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The main menu features a number of different settings which you can change, including face detection, switching the AF illuminator on or off (you might wish to switch it off if you’re trying to shoot somewhere discreetly), print settings, bluetooth settings, date and time and so on. It’s best to view the digital versions of the photos as just a guide to let you know what you should bother to print. They don’t stand up on their own when viewed on a computer screen, and certainly aren’t ones you’re likely to want to keep or use for any other purpose than for printing in the small Instax size. You can also use your smartphone as a remote control and wirelessly release the camera's shutter from the INSTAX mini EVO app, which is available for iOS and Android phone. There’s also a small mirror which you can use to help you accurately line up selfies, an AF assist lamp and the flash unit, which can be switched on or off from the menu. Whereas 2019's Instax Mini LiPlay sported a fun design designed to be attractive to a younger audience, the new Instax Mini Evo is a much more serious affair.
To charge to its full capacity can take up to three hours, but once it is charged, the camera is able to print up to 100 images from a single charge. Of course, if you’re using it to take pictures as well, the power will run out sooner. Pressing the up and down keys activates the digital zoom, while the left and right keys toggle between exposure compensation, self-timer, flash, macro (the closest focus distance is 10cm when set to the macro mode) and white balance settings. Once an image has been printed out, you’ll need to allow some time for the Instax film to develop - in other words, don’t be alarmed when it pops out completely white. After a few minutes, the colours should have fully rendered.Using the camera is pretty much entirely automatic thanks to the Program AE mode. The Instax Mini Evo automatically optimizes the shutter speed (1/4 second to 1/8000 second), flash output, ISO speed (100 to 1600) and other key settings according to the current shooting conditions. Last but not least, we have the Brimford case. It’s a not full case like the ones above. Rather, it’s a half-case. But the good news is that it protects the camera body from scratches and scuff marks. You also get a leather strap along with the case. That's not to say that it will equally suit everyone who has an interest in instant photography. Some people will be better served by a dedicated Instax printer like the Instax Link Wide and Instax Mini Link, while others will prefer the more analogue experience of a camera like the Instax Mini 40 or Instax Mini 11.
On the bottom of the Instax Mini Evo is a hidden slot for inserting a microSD memory card. The Mini Evo comes with an inbuilt memory which can store approximately 45 images, while up to 850 images can be stored per 1GB of memory on a Micro SD card - so it’s well worth investing in one of those unless you want to frequently delete your images. Countering that somewhat is the huge amount of lens and filter effects on offer - 100 in total - which are both easy to apply via the lens ring and filter dial, and produce genuinely pleasing results. Just be aware that they're baked into the JPEG files that the camera records, with no option to also store an unfiltered original or to change the filters after the picture has been taken. It mimics the look of classic film cameras pretty well, with the faux leatherette coating both looking genuine from afar and also making it easier to grip than the smooth, shiny surface on the LiPlay. The textured coating is made from plastic, though, not true leather. A shutter release button is also found on the front of the Instax Mini Evo, which feels slightly strange in use for those who are used to finding buttons in the more traditional place.Size-wise, the Instax Mini Evo fits in the hand comfortably enough - for reference, I have large hands. It has a much more angular design than the smooth cruves of the LiPlay, and as mentioned above it also has a usefully textured surface. It’s also something you might consider a good present for children, or anybody who might not be in possession of even the most basic smartphone, which in 2022 is likely to surpass the image quality of the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo’s camera.
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