Fujifilm is trying to find the right balance of fun and photography with its latest hybrid instant camera. Like its predecessor, the Instax Mini Evo 2 feels less like a retro gimmick, and more like a basic digital camera that just happens to have a built-in printer. It also enjoys some key upgrades: a larger 1/2.77-inch sensor compared to the 1/5-inch sensor on the first Mini Evo, a bigger 4.5-inch rear display with touchscreen controls, and basic video recording too — though only the few seconds leading up to a photo.
Video is limited in other ways compared to modern standards — the MP4 clips can only be saved to a microSD card (though there is internal storage for photos), no audio is recorded, and quality is limited to 560 × 992 pixels and 24FPS, according to DPReview — but it’s still a feature we wouldn’t expect to see on an instant camera. This is also Fujifilm’s first Instax model to feature an LCD touchscreen, ditching the rear controls in favor of a larger display that takes up the entire back of the camera. Other physical controls have been preserved though, including two dials and a film-inspired print lever.
You can use either the dials or touchscreen to access the 10 film and 10 lens effect options that were available on the first Instax Mini Evo, though the selection has changed slightly with this new model. There’s also an Expanded View mode that “gives users a wider field of view than the shooting area.” The camera charges via USB-C, prints 2 x 3-inch Instax Mini format photos, and lets you adjust the exposure, white balance, and flash settings on your snaps.
The Instax Mini Evo 2 will be available for $290 and goes on sale at the end of November. Black is the only available color option, but it still retains the classic retro look that’ll probably land well with the youth market.