore produces sharper images when combined with the sensor resolution and the flash. I’m not sure that analog would be capable of this. Due to how the whole process works, the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is capable of delivering some of the sharpest images one can get from an Instax Mini camera.

For approximately $160, you’re getting solid image quality along with reprintability and super small size from the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay. I can’t really find a fault with it. It’s a beautiful camera that is simple to use. Some folks may complain that the LCD screen is a low resolution but I’m not bothered by that.

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.

Fujifilm’s mantra of “never stop” is being reflected by a tweet the Japanese manufacturer"s Instax team posted just days after the launch of the GFX 100. The tweet teases the announcement of a brand-new instant camera on June 12.

No details of the camera have been officially released bar one – the upcoming Instax will feature an LCD screen, making it “perfect for the new age”, according to Fujifilm.

Introducing the new instax, perfect for the new age. All of the highly anticipated details will be revealed in full on the 12th June, but we’re giving you a sneak peak of one of the new instax’s very special features - an LCD screen. #instax #neweranewinstax #newinstax pic.twitter.com/xrPuO1vdDoMay 27, 2019

The company claims that this instant camera will usher in a “new era” of Instax snappers that boast “very special features”. Exactly what those features are is as yet unknown, but rumors of an Instax Mini LiPlay have been unearthed.

In April, Nokishita(opens in new tab) leaked the manual of a camera called the Instax Mini LiPlay. It showed off a hybrid instant camera with printing capabilities and an integrated rear LCD display.

According to the manual, photos taken on the Mini LiPlay get saved to the camera’s internal memory or on a microSD card. These can then be selected for printing on the LiPlay on Instax Mini instant film.

If these features are real, it would make the upcoming Instax a truly innovative instant camera and we can’t wait to see what the big reveal will bring on June 12.

The FUJIFILM Instax Mini EVO Instant Camera (Black) is an innovative hybrid digital/instant camera featuring 10 lens effect options and 10 film effect options, giving you up to 100 different ways to instantly create your own unique 2 x 3" photographs. You can experiment with vivid colors, add softness to the focus, adjust the exposure, alter the white balance, and even select a macro mode when the situation calls for a close-up. Set up and capture your unique shots using the LCD screen.

Hybrid instant camera combines convenient digital image capture with traditional instant film output. This method allows you to shoot freely and print whenever desired or reprint an image as many times as desired.

Fixed 28mm-equivalent lens offers a versatile wide-angle perspective and the f/2 aperture is well-suited for working in a variety of lighting conditions. The lens also has a 3.9" minimum focusing distance for working with close-up subjects.

Cameras from Polaroid, Instax, and Lomography use a traditional photochemical exposure process that creates striking lo-fi shots with crushed contrast, saturated colors, and ethereal exposures that are unique to instant film.

There are no settings to adjust, no focus points to fiddle with – you simply point the camera at your subject(s), frame your shot, and press the shutter button! For this reason, instant cameras are ideal for families, parties, and weddings, and even enable kids to get creative.

There is also a new breed of digital instant film cameras(opens in new tab), that combine the thrill of instant photography with the convenience of modern-day technology. Canon, Fujifilm, and Kodak have all ventured into this world – and the result is a much smaller, digital camera with an image sensor that captured every sensor and a built-in digital printer.

We"ve divided our guide to the best instant cameras into sections for film and digital. If you pick the former, don’t forget to pick up the right kind of instant film(opens in new tab) to have plenty of ammunition for your shooting! And get the best Instax photo albums to display your finished prints!

If you"re after full-size instant photos that are great quality and possess that elusive "vintage look", the Polaroid Now+ is without the best instant film camera available. It combines the same image quality and base shooting of the Polaroid Now(opens in new tab) and the modern-day features of the OneStep+ so that the user can have the best of both worlds. It has several creative modes you can use such as light painting, aperture priority, double exposure, portrait mode, and many more which are available through the app.

