Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema Review: The Instax Camera You’ll Actually Use

Why you can trust TechRadar: We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

---

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema: Two-minute review

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema takes instant cameras in a bold new direction, and let me tell you—it’s an absolute blast. This 3-in-1 digital “hybrid” instant camera is a game-changer: it’s a stills camera, an instant printer, and the very first Instax that shoots video.

We’re familiar with the instant photography aspect—the Mini Evo Cinema packs much of the same lo-fi tech as the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo—5MP digital photos through a 28mm f/2 lens, saved onto micro SD, which you can select from the camera’s gallery or through the companion app to print instantly onto Instax Mini paper. The printing process uses an analog-style lift and twist lever that feels delightfully tactile.

But where things get really interesting is the camera’s design. This is a nostalgic, slimline Super 8 camera-style body—supposedly inspired by Fujifilm’s ‘Fujica Single-8’ from 1965—that sits comfortably in your hand with the shutter button perfectly positioned under your trigger finger.

For me, it’s the video features that drew me in rather than the traditional Instax photography experience, even though each of the three functions seamlessly blend together.

---

Price and release date

• Costs $419 / £329 / AU$599
• Viewfinder, grip extension, and strap accessories included
• Sales began on January 28, 2026

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema went on sale globally from January 28, 2026, with a price of $419 / £329 / AU$599.

In the box you’ll find the camera, viewfinder eye cup for the 1.5-inch LCD screen, a grip extension, strap, and USB-C cable. A purpose-made leather case will be available for $40 / £35 (about AU$65).

---

Design

Fabulous Super 8-style body | A pack of Instax Mini film slots inside | Retro controls and a charming Eras Dial

Design is easily the strongest aspect of the Evo Cinema—it’s a charming, Super 8-style camera with versatile 3-in-1 skills: digital photos, video, and instant printing.

The body is particularly slimline and designed to be held vertically. With a pistol-like grip, your index finger naturally rests on the shutter button, like a trigger. You press it to take photos, or press and hold to shoot video, with a maximum clip length of 15 seconds. You can customize to a single press to record video too, but I preferred the authentic press-and-hold for video recording, not least to avoid accidental recordings.

Fujifilm provides a grip extension with the camera, but honestly I could take or leave it—because it hardly impacts the camera’s handling. What is a useful accessory, however, is the viewfinder eyecup, which comes included. It attaches magnetically and clicks into place over the tiny 1.5-inch LCD screen, which isn’t touch-sensitive by the way, enabling a clear view in bright light, but again more for an authentic Super 8-like shooting experience.

---

Performance

100 color profiles inspired by decades past and present | Poor image quality and limited video clip length | Sluggish operation

On the flipside to design, performance is surely the Mini Evo Cinema’s weakness—and in that sense, it is fully committed to its retro roots!

Having used the Mini Evo previously, I expected poor image quality, especially since the basic sensor hardware is essentially the same as the original Mini Evo. Put simply, don’t expect excellent photo quality—the camera shoots lo-fi five-megapixel JPEG photos through that 28mm lens, which are then saved onto micro SD.

From the camera’s gallery, you can then select which images you’d like to print instantly onto Instax Mini paper, using that analog-style lift and twist lever.

Video quality is equally lo-fi at just HD 720p, unless you have the high-resolution option active specifically for the 2020 Eras Dial setting alone, where video resolution can be doubled to 1440p. A frustrating, needless limitation on quality? Not so—it’s authentic.

I prefer the digital hybrid setup to a fully analog instant camera—where the camera prints immediately on capture, whether it’s a “good” photo or not. With a Mini Evo you pick the shot you like for printing, meaning less wasted prints. Sure, it’s not one for analog purists, but I’d rather not waste my money on throwaway prints.

One frustrating experience using the Mini Evo Cinema is its slow operation. Every time you change a setting, or take a photo or video, a spinny wheel of doom pops up on screen as the camera makes those changes or processes images before it’s ready to operate again. The wait is even longer after recording video clips.

I’ve had two samples of the camera, and had the same issue with both. One time, the camera completely froze up, and the only solution was to leave it be until the battery fully drained. Once I charged it up and turned it back on, all seemed well again.

These issues could be bugs with the current firmware that could be addressed in the future, but I’d be remiss not to mention them.

In one sense, using the Evo Cinema with all its performance-related issues is frustrating, but then I stop and think about the kind of camera that it is, and I can’t help but embrace those flaws.

---

The Eras Dial: 100 Years of Cinematic Style

Even videos can be shared through an Instax Mini print—the Mini Evo Cinema selects a frame from the video (or the user can manually select a frame) and prints it with a QR code for access to that clip through Fujifilm’s servers.

You can also check out and share photos and videos using the free Instax Mini Evo app, including making short video edits from your video clips (which are limited in length to 15 seconds each).

I’ve made my own video compilations using the Instax Mini Evo app, combining multiple clips into a 30-second montage (which is the maximum length), printed it with a QR code attached, which then seamlessly took me online to that reel. The editor is a little clunky, and the video length limitations are frustrating at times, but it’s an OK experience overall.

