Fujifilm Instax Mini instant cameras, like the popular Mini 12, are often fun for beginners: everything is in automatic mode, even the flash. That's changed with the new flagship model, the Instax Mini 99, which offers more creative control than ever.
It takes design cues from the Instax Square 40, but as its name suggests, the Mini 99 uses the smaller Instax Mini film, plus it features a host of creative controls you can use to enhance your instant prints, such as color effects and a bullet point. .
Fujifilm labels the Instax Mini 99 as a flagship model, and at $199.99/£174.99 (Australian prices TBC) it's not cheap – most Instax Mini models, like the Mini 12, cost about half as much. that price. However, the Mini 99's “first-of-its-kind” creative effects utilize advances in instant photography technology to create what could be one of the best instant cameras yet.
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If you take a look at the photos of the Instax Mini 99 below, you'll be able to see several dials on the top of the camera: these are manual controls for exposure and creative new color effects. A camera like the Mini 12 has a photo button and that's it, but the Mini 99 lets you manually adjust the exposure to suit the brightness levels of the scene, while the new color effect mode offers six different looks. .
Fujifilm says the color effect feature is “Powered by LED lights inside the camera, the feature exposes your chosen color onto Instax Mini instant film, for a unique photo.” You can choose between Faded Green, Warm Tone, Light Blue, Soft Magenta, Sepia, and Light Leak effects.
A switch on the front of the lens can add a vignette effect that darkens the edges of the print to make the central subject stand out more, and there are three focus modes to help you focus on subjects more easily, which you can select by turning Lens Dial: Macro mode focuses subjects between 0.3 and 0.6 meters from the camera, standard mode focuses between 0.6 and 3 meters, and landscape mode focuses at 3 meters and more.
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On the back of the camera is a simple shot count monitor, plus three buttons: shooting mode, flash mode, and self-timer. The latter is useful for selfies, especially since the Mini 99 comes with a useful grip that also doubles as a tripod stand for hands-free photography; however, you will need a tripod. Shooting modes include double exposure, which combines two photographs into a single print, plus several scene modes that set an appropriate shutter speed depending on the subject; For example, sport mode freezes the action.
The Instax branding on the camera includes the words “Image Control.” In fact, the Mini 99 has a lot to sink its teeth into – a healthy mix for users of all skill levels, from quick color effects to manual exposure and focus control. This might be the instant camera that keeps asking you for more, while other, simpler offerings often start collecting dust once the first pack of film runs out.
We've been enjoying some hands-on time with the Instax Mini 99 and will share our review of the camera after seeing what the latest flagship model is like to use. It's not exactly the Polaroid I-2, but the early signs are good: the Mini 99 has more depth than its low-cost siblings.
In addition to the Instax Mini 99, which will be available from April 4, Fujifilm has launched two accessories: a black camera case designed specifically for the Mini 99 and costing £21.99, and a black photo album containing Instax Mini prints and costs £11.99. . There's also a new Instax Mini 'Photo Slide' film, which costs £8.99 for a pack of 10 prints.