There are also several physical lens filters that create a starburst effect, a red vignette, and blue, yellow, and orange colors for in-camera effects. The biggest downside to instant photography is how expensive the film is but we can promise you, that you"ll have more fun using this than any other kind of film camera. You might end up spending a fair amount on film, but the memories you capture with it will be priceless.

If we’re looking for one instant print camera that does it all – plus we’re satisfied with the credit card-sized print format output from the device itself – then the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo camera has much to recommend it.

The Polaroid Now is a welcome arrival to the Polaroid product line and a worthy addition to the increasingly crowded instant camera world. For pure point-and-shoot simplicity, the Polaroid Now is hard to beat – and while the Instax Mini 11(opens in new tab) does have it beaten on price, we prefer the full-size square prints that Polaroid delivers.

And much as we love the Instax line, when you"re shooting an old-school instant film there"s nothing quite like the tactility of holding a big, boxy Polaroid. If you don"t need the extra bells and whistles of the OneStep+, the Polaroid Now is sure to wow.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is a chunky, plastic camera that comes in a variety of refreshing pastel colors. It may not hot have the same vintage feel as the Polaroids but it does have its own charm. Whether you"re going on holiday, attending a wedding, or escaping to the countryside for the weekend, the Instax Mini 11 is small enough to keep in your bag at all times.

You can also buy rather trendy, cross-body cases to keep them in so it"s even more accessible. It"s powered by two AA batteries that need to be replaced fairly frequently. Fujifilm has done away with the exposure control dial and instead opted for automatic exposure so you have one less thing to worry about and are less likely to waste shots. The film works out at roughly $1.30/£1 per image though you can often save a little bit by bulk buying in packs of five. They make great gifts for adults or kids if you want an easy-to-use instant film camera.

Instax cameras are knockabout fun with a side of lo-fi cool, and none exemplify this more than the beautiful Instax Mini 40(opens in new tab). With its stylish black-and-silver trim, the Mini 40 looks the part, and it"s incredibly simple to operate. There are no exposure controls, or really controls of any kind; you just point, and shoot. This might be a bit too simple for some users, but if you"re the kind of person who just wants to produce instant images without having to worry about it, this is a fantastic buy. The simplicity also makes it a good option for kids, who will be able to easily get the hang of operating it.

Instax prints are smaller than Polaroids, but still, look pretty great, and will develop with unbelievable speed. Plus, let"s not forget, that the film is cheaper to buy, and these costs will add up over time if you"re a frequent shooter.

The Polaroid Go is a palm-sized camera that everyone will fall in love with faster than it takes a photo to develop. Bigger instant cameras balance exposures better, and rival Instax Mini cameras deliver slightly better image quality indoors – but neither are as fun to use nor will make you as many friends, as the Go… which still produces pleasing pics.

A consideration is that Instax Mini film(opens in new tab) works out cheaper than Polaroid Go film, but then you"ll also need to replace those AA batteries on the Mini whereas the Go just needs a USB to top up the power. And the Go boasts double exposures, which you won"t get unless you opt for pricier options like the Instax Mini 90. A fun and funky little camera, the Polaroid Go will be the star of your next party and will deposit an endless amount of memories in your pocket or wallet. And if you"ve got kids, this could be the ideal camera for little hands to get started with. Don"t forget to pick up a pack of the new Polaroid Go instant film.

Available in brown or black, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic is Fujifilm’s only instant camera to handily come with a rechargeable battery, which the company claims will last as long as 10 (credit card-sized) film packs. With retro styling, it feels like it"s pitched at the photo enthusiast, with some manual control over exposure and even the option to disable the built-in flash if you feel pictures are too bright.

A double exposure mode extends creativity options for the curious (although results can be a bit hit and miss here) as does a shutter-release button above its lens, which doubles up as a selfie mirror (another shutter-release button is in the usual top-plate location). The advantage here over a cheaper instant-print camera is an LCD display strip at the back revealing your chosen settings. The viewfinder is small but adequate for its purpose, while the faux leather finish adds a splash of style.

