I’m a little obsessed with Fujifilm Instax cameras – as you know. However, that obsession has gone a bit further now as I’ve realised I’ve been holding out on my mom for way too long. While my Fujifilm Instax comes out for special occasions I just know if she had one she’d be snapping on a weekly basis. My mom loves filling photo frames with pictures and creating things with physical memories she prints. When Fujifilm sent me the new Instax Mini 40 to review and keep – I just knew that this one was meant for my mom.
The Instax Mini 40 landed in South Africa on 21 April and the recommended retail price is R1399 which is a really awesome low price for an Instax camera.
Out the box
The Mini 40 has this very rad retro look. It’s black with silver accents and faux leather plastic matte finish which I really like. It just looks very funky. You also get batteries and a handy strap. The usual Instax Mini photo prints work with it, not the square ones.
Some of the functions
By now you’re likely aware of how Instax cameras work. They are point and shoot, instant print cameras. However, the Mini 40 has a few fun functions that are also rather useful. There’s Automatic Exposure, which means the camera will optimise your flash output and shutter speed according to the conditions. You’re not using an Instax for high resolution Instagram worthy snaps though – these are fun mementos and the Instax Mini 40 does a good job of getting you what you need. There is also the Selfie mode, so you can flip the camera and get that selfie shot – by pulling on the edge of the lens and pulling it out, once it has been switched on, you’ll be able to use the close up selfie function. There is a little mirror on the lens to help you with framing as well.
I’m so excited to gift this to my mom and I think she is going to love taking fun Instax pics and creating her various collages and photo frame designs. There is also this rad new photography paper format from Instax called “Contact Sheet”. Available for the usual mini paper, it has a black border which reminds you of the old school contact sheets used by photographers who were developing in dark rooms. So I’m adding a pack of the photo paper to her pressie as well!
Disclosure: I was sent an Instax Mini 40 to review and keep.
