Instant camera meets video – Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema

With the "Instax Mini Evo Cinema," Fujifilm is introducing a hybrid camera that combines classic instant photos with a video function. The new model expands the Evo series with a central innovation: users can now record videos up to 15 seconds long and share them as physical prints with a QR code.

Like its predecessors, the Mini Evo Cinema functions as a hybrid camera with a digital sensor. In addition to photo mode, users can record videos and view them on the rear display. The videos are stored locally on the internal memory or a microSD card. The real novelty: the system converts links to the recorded videos into a QR code and prints it along with a selected still frame from the clip onto the Instax Mini film. Anyone who scans the code with their smartphone can access the complete video online. This way, the user not only hands over a photo but also a film in physical form.

To use the QR code function, the video must be uploaded to Fujifilm's servers via the dedicated Instax app. Fujifilm states that they will store the videos there free of charge for two years after upload. Thereafter, they will be automatically deleted and the QR code will become invalid.

Individual clips can be combined before printing. The camera records videos up to 15 seconds long. With the help of the accompanying app, multiple sequences can also be compiled into a clip up to 30 seconds long. Additionally, users can add text overlays and cinematic intro and outro sequences.

Retro design with historical reference

The design is inspired by classic 8mm cameras: the vertical grip is reminiscent of Fujifilm's FUJICA Single-8 from 1965. This camera made film recording accessible to private users for the first time. The construction emphasizes the video function, while the operation remains analog and tactile, for example, through the dial with click feedback or the print lever.

The central creative element is the "Eras Dial" – an effect dial that covers ten photographic film styles from the 1930s to the 2020s. Each style has ten gradations, resulting in a total of 100 variations. The effects influence not only the image and video visually but also the sound – from film reel noises to radio textures from different eras.

Smartphone integration and accessories

Like other Evo models, the Mini Evo Cinema can also be used as a wireless printer for smartphone photos. The accompanying app connects to the camera via Bluetooth or WLAN and allows for previewing, editing, and transferring photos before printing. With the "Poster Template" function, users can design Instax prints in a movie poster style and add personal touches with titles and text.

The scope of delivery includes a viewfinder attachment for the rear display, an optional grip that can be attached for more stable operation, a camera bag, and a case. Sales will start in Japan on January 30, 2026; prices and an international market launch have not yet been announced.

(vat)