The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is the big daddy of the Instax family. It"s powered by four AA batteries rather than the usual two but this chunky camera isn"t far off the size of a medium format system. It"s able to deliver much larger prints using the Instax Wide film packs which makes it much better for group shots.

However, if you"re looking for a camera to take selfies with, the chunky design of the Instax Wide 300 makes it really hard so one of the smaller cameras on this list might be better. Despite its size, it is still relatively lightweight thanks to its plastic build and it benefits from a lens that can extend up to 95mm. The built-in flash is much more powerful than on other Instax cameras and is great for use as a fill although the viewfinder is still really small. It doesn"t have any creative modes and can"t be used with an app but if you just want larger prints, then this is the best option for you.

The Instax Square SQ1 is powered by two small CR2 lithium batteries (included) that the manufacturer claims will last a whopping 300 shots (30 packs of film). As you might expect the camera uses Instax Square film, with a size and shape reminiscent of traditional Polaroid prints.

It"s as simple as cameras get, with automatic exposure and focus (after you select between standard or close-up shooting), so you simply point and shoot and you get a pristine photograph whether you"re indoors or outdoors.

The only reason this isn"t ranked higher is that it omits a number of really useful features from the now-discontinued Instax Square SQ6(opens in new tab), such as a self-timer, tripod mount, and double exposures. So if you want more advanced features you"re best to look towards Polaroid"s options, but if you want straightforward shooting with sumptuous square shot, look no further.

Not only can you take photos using the Instax Hybrid Mini LiPlay but it can also print photos from your phone. It"s small enough to fit in your pocket which makes it perfect for having on you at all times and there is space for a Micro SD card so can images can be stored as well as printed. Its gorgeous design makes it stand out from the other digital instant film cameras and it comes in a range of colors including Blush Gold (our favorite), Stone White, and Elegant Black.

The camera itself features an LCD screen, a selfie mirror, a 4.9MP sensor (which although small is plenty big enough for 1.8 x 2.8 - inch Instax Mini prints), and built-in memory to store 45 images. In terms of size, it measures just 82.5 x 122.9 x 36.7mm and weighs 255g. Photos can also be edited in the LiPlay app where you can add filters, borders, and other effects before printing and the internal memory mean you can take multiple photos before deciding which is the best one to print.

The Kodak Smile Instant Print(opens in new tab) is one of the best digital instant cameras(opens in new tab) – a modern update of instant photography that combines the best of analog with the beauty of digital. This slim-as-a-smartphone camera sports a sleek design and uses Zink (zero ink) technology – it"s essentially a miniature printer with a lens, producing 2x3-inch sticky-backed prints.

The camera overall is pretty cheap and running it isn"t too expensive either, making it a good option if you want to shoot instant on a budget. It also produces 10MP digital photos that you can save via Bluetooth on the app (and you do have to do it this way; there"s no internal storage). A cheap option that"s good fun for anyone, especially those who aren"t too confident with using a camera.

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.

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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.

TOKYO, November 17, 2021 – FUJIFILM Corporation (President and CEO, Representative Director: Teiichi Goto) is pleased to announce the launch of the hybrid instant camera “instax mini Evo” (mini Evo), which supports card-size films. The new “mini Evo” is a flagship model of the “instax” series of instant cameras, which allow users to enjoy photo prints on the spot. The new “mini Evo” will be in stores in Japan on December 3, 2021 and in the other countries and regions from December or later.

With a hybrid instant camera, users can review photos captured on the device via the LCD monitor on the rear panel of the camera and choose images they want to print. This convenience has led to global popularity of Fujifilm’s hybrid instant cameras including “instax mini LiPlay.” The new “mini Evo” is a hybrid instant camera that features more advanced functions, operability, print quality and apps than ever before. Versatile shooting effects, available on the “mini Evo” can be freely combined to deliver 100 combinations of effects for users to express and convey their emotions through instax prints. The new model, designed with a premium and classical touch, is the first instax camera equipped with a print lever, lens dial and film dial. These allow users to choose shooting effects with the dials and print by pulling the lever, offering the joy of creating photographic arts with analog operations.

