FUJIFILM launched the new Instax Mini 12 in March and we had the chance to try it: here’s our review
FUJIFILM’s new Instax Mini 12 arrives three years after the last Instax Mini 11 model and is launched on the market, enhancing its aesthetics and ability to be a camera suitable for everyone. Available on the market at the price of € 89.99, it is possible to choose it in five colors, Pastel Blue, Mint Green, Blossom Pink, Lilac Purple and Clay White.
We had the opportunity to try it in the Pastel Blue color and therefore we want to tell you about its strengths and because it should always be in your purse or backpack.
Technical characteristics | FUJIFILM Instax Mini 12 review
The Instax Mini 12 is designed to go anywhere: it is small, easy to handle and focuses entirely on its design. It looks like a bubble, with rounded shapes, much more than the previous model and with pastel colors. Lightweight, it has good portability and a good grip, in fact its rounded shape makes it easy to take pictures with one hand by simply framing from the viewfinder. For the same reason, the shutter button is very sensitive, so it makes it possible to shoot with very little pressure and in any position, at the same time, however, it is necessary to pay attention and turn off the camera in moments of rest, so as not to take pictures by mistake. Even the eyecup respects the style of the camera, it is round, soft and manages to give a good view. TOIts interior has the usual circular viewfinder typical of every Instax that allows you to better frame the scene. On the front we can see a flash, adjustable and a mirror for selfies.
Below are the technical specifications of the machine:
- Goal: 2 items
- Focal length: 60mm
- Focus – 0.3m to infinity (with Close-up mode from 0.3m to 0.5m)
- Programmed electronic shutter, 1/2 to 1/250 sec. Slow sync for low light conditions
- Sensitivity – Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800)
- Exposure Control: Automatic
- Continuous firing flash (automatic light adjustment), Recycle time: 7 seconds or less (when using new batteries)
- Effective flash range: 0.3 to 2.7m
- Shooting modes: standard, close-up mode
- Compatible batteries: 2 AA alkaline batteries (LR6), capacity: approx. 10 packs of instax mini film of 10 exposures each
- Dimensioni: 104 mm × 122 mm × 66.6 mm
- Weight: 306 g (without batteries, strap and film)
Film specifications:
- Film – Fujifilm Instant Color Film “instax mini” (sold separately)
- Film Size: 86mm x 54mm Image Size: 62mm x 46mm
- Film development time: about 90 seconds (varies depending on ambient temperature)
A machine designed for communication | FUJIFILM Instax Mini 12 review
From these technical specifications and from the use we have made of them, there is confirmation that the Instax Mini 12 is a camera for everyone and especially for those who love to communicate, their photos and their work. It is a car that winks at the youngest and those who live in the world of social media and communication. This explains the aforementioned presence of the mirror for selfies, which is combined with a mode close-up, i.e. a parallax corrector that allows you to take exactly what you are framing. This is therefore useful in the case of self-portraits because it broadens the scene by a few millimeters, allowing for error-free framing. une mode that we recommend using, because without it, the shot doesn’t always come out perfectly centered. And to meet the trend of this snapshot, FUJIFILM has also launched the INSTAX UP! which allows you to:
- Scan your INSTAX prints, including the frame, by simply holding your phone over the photo and store them digitally in one place. All formats are supported: mini, SQUARE, WIDE.
- Organize your photos into categories or lists for easier location
- Easily share photos and saved INSTAX collections on social media and messaging services.
- Import to the INSTAX Up! App photos from other INSTAX apps (INSTAX mini LINK, INSTAX Link WIDE)
- Always be informed about the latest INSTAX updates, tips and creative content
Fast and sharp printing | FUJIFILM Instax Mini 12 review
The part dedicated to printing is impressive: after five seconds the photo taken begins to appear up to 90 seconds in which the photo is ready. And the product on the photo is very sharp, looking much more digital than analog. On the other hand it is an analogue machine but one that looks to the future and to the world of the youngest and does it in the right way anyway. Its mode of use is entirely automatic, it also lacks the exposure regulator and for this very reason it might not be the perfect camera for someone used to shooting a lot in manual. But for this type of need there are other Instax cameras, such as the Liplay also equipped with a digital screen or the Mini Evo Hybrid which allow another type of experimentation.
A fun camera with its own audience
In conclusion, the Instax Mini 12 is a fun camera, which really fills the world with joy, as the FUJIFILM launch campaign suggests and which is designed for an audience that wants to shoot without worries, without manual settings and to have fun. A camera that is certainly suitable for events and for those who live in the world of communication, but it is also perfect for the very young who want to approach printed photography in a simple and intuitive way. In the Instax fleet of recent years, which has seen the launch of two new mini format products, such as the Liplay and the Mini Evo Hybrid and a new Bluetooth printer, the Mini Link 2, this machine remains necessary. It takes a playful, intuitive snapshot that you can take anywhere and that makes the world of photography a pleasure for everyone.
A machine that communicates the simplicity of taking pictures
Plus points
- Very aesthetically pleasing
- Convenient to carry
- Intuitive and immediate
- The novelty of the close-up
Points against
- The total automatic mode can be unchallenging