the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 is the most fun instant camera of the summer because of the number of options it offers when it comes to taking pictures. Of course, you have to be an expert to know how to use it.
Instant cameras are a safe bet for every trip because of the number of memories you can make in an instant with just one click. So, when I was offered the chance to try out the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99, I knew it would be perfect for my summer.
It’s been 11 years since the brand wanted to bring back one of its most famous cameras (the Instax 90, which was a huge sales hit), and it seems to have pulled out all the stops.
Specifically, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 maintains its retro appearance, but on a technical level it is much more advanced than its predecessor: it has a new dial to control brightness, a double exposure mode and 6 analog color effects. In addition, it comes with other specific modes for sports, indoor, long exposure and macro. But how does it compare to other cameras in the same category? Are the results what you expected?
A retro design top
The design of the Instax Mini 99 is retro, which means that it doesn’t have a single digital element. In other words, you’ll have to rely on nostalgia, put your eye to the viewfinder and hope that the snapshot comes out as you intended.
Perhaps, in future generations it could be included as an area for improvement, although it is true that it would lose that “retro essence” that they have tried so hard to maintain.
The only LED display it has is small, but sufficient to indicate the number of photos left on the roll (there are 10 per pack at 11.90 euros each)
It should also be noted that the lens part picks up some dust, as can be seen in the first photograph in this gallery (but better there than inside the lens), as that means it is protected.
It also comes with a tripod mount (so you can do time lapse), a charger and a thin strap you can hang over your shoulder.
The truth is that this type of manufacturing makes it feel more premium than other instant cameras I’ve used, moving away from the somewhat more childish aesthetic of the competition.
Without a doubt, it is a camera made by and for professionals.
Functionality and user experience: you’ll love it if you’re an expert user
This camera has so many modes and ways of use that using it in automatic mode takes a back seat.
On a technical level, it has a retractable lens, 2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7.
To begin with, and as I mentioned in the introduction to this article, the great novelty of this camera is the different brightness modes it has.
You can access them by turning the dial on the right, while on the left are the tones (Faded Green -FG-, Light Blue -LB-, Light Magenta -SM-, Sepia -SP-, Warm -WT-, Light Leak -LL-).
There is also a Vignette mode that reduces peripheral light and gives a more artistic effect to photos. To do this, you just have to turn the knob on the lens manually.
It also has 3 buttons on the back to change modes, set a timer or use the flash.
Honestly, it has so many options that in order to take different photos I had to look at the instructions to see what each abbreviation meant, so I gather it will take a while to get used to the different acronyms on its dial. It’s not difficult to manage, though, as it’s just a matter of turning the dial and you’ve got it.
It also has two buttons in case you prefer to take the photo horizontally or vertically, but in this age of mobile phones that we live in, almost all the photos I took were in the latter format.
The results, as you can see in this example, are quite realistic compared to those offered, for example, by the Polaroid Go, which has a more grainy effect to give it an additional touch of retro (as well as having a square format).
Personally, I think the results have provided me with some very funny moments, especially the play of tones that can be achieved.
At other times, it is also better to use the mobile phone, for example in dark environments. To give you an idea, this is the same photo taken with the mobile phone (iPhone 15 Pro Max) and with the Instax Mini 99 in a street illuminated by sunlight (but with shade):
The automatic mode is also quite good and the different brightness levels you can give the photo will make your experience with the camera more entertaining than with regular instant equipment.
Application: suitable for digitizing your photos and uploading them to social networks
The Fujifilm application is Instax UP! This will allow you not only to share your photos with the community, but also to have a personalized digital album with the photos you have taken, to have your own favorites or to look at those of others for inspiration.
However, it is a bit of a hassle to have to take a photo of the photo and then store it in a digital album. So, for future versions, I would find it interesting to have a Bluetooth or WiFi option to transfer them directly to your mobile phone.
One of the most interesting functions is the digital editing of the photograph: you can eliminate glare and reflected light, as well as manually adjust contrast and saturation. You can also geolocate it, add any tags you want, as well as mark the date or a specific title.
Battery: just enough, but enough for a reel
One of the things I liked least about this camera is that the autonomy of this device is somewhat fair for what it offers.
The battery life is exactly one reel. Is it enough? Yes, but if you want to experiment a little and you don’t have a good command of the controls and dials, it’s possible that it will turn off prematurely in the middle of the second reel.
Price: should I buy it?
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 is a premium camera in this sector, so its price (199 euros) may be high compared to other options on the market.
However, it is perfectly justifiable not only in terms of quality and photographic results, as it is a step away from the grainy results of some competitors.
In addition, it has many modes that will delight many professional photographers who like to experiment with instant cameras.
However, for future generations, I would like them to include some kind of connection to the mobile phone (WiFi or Bluetooth) so as not to have to scan them manually using the app, as sometimes it does not detect the images very well. In addition, I would also like to see the preview on the rear screen, even if it increases the price of the device.
Without a doubt, it is a niche product that can make your vacation full of fun memories.
