Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Review: Rediscovering the Past

There was a time when instant cameras were all the rage. However, they slowly died out under the dual attack of digital cameras and social media. The former made it easy to take and store photos, while later it brought photo sharing features. Together they made movie cameras obsolete. But fast forward a decade or so, and instant cameras are becoming popular again. This attraction is probably due to the popularity of retro photo filters on various social media channels. After all, the best way to take photos in retro colors is to use a retro camera. Whatever the reason, instant cameras are a popular product today and Fujifilm makes the best of them. Their latest offering is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 ($62.98). The successor to the Instax Mini 8, Let’s find out all about the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 in our review:

Design

The Instax Mini 9 follows the same design language as its predecessor, so much so that you won’t be able to tell the difference between the two at first glance. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Fujifilm follows the “if it’s not broken fix it” approach here, which I really like. The camera has square shape and curved edges, which makes it really easy to take and take pictures. this a large lens dominates the front it shares the remaining space with the flash, ambient light sensors, shutter and power switch. The biggest visual difference on the Instax Mini 9 is the side-mounted front mirror. Opening the lens to see yourself while taking a selfie. It also comes with a removable macro lens. We’ll talk about them later.

The back is pretty minimalist, with a viewfinder at the top right and a flap covering the internal compartment that houses the film cartridges. There’s not much on the sides when only the top and right side gets some action.

The top has an opening where the processed photos come out, while the right one houses the battery compartment. The camera comes in many different funky colors, including Lime Green, Flamingo Pink, Cobalt Blue, Smoky White, and Ice Blue. We have the Lime Green Version in Beebom. In general, I I really like the way the camera looks and feels.. Fujifilm knocks it out of the park when it comes to design.

availability

The camera is very easy to use. The rounded corners make it very easy to use. It also comes with a removable wrist strap which is very handy for someone with slippery hands. this battery and photo cartridge installation is very simple. You just need to open the cover and insert it. The covers are very secure, but can be easily removed. this start button is mechanical with solid feedback It’s easy to find thanks to the indentation around the capture button. Ambient light sensors help the camera automatically suggest exposure modes to use, which I find quite excellent. As a result, you won’t find a handheld camera easier than the Instax Mini 9 when it comes to usability.

Performance and Image Quality

Instant cameras for the inexperienced, Instantly print your photos. These contain sheets of chemically treated paper that changes color when exposed to light to replicate the image you take. Therefore, when purchasing an instant camera, you should remember that pixels do not count here. The most important thing is dynamic range, because photos are so small (credit card size) that distinguishing between different objects becomes crucial to produce a clear photo. The Instax Mini 9 delivers on what it has to offer.

Ambient light sensors and manually adjustable aperture allow you to take pretty good photos. Ambient sensors automatically suggest between the different presets you should use (marked by a flashing LED). For the most part, I’ve found it to be true. all you have to do turn the light ring to the corresponding flashing LED However, if you are not satisfied with the estimate, you can manually select the setting using the light ring. There are four main presets to choose from. overcast/night (f/12.7), cloudy/shady (f/16), sunny/slightly cloudy (f/22) and sunny/light (f/32). Aperture size decides the amount of light the camera lets in, which you should choose based on ambient lighting conditions. Also a high key modeIt will be used if you want to take a photo with an extremely bright background.

As mentioned earlier, the camera Comes with a selfie mirror This helps you adjust the viewfinder when taking selfies. It also comes with a detachable macro lens allows you to take photos at short distances (between 35-50 cm). You can use the lens to take a close-up selfie or any close-up shot for that matter. The image quality is as expected, which won’t surprise you, but still offers a huge improvement over the old Polaroid/instant camera while keeping the retro feel alive. You will be truly satisfied with the results.

Film Cartridge

The Film Cartridge is basically the heart of the product as it should be. Individual movies are similar to the size of a credit card. Image that achieves an area of ​​46 mm x 62 mm. The photo pages are housed in a very compact plastic cartridge that can hold 10 pages. A twin packs containing two cartridges of 10 sheets each approximate cost 13 US dollars. The price per cartridge decreases as you increase the number of cartridges in a pack. The small cartridge size makes it very easy to carry. You can also choose from different types of cartridges, basic cartridges come with a white border, but you also have the option to purchase cartridges with a printed and color border.

shortcomings

If you know what to expect when purchasing this camera, you won’t miss much other than the cost of film cartridges. The cost per photo is something that will prevent you from using this camera extensively. Moreover the camera doesn’t even come with a single cartridge when you buy. Even when buying a new camera, you will have to purchase cartridges separately, which adds to the cost. Other than that, there is nothing to like here. Just remember, you’re not taking a photo with this, you’re capturing a moment.

Should I Buy the Instax Mini 9?

The Instax Mini 9 will entice you as only a few cameras can. Takes you back to simpler times when taking a photo simply required you to point and shoot. You don’t have to deal with all the settings and what. You just take the camera and enjoy the experience of using it. Using the camera will bring back forgotten memories and put a smile on your face. That’s where the strength of the Instax 9 Mini lies, and it delivers on its promises as advertised. If you can afford it, you won’t regret this purchase. Now, take a look at some of the photos we clicked in the picture below.

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Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Review: A Beautiful Camera With Nostalgia

Using the Instax Mini 9 is a pleasure. The quality may not match the quality of a DSLR, which is understandable, but it is pure pleasure to use it. We at Beebom had a lot of fun using this camera. What you see in the picture above is the team enjoying the experience. If you have the spare, you will love to have it. Let us know your thoughts about the camera in the comment section below. Also, let us know if you plan to buy one.

Buy Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 ($62.98)