In a world of digital photography, physical prints stand out. That is something Fujifilm is counting on with its latest instant camera, adding to the increasingly versatile Instax range.
Fujifilm seems to put out a surprising number of updates for the Instax range. But it covers three different products now – the basic point-and-shoot instant camera, the hybrid digital camera and the instant photo printer. Plus there are different formats: the original mini film, the square prints and the wide format.
It is enough to confuse even the most dedicated instant photography fan.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Digital cameras were supposed to kill off the humble point-and-shoot cameras, including the instant type that Polaroid popularised. While Polaroid may have peaked in popularity in the 1970s, the camera was inextricably linked with the decade that followed. But it failed to keep up with the pace of innovation, and in 2001 it finally filed for bankruptcy.
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Fast-forward a few years and, against the odds, the instant camera has flourished. Fujifilm has found a market that seems to have an appetite for instant prints.
The Instax Mini 41 is a simple analogue camera, without any of the digital bells and whistles of the hybrid versions. You point, shoot and hope for the best. The picture you get is it – no tweaking and no second takes.
The camera itself looks more sedate than others in the range. Fujifilm has skipped the candy-coloured case in favour of black and grey, and it looks more like a traditional camera than some of the more fun Instax devices.
The Mini 41 shoots on the mini film format, which comes with colourful frame options should you want a bit of a colour pop on your photos.
Selfie mode is a mirror on the 60mm lens; the latter is twisted to turn on the camera and again to activate close-up mode. The camera has parallax correction to centre close-up images.
There is a viewfinder to line up your shot, and a flash to illuminate darker shots and selfies. Flash and exposure control are both automatic, so all you really have to do is push the button on the front of the camera.
The Mini 41 has all the right components, but it still takes a bit of expertise to get the shots right. The focus is just sharp enough to identify everyone in the image, without the harshness that digital can sometimes bring, and soft enough to be flattering to almost everyone. The images have that slightly washed-out look from childhood photos, too, which gives the whole procedure a large helping of nostalgia.
Get too far away, though, and features blur, even with the auto focus. Get too close and the flash will bleach things out too much. It is a delicate balancing act.
[ Design Moment: Polaroid Camera, 1948Opens in new window ]
During the course of this review, I brought this out for a tween party, and the reaction was surprising. A generation that have only known the tweaks and edits of digital photography were delighted at the instant prints the camera spits out, albeit slightly confused that it took around 90 seconds for the image to fully appear. They also insisted on shaking the images, which seems to be a myth that won’t die, even for a generation that came long after the “peel apart” damp film era had passed. OutKast have a lot to answer for.
The children got to go home with some photos of their own, though.
The main issue is the cost of the film. In some respects that is a good thing; people think more about the shots they are taking and your camera roll isn’t littered with 50 selfies to get one good image. You point it and deal with the consequences, because resources are usually limited and budget constraints mean you have to be more thoughtful.
The Mini 42 is not the most capable Instax camera, but it is fun. It may not have the control of digital photography, but there is definitely something special about having a physical photo in your hand instead of marooned in the cloud.
Good
It is easy to use and set up. There are no apps to deal with and few extras to tweak. Point, shoot and see the results once the 90-second development time has passed.
Selfie mode is easy, consisting of a mirror to line up the shot and close-up mode if you need it.
Bad
The photos are okay, but it is easy to shoot blurry or indistinct shots. The photography industry has spent a significant amount of time and money on helping us to make our photos better; the trend towards retro-style images seems to erase that.
The film can be pricey and involves a bit more plastic waste than I’d like.
Everything else
The camera runs on two AA batteries – easy to source and replace when needed.
Verdict
It may not be the best that Fujifilm has put out, but it is fun to use.
