These days, everything is electronic or digital, am I right? We use electronic calendars and planners and smartphones reign supreme when it comes to being our virtual personal assistants and mobile offices of sorts. These days, it seems like everyone has a smartphone, a tablet and a laptop computer at the very least.
So, it might be surprising that one of this year’s top sellers in the photography world is a throwback to our analog days and is somewhat reminiscent of those old Polaroid cameras. Come on, don’t be shy. I know you remember those. You don’t have to be ashamed to admit it. Those bring back some awesome memories for a lot of us, after all (and perhaps some embarrassing ones, too, but that is a story for another time!)
Fujifilm may have gotten a lot of snickers around the water cooler when it started talking about their instant photo system, Instax and their plans to bring it to market, but I will guarantee you that those doubters have been eating their words lately.
The concept behind their instant photo system is that you can shoot your photo and see the results printed right away, right before your eyes. You would have a real photograph to hold in your hands and to share with friends and loved ones who would also then be able to cherish that memory. To the surprise of many naysayers, the product was a huge hit, and there is now a whole line of fantastic instant photo machines available.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
Today, more specifically, we are going to have a chat about the Instax Mini 9. The Instax line has some great products available in it, and the Mini 9 is absolutely no exception to the rule.
Don’t let the name fool you. When it comes to features, this thing is definitely NOT mini. It is jam-packed with a lot of the features you have come to expect from the Fujifilm Instax line of products, most notably:
- Selfie Mirror: Make sure that you are actually framed up within the shot before you click with the handy mirror located next to the lens. Gone are the days of trying to take a selfie, only to land the proverbial airball and get nothing but your shoulder, or worse, be out of the shot altogether.
- Close Up Lens Attachment: Be as far as 35 cm away and get that close up, without having to change your position.
- High–Key Mode: This mark on the brightness dial lets you take pictures with that softer impression.
- Simple Operation for Instant Photos:
- Press the button next to the lens to turn on
- Adjust brightness dial to lit position
- Shoot
- Take your printed photo within seconds
- Brightness Adjustment Dial: Instax Mini 9 automatically detects what the best brightness setting is and lets you know by lighting the relevant indicator. All you have to do is turn the dial to that indicator, and you are ready to go. There are settings for indoors/night, cloudy/shade, sunny/slightly cloudy, and sunny and bright.
- Fixed shutter speed of 1/60 second
- Flash that works. Every time.
The Instax Mini 9 comes in five fun, vibrant colors including Cobalt Blue, Ice Blue, Flamingo Pink, Lime Green and Smoky White. There’s sure to be a favorite here for everyone!
The photos produced are 62 x 46 mm, the perfect size for sharing! The camera uses Fujifilm Instant film, labeled “Instax Mini,” available at many retail locations. It is powered by two AA batteries and will automatically turn itself off after 5 minutes of not being in use. The batteries are estimated to last approximately 100 shots, which is roughly 10 Instax mini film packs on a brand-new pair of batteries. There is an exposure counter to tell you how many shots you have left before you would need to insert a new film pack.
This product is mostly marketed toward young people, with its chunky design and bright, fun colors. However, it has been gaining a bit of traction with the more serious film photographers out there as well who want something that they can toss in a bag to capture those candid shots that they weren’t expecting, without having to worry about their more expensive equipment being stolen. It does bear a striking resemblance to some of the toy cameras out there so you may want to keep an eye out for your little ones snatching it!
On the downside, the body is made of plastic, and the lens is fairly breakable so you may want to be cautious with how you are transporting it, and again, careful with those little ones under foot. (And hey, what’s a review without at least one negative, right?) There are eyelets to attach a strap if you so desire.
Overall, this camera is a big hit. And after all, as long as Fujifilm has been around producing quality products, did you really expect anything less. And with Father’s Day coming up, this could make a pretty cool gift for dad to capture those candid, one of a kind moments with his little man or little princess.