What if you could take the ephemeral nature of instant photography, the classic design of a retro camera, and the moody filters of your favourite photo editing app—and combine them? That’s exactly what Fuji has set out to do with their brand new Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 instant camera. Here’s what you need to know about this new camera.
What is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99?
The Instax Mini 99 is a follow-up to Fujifilm’s extremely popular Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 and Instax Mini 40. It’s touted by the brand as a way to be “one-of-a-kind with light and colour.” In other words, it’s a unique instant photo experience that allows you to create analog filtered photos.
What’s included in the box of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99?
This camera will ship with the camera body, a shoulder strap, and a precision-milled base grip tripod mount. Tripod, case, and film are sold separately. The Instax Mini 99 features a rechargeable battery and is designed to be used with the free INSTAX UP! App, which just got a new update as of March, 2024.
What are the features of the Instax Mini 99?
The 2024 Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 is a premium analog instant camera with six colour effects, five shooting modes, multiple brightness/exposure levels, and flash customization including red-eye removal. It includes a self-timer, a manual vignette switch, three focus modes, and two shutter buttons.
The six colour effects in the Instax Mini 99 are controlled with a manual dial. They include Faded green, Warm Tone, Light Blue, Soft Magenta, Sepia, and Light Leak, all created using LED lights within the camera body. Shooting modes include Indoor Mode (for low indoor lighting), Sports Mode (increased shutter speed), Double Exposure Mode, and Bulb Mode (increases the amount of light let in when capturing the image). This camera also includes a brightness control dial with five exposure settings and three different focus modes: Macro, Standard, and Landscape.
What should you get excited for in the Mini 99?
The update that instant photography enthusiasts will likely be most excited for is Fujifim’s development of a light leak effect on an analog camera. While other effects (such as hue tinting, which was introduced in the Instax Square SQ6 reviewed here) have been seen before, this is a brand new intentional effect that is not available in any other analog instant camera. Even the hue tints have been improved and upgraded since their last rendition; in the SQ6, hue tinting was manual on the part of the user. It was created using coloured filters that could be clipped on overtop of the camera’s built-in flash. Now, in the 99, hue tinting is created within the camera body. All photographers have to do is set the mode and let the camera do the rest.
Another exciting feature is the camera’s manual Vignette Switch, which creates artistically shaded framing on your photo using the camera’s lens housing.
How does the Mini 99 compare to the Mini 90 and Mini 40?
The new Fuji Mini 99 is an updated, improved camera body within the brand’s Mini line. It keeps a classic design that’s similar to models like the 90 and 40, but introduces an elevated tactile experience and a sleeker, more professional look. The Mini 99 will be available in a matte black finish with physical dials and buttons.
Compared to older models, this updated Fujifilm analog instant camera is more powerful and flexible. The switch from two AA batteries to one rechargeable, in-body battery is more convenient for routine users and helps make the camera itself more eco-friendly. (This in-body battery is also present in the Instax Mini 90, but not the Instax Mini 40). The Mini 99’s extensive colour effects, focus modes, and shooting modes can be combined for a whopping total of 105 possible stylistic combinations for every photo.
What to expect from the Instax Mini 99
As the Instax Mini 99 is part of the Instax line, you can expect it to be easy to use, customize, and shoot with. It prints on Fujifilm’s classic, credit card-sized Instax Mini 5.4 cm x 8.6 cm film (which will be sold separately) and its creamy, beautiful photos will develop right before your eyes with zero graininess or digital colour artifacting.
You can already pre-order the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 online at Best Buy.
