When I was younger, I was gifted a Fujifilm Instax mini 8 and I absolutely adored that instant camera. I took it everywhere with me, snapped as many photos as I could and put them in a scrapbook. Instant photography has come a long way since then, and brands like Polaroid and Fujifilm continue to change the game with every new release.
Here at Tom's Guide, I review the best instant cameras by putting them through a battery of tests, and testing these nifty devices brings me a lot of joy. I have tested more instant cams than I can count on both hands, but there's only one that I've ever bought with my own money, and I use it nearly every day — and it's the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo.
The Instax mini Evo is a hybrid instant camera, which means you can snap and print photos instantly. Alternatively, you can store them in the camera's internal memory to print them later, or print photos straight from your smartphone.
Hybrid instant cameras are more flexible than analog ones, which is one of the main reasons I use the Instax mini Evo more than any other instant cam.
My travel buddy
I consider the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo a good travel buddy of mine, and its compact size is the primary reason why. The camera measures 4.83 x 3.42 x 1.41 inches, so it's small enough to slip into a purse, and since it weighs 10.05 ounces you won't find it weighs you down either. That also means it's easy to put the camera around your neck or wear it cross-body.
I love that I can use the Instax mini Evo with one hand or both hands as it's compact enough to hold with either. Thanks to how effortless it is to carry, I've taken the camera traveling with me a few times now — and I wrote about my trip to Amsterdam, shot through the Instax mini Evo's lens.
The camera also looks premium and retro, which is the best combination when it comes to visual aesthetics. It doesn't really look like I have an instant camera around your neck — it looks like any other Fuji snapper.
Poppin' colors
Fujifilm's color science, in my opinion, is unmatched. Whether I'm shooting with my trusty Fujifilm X-T50 or with the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo, I know I can fully rely on the cameras to deliver beautiful, popping colors. While the Instax mini Evo doesn't boast a large sensor or the most megapixels (4.9MP only), it still takes lovely photos. You can see what the printed photos look like in the gallery above.
Since the photos are condensed to mini sizes meant for printing out, it doesn't actually matter how high-res they are. To me, at least, it's more about the convenience and ease of using an instant camera to capture memories — that's the ethos behind instant cameras, right? Print them out like in the good ol' days for keepsakes.
You can choose from a plethora of filters/color profiles and effects too, so that your shot aligns with the kind of mood you're going for. There are 10 filters and 10 effects to choose from, so a total of 100 combos is possible. I love using the black and white filter as it makes photos look dramatic — much like the Acros film recipe on Fuji's mirrorless cameras.
Print anywhere, anytime
I won't lie, I love analog instant cameras and their lack of a screen. I adore the fact that I can't see what the photo I've just taken looks like until it finishes printing and developing. It forces me to live in the moment and not worry too much about composition (and as someone who tests many of the best cameras, it's all too easy to get bogged down with the minute details).
But I also can't deny the kind of convenience a hybrid instant camera brings. Using the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo lets me live in the moment but I also like the fact that, if I want, I can check my photos before printing them. Instax mini film—or any other instant camera film, for the matter—doesn't come cheap, so I appreciate the ability to pick and choose the photos I want to print.
The Instax mini Evo lets me transfer digital copies of the photos I've printed to my smartphone so I can share them on social media or set them as my phone wallpaper, which is lovely.
The Instax mini Evo is one of the best things I've bought with my own money. It complements my Fujifilm X-T50 very well, and both cameras are in my backpack when I'm going on vacation. Both cameras are light enough that even when I'm carrying them around, I never feel like there's much weight on my shoulders (or around my neck).
Do you always carry an instant camera when you're out and about? If yes, let me know which one in the comments below!
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