To be released on the same day is the mini-format film “Stone Gray,” which has a gray frame accentuated with metallic silver to give off a sense of luxury, adding an exquisite touch to photos taken with the “mini Evo.”

The “instax” series of instant cameras, launched in 1998, is affectionately called “Cheki” in Japan, where it has enjoyed wide popularity for over 20 years. Today, it is sold in over 100 countries and regions around the world, including Europe, the United States, China and Southeast Asia. It has been globally embraced as a communication tool or a tool of self expression for its ability to capture those precious moments in life in the form of photo prints, and convey emotions that go with them.

The “mini Evo” comes with ten lens effects including “Soft Focus” and “Light Leak” as well as ten film effects including “Monochrome” and “Retro.” These two types of effects can be combined freely to create 100 different shooting effects so that users can express their emotions through instax prints. Furthermore, resolution of exposure*1 has been doubled compared to the previous models to achieve greater print quality. The “instax-Rich” mode for rich colors and the “instax-Natural” mode for softer touch can be also chosen according to personal preference.

The camera’s main body sports a classic design with a sense of luxury. The use of silver coating on its body results in sophisticated presence. The print lever, lens dial and film dial are designed with attention to the finest details including operation sound to create an operational feel similar to analog cameras.

Using the smartphone app “instax mini Evo*2” will significantly broaden the enjoyment of photography with instax. The “DIRECT PRINT” function allows the use of the “mini Evo” as a smartphone printer, printing pictures taken with a smartphone. The app also has the “SAVE PRINTED IMAGES” function for the first time, allowing users to save a photo, printed with the “mini Evo,” in a smartphone as an image decorated with an instax frame, making it possible to share pictures with popular instax frames on social media with ease.

Different people perceive the world in front of them differently. Depending on how they feel, they may see the same landscape in a different light. The “mini Evo” will be promoted online, on social media and in stores with a tagline, “Show how you see the world,” urging potential users to combine the lens effects and film effects to express a precious moment in a way that reflects their emotions to the maximum extent.

The launch of the “mini Evo” is accompanied with the release of its accessories, including a black camera case in a luxurious design, and an acrylic frame for presenting instax prints like a piece of artwork.

*2 A free app compatible with Android devices and the iPhone. It can be downloaded from Google Play for Android devices and from the App Store for the iPhone. Android and Google Play are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc. iPhone and App Store are the trademarks of Apple Inc. The iPhone trademark is used under the licensing with Aiphone Co., Ltd.

The “mini Evo” comes with ten lens effects including “Soft Focus” and “Light Leak” as well as ten film effects including “Monochrome” and “Retro.” These two types of effects can be combined freely to create 100 different shooting effects so that users can express their emotions through instax prints.

The “mini Evo” has a 3.0-inch LCD monitor on its rear panel so that users can shoot while checking the live view and choose which pictures to print. The lens dial, film dial and print lever are designed with attention to the finest detail including shape and operation sound to provide photographic pleasure of creating visual arts with an analog-like operation.

The camera’s main body sports a classic design with a sense of luxury, apealing to a broad range of generations. The use of silver coating on its body as well as the buttons and the dials results in sophisticated and luxurious presence. The design is suiitable for holding the camera both horizontally and vertically during shooting.

Resolution of exposure has been doubled compared to the previous models to achieve greater print quality. The “mini Evo” offers the “instax-Rich” mode for rich colors in addition to the “instax-Natural” mode for softer touch characteristic of instax prints.

The app features the “DIRECT PRINT” function for using the “mini Evo” as a smartphone printer, “Remote” function for remotely shooting pictures away from the camera, and the “Transffered Images” function for saving a photo, printed with the “mini Evo,” in a smartphone as an image decorated with an instax frame. With the “TRANSFERRED IMAGES” function, users can easily share pictures decorated with popular instax frames.