Inside the box, you get the camera, viewfinder eye cup for the 1.5-inch 170k-dot LCD screen (see it in action, below), a grip extension, and a strap.

The Mini Evo might look toy-like, but it is in fact a premium-feel product—everything from the grip to the dials, switches, and buttons feel solid.

Performance, on the other hand, during my review was pretty sluggish. I’ve used the camera at a launch event and again during a two-week review period, and with both units the Evo Cinema’s wheel of death appeared almost every time I recorded a video or switched eras, taking a few seconds to be ready to use again. A little annoying, but arguably in the spirit of retro tech.

I actually think the Mini Evo Cinema is the most intriguing Instax camera to date—it feels like the Instax camera that the digital generation has been waiting for.

Its Super 8-style body is a perfect form to host Instax Mini printing, and the multi-media output makes this feel like a camera that’ll keep my interest for much longer than a simple instant photography Instax. This is a proper good times camera.

Technically speaking, this is a poor camera. However, it already feels like the one Instax that appeals to me the most in the many years that I’ve been testing Fujifilm products.

If I was to sum the Mini Evo up in a single word, it would be fun. Fujifilm is having a real go at making cameras fun again with a string of quirky products, and the Evo Cinema could just top the lot.

---

Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

| Video | 1080 x 1440 (2020 setting only), 600 x 800 for all others |
| Photo | 5MP, 1/5-inch sensor |
| Format | Instax Mini |
| Lens | 28mm f/2 |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Screen | Fixed 1.5-inch, 170k dots |
| Viewfinder | A clip-on viewfinder is supplied for the screen |
| Dimensions | 39.4 mm x 132.5 mm x 100.1 mm (excluding projecting parts) |
| Weight | 270g (excluding film pack and recording media) |

---

Should I buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema?

Buy it if…

• You want a fun, creative camera that stands out
• You love the aesthetic of vintage Super 8 cameras
• You enjoy sharing physical photos with a digital twist
• You want to experiment with different vintage looks
• You’re looking for a unique gift for a creative friend

Don’t buy it if…

• You need high-quality photos and videos
• You want fast, responsive operation
• You prefer fully digital cameras
• You’re on a tight budget
• You need professional features and controls

---

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema: Also consider

If you’re interested in the Evo Cinema but want to explore other options, consider these alternatives:

• Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo – The original model without video capabilities but at a lower price point
• Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 – For those who prefer square format instant photos
• Polaroid Now+ – A classic instant camera with creative lens filters
• Leica Sofort 2 – Premium instant camera with excellent build quality
• Kodak Smile Classic – Budget-friendly instant camera with digital features

---

How I tested the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema

I attended a pre-launch Evo Cinema event for a two-hour session. Fujifilm subsequently sent me the camera for a two-week loan period.

I used it with the viewfinder and grip accessories, and I tried all the Eras Dial settings for photo and video.

I’ve printed Instax Mini prints and edited content through the app.

I’ve spent two weeks with the Evo Cinema, which has given me plenty of time to get a feel for how it handles and performs.

At a two-hour launch event, I recorded the same video in a studio of a model, using every one of the 10 Eras Dial settings, and repeated that process for photos, printing out each one.

I’ve since experimented with the various expressions of each decade, taken more photos and videos both indoors and outdoors, in good light and bad.

I’ve tried the Evo Cinema with and without its viewfinder and grip accessories. The optional case was not supplied to me for the review.

I also made video montages using the basic video editor in the free Mini Evo Cinema app, and printed the QR code for access to those clips.

---

Tags & Viral Phrases

• Fujifilm #Instax #EvoCinema #InstantCamera #HybridCamera #VideoCamera #RetroVibes #Super8 #VintageCamera #TechReview #CameraReview #GadgetReview #Photography #Videography #CreativeTech #FunCamera #ErasDial #100YearsOfCinema #AnalogMeetsDigital #PhysicalPhotos #QRCodePhotos #InstaxMini #FujifilmCamera #CameraTech #TechNews #GadgetNews #Review #HandsOn #FirstLook #TechRadarReview

• This camera is pure nostalgia wrapped in modern tech!

• The Eras Dial is genius – 100 different looks spanning 100 years!

• Finally, an instant camera that shoots video too!

• Fujifilm nailed the Super 8 aesthetic perfectly.

• The lift and twist lever for printing is so satisfying.

• Performance issues? Sure. But the charm makes up for it.

• This isn’t just a camera – it’s a time machine for your photos.

• The QR code prints are such a clever bridge between physical and digital.

• Every creative should have one of these in their kit.

• It’s expensive, but you’re paying for pure fun factor.

• The 15-second video limit is frustrating but adds to the retro charm.

• This camera proves Fujifilm is the king of quirky, creative cameras.

• The Evo Cinema makes you want to shoot everything in sight.

• It’s the most fun I’ve had with an instant camera in years.

• Fujifilm continues to innovate in ways no one else is attempting.

• The Evo Cinema is what happens when you let designers run wild.

• This camera will make you fall in love with photography all over again.

• The Evo Cinema isn’t perfect, but it’s perfectly imperfect.

• Fujifilm has created the ultimate party camera.

• This is the instant camera the Instagram generation deserves.

,