Designed to be as user-friendly as possible, learning how to use the Instax Mini Evo isn't too complicated.

Announced in November 2021, the Instax Mini Evo is the latest hybrid instant camera from Fujifilm, sporting a classic, vintage retro design that recalls old-fashioned cameras from yesteryear. Also if you're hoping to use the Mini Evo as your main digital camera, you'll be sorely disappointed. While the 5 megapixel camera provides more than enough detail for Instax Mini prints, it doesn't compare well with virtually any smartphone from the last few years, flagship or otherwise.

Size-wise, the Instax Mini Evo fits in the hand comfortably enough - for reference, I have large hands. It has a much more angular design than the smooth cruves of the LiPlay, and as mentioned above it also has a usefully textured surface. A shutter release button is also found on the front of the Instax Mini Evo, which feels slightly strange in use for those who are used to finding buttons in the more traditional place. On the bottom of the Instax Mini Evo is a hidden slot for inserting a microSD memory card. The Mini Evo 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 well worth investing in one of those unless you want to frequently delete your images. Countering that somewhat is the huge amount of lens and filter effects on offer - 100 in total - which are both easy to apply via the lens ring and filter dial, and produce genuinely pleasing results. Just be aware that they're baked into the JPEG files that the camera records, with no option to also store an unfiltered original or to change the filters after the picture has been taken. Inside it's a very modern device, though, pairing a 5 megapixel digital camera with an inbuilt Instax Mini printer and sporting two shutter release buttons, 3-inch LCD screen, accessory shoe, selfie mirror, flash, a charging port and a micro SD slot.

There is another shutter button on top of the camera, but as the Instax Mini Evo does everything that it can to make you shoot in portrait mode, you'll find yourself using the front shutter release most of the time. 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. Inside the Fujifilm Mini Evo 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.

Sample Images

The good news is that you can use the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo as a printer, as well as a camera. That means that in theory you could completely ignore the camera aspect and use the device to print much better photos from your smartphone, or even dedicated camera. Sample Images You can choose to ignore this and shoot in landscape orientation if you prefer, but the text on the camera will be the “correct” way up only when holding the Mini Evo in the portrait orientation.

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 Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo’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. The print slot is found on the left-hand side of the Instax Mini Evo (when viewed from the rear), 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. The main menu features a number of different settings which you can change, including face detection, switching the AF illuminator on or off (you might wish to switch it off if you’re trying to shoot somewhere discreetly), print settings, bluetooth settings, date and time and so on.

Ease of Use

That's not to say that it will equally suit everyone who has an interest in instant photography. Some people will be better served by a dedicated Instax printer like the Instax Link Wide and Instax Mini Link, while others will prefer the more analogue experience of a camera like the Instax Mini 40 or Instax Mini 11. It mimics the look of classic film cameras pretty well, with the faux leatherette coating both looking genuine from afar and also making it easier to grip than the smooth, shiny surface on the LiPlay. The textured coating is made from plastic, though, not true leather. 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.