One year after its Instax mini 11, Fujifilm launches the mini 40, a new instant camera.
Distinguished by its pretty
vintage
design
, the latest one is sold for 99 euros, against 69 euros for its elder, from which it struggles to distinguish itself technically.
On arrival, the photos, which cost around 80 cents per unit, retain their delightfully old-fashioned appeal.
Fuji in the retro.
The Japanese manufacturer is launching its Instax mini 40. One year after the mini 11, this new instant camera expands the Instax range by offering a camera with a decidedly vintage look, far from the brand's codes, usually full of curves and colors.
But, technically, is the newcomer doing better than its predecessor?
For the past ten years, instant photography has been on the rise.
Sales champion, far ahead of competitors like Polaroid or Lomography, Fuji is constantly increasing the number of camera releases to attract more and more buyers.
A closer look at the mini 40, there is no doubt that the brand still places in its objective its usual target of young consumers, but perhaps also more adult customers, undoubtedly also more male.
Square, available only in black with its chrome borders, the mini 40 cultivates a real nostalgia.
Its plastic finish imitating eye-catching imitation leather.
Fuji even pushes the plug by offering an optional cover (around 20 euros) which definitely teleports his mini 40 to another era.
Nothing looks
cheap
Even if the all-plastic dominates in the construction of the case, nothing here is
cheap
.
The 330 grams of the device (against 307 grams for the mini 11) even gives an impression of enhanced quality.
We have some in hand!
Beyond this very beautiful aesthetic success, the mini 40 technically resembles the mini 11. Here again, no adjustment.
Exposure control is automatic, and the flash is activated with each shot.
Obviously, Fuji wants to avoid missed photos for its users.
It must be said that at around 80 cents the price of the printed view, you can quickly have a twitchy smile if the image is missed.
Copy and paste from mini 11?
Like the mini 11, the mini 40 has a 60mm focal length that can shoot just about anything.
And like the mini 11, the mini 40 includes a
selfie
mode
.
This is activated by pulling lightly on the lens and allows you to carve the portrait with your arm raised, by framing it using a small mirror and with a focus from 30 cm.
We regret that the rear of the camera, the viewfinder is very small.
On arrival, the photos taken remain correct as long as they are in good light conditions and that the camera does not have to worry about the management of the depth of field, an exercise to be avoided at the mini 40: we don't really know what will be blurry or sharp in the image.
Old-fashioned charm in the lens
But as always, the old-fashioned charm of instant photos does its job. At the end of an evening, everyone can leave with some little memories. All the photos will not necessarily be perfectly sharp and well framed, but the emotion will be palpable.
Sold for 99 euros, the mini 40 is 30 euros more expensive than the mini 11. It is ultimately more or less the same device, one being
vintage style
, the other young.
This is not the first time that Fujifilm has ventured into the field of nostalgia.
In 2017, his Instax mini 90 (119 euros) also espoused
old fashion
codes
but with a rechargeable battery and not batteries, as well as some possibilities of advanced settings.
In these uncertain times of the future, the appeal for retro seems more alive than ever.
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