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Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema: Two-minute review
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema takes instant cameras in a new direction, and let me tell you, it’s heaps of fun. It’s a 3-in-1 digital ‘hybrid’ instant camera; being a stills camera, an instant printer and the very first Instax that shoots video.
We know the instant photography part already: the Mini Evo Cinema packs much of the same lo-fi tech as the Mini Evo – 5MP digital photos through a 28mm f/2 lens, which are saved onto micro SD, that you can select in the camera’s gallery or through a companion app to print instantly onto Instax Mini paper. In this case, the printing process uses an analog-style lift and twist lever.
But it’s the camera’s design where things get really interesting. This is a nostalgic, slimline Super 8 camera-style body – which is supposedly inspired by Fujifilm’s ‘Fujica Single-8‘ from 1965 – that easily sits in the hand with the shutter button at your trigger finger.
And for me, it’s the video features that drew me in rather than the traditional Instax photography experience, even if each of the three functions seamlessly blend together.
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Then there’s the main event – the Eras Dial™, with a look for every decade spanning the last 100 years. Fujifilm says these looks ‘pay homage to the characteristics, media and playback devices that defined that time’. My brief hour with the Evo Cinema wasn’t nearly enough time to decide which ones were my favorites, and I definitely didn’t have the time to fine tune each of those 10 profiles spanning 1930 through to 2020.
There’s a scale of 1-10 for various ‘expressions’ of each decade, adjusting either the strength or the look of each style. So yes, that makes 100 styles, all of which work for photos and videos.
Fujifilm is no stranger to introducing never-before seen controls in its recent cameras, from the Film Mode in the fun X half to the aspect ratio dial in the serious GFX100RF, it keeps delivering surprising new features, and the Eras Dial™ is more than just a novelty.
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Even videos can be shared through an Instax Mini print – the Mini Evo Cinema selects a frame from the video and prints it with a QR code for access to that clip through Fujifilm’s servers.
I was given a print with a QR code attached, which took me online to the highlight reel that a Fujifilm X-Photographer (a brand ambassador directly associated with Fujifilm) had created. You can also check out and share photos and videos using the free Instax Mini Evo app, including making short video edits from your 15 second video clips.
I’m yet to try the app with the Evo Cinema photos and videos I shot on launch day, but will surely do so for my full review.
Inside the box, you get the camera, viewfinder eye cup for the 1.5-inch 170k-dot LCD screen (see it in action, below), a grip extension and a strap.
The Mini Evo might look toy-like, but it is in fact a premium-feel product, everything from the grip to the dials, switches and buttons feel solid.
Performance, on the other hand, during my hands-on was pretty sluggish – the Evo Cinema’s wheel of death appeared almost every time I recorded a video, taking a few seconds to be ready to use again. I’ll reserve judgement until I complete a full review.
I actually think the Mini Evo Cinema is the most intriguing Instax camera to date – it feels like the Instax camera that the digital generation has been waiting for.
Its Super 8-style body is a perfect form to host Instax Mini printing, and the multi-media output makes this feel like a camera that’ll keep my interest for much longer than a simple instant photography Instax. This is a proper good times camera.
True, I’ve only had an hour or two using the Instax Mini Evo Cinema, but it already feels like the one that appeals to me the most in the many years that I’ve been testing Fujifilm products. If I was to sum the Mini Evo up in a single word, it would be fun. Fujifilm is having a real go at making cameras fun again with a string of quirky products, and the Evo Cinema could just top the lot. I’ll report back soon once I’ve had more time with it.
Sample photos – 1930 through to 2020
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The 10 photos above cover each of the 10 settings in the Eras Dial™, from 1930 to 2020. I kept the ‘expressions’ control to its auto setting rather than experiment with the 10 different looks available for each of the decades on the dial. Stills are recorded as JPEGs onto microSD, at 1920 x 2560 pixels.
Sample video – 100 years in a minute
I repeated the process for video, capturing each of the 10 Eras Dial™ looks. The lo-fi video quality is captured at 600 x 800 pixels for every setting except 2020, which is a higher quality 1080 x 1440 pixels.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema: price and release date
- Costs $419 / £329 (around AU$650)
- There’s viewfinder, grip extension and strap accessories included
- Sales are expected from January 28, 2026
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema is due to go on sale globally from January 28 2026, with a price of $419 / £329 (that’s around AU$650).
In the box you’ll also find the viewfinder attachment, grip extender, strap and USB-C cable. A purpose-made leather case will be available too, for $40 / £35 (about AU$65).
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema: specs
|
Video |
1080 x 1440 x (‘2020’ setting only) 600 x 800 for all others |
|
Photo |
5MP, 1/5-inch sensor |
|
Format |
Instax Mini |
|
Lens |
28mm f/2 |
|
Autofocus |
Yes |
|
Screen |
Fixed 1.5-inch, 170k dots |
|
Viewfinder |
A clip-on viewfinder is supplied for the screen |
|
Dimensions |
39.4 mm x 132.5 mm x 100.1 mm (excluding projecting parts) |
|
Weight |
270g (excluding film pack and recording media) |
How I tested the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema
- I had just one hour with the Evo Cinema ahead on its launch day
- I used it with the viewfinder and grip accessories
- I tried all the Eras Dial™ settings for photo and video
I had just one hour with the Evo Cinema on its launch day, during which time I got a feel for how it handles. I recorded the same video in a studio of a model, using every one of the 10 Eras Dial™ settings, and repeated that process for photos, printing out each one.
I’ve tried the Evo Cinema with and without its viewfinder and grip accessories. I’m yet to try out the Mini Evo app. The optional case was not available for a look on launch day.
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