Technology
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Camera review – the perfect way to spice up your post-lockdown photography
IF you’re hunting for ways to capture the unbridled joy of emerging from lockdown, you could do a lot worse than an instant camera.
They provide a fun alternative to the tried-and-tested smartphone snapper you carry everywhere, printing charming mementos on the spot in the form of pocket-sized photos.
The Instax Mini 40 is a great little self-printing camera[/caption]
With so many self-print gadgets on the market, however, it’s hard to know which one you should splash your cash on.
Enter the Instax Mini 40: The latest offering from Japanese photography titan Fujifilm.
Launched this month, its retro design and reasonable £90 price tag put it head and shoulders above many of the self-developing snappers I’ve tried.
Let’s start with the design. Fujifilm has opted for a classic camera design with faux black leather on the body coupled with silver accents.
- Fujifilm Insta Mini 40 for £89.99 from Argos – Buy now
The body is covered with faux black leather, giving the camera a retro design[/caption]
I like the classy style they’ve gone for here, which makes using it feel a bit more grown up than other Fujifilm gadgets, like the plastic Instax Mini 11.
If anything, the Mini 40 has about as close a resemblance to the Instagram logo as any camera I’ve played with – and that’s no bad thing.
The camera is a little bulkier than last year’s Instax Mini 70, though it remains lightweight without feeling cheap or plasticky.
You hold the camera vertically, placing your thumb on a groove at the back and gripping around the front of the camera with your fingers.
It’s a slightly awkward position to hold for too long, but it’s the only way to avoid accidentally covering the lens or flash with your sticky digits.
In terms of photo quality, the Mini 40 holds its own pretty well, although images aren’t quite as sharp as those of the higher-end Instax Mini 90.
The camera is a little bulkier than last year’s Instax Mini 70[/caption]
Fujifilm has loaded it with an automatic exposure function that allows the camera to adjust its own shutter speed depending on the conditions.
It means the snapper takes decent shots outside on a sunny day as well as in a dark room, without you having to fiddle with any settings.
For the camera geeks, the Mini 40 has a 60mm Instax lens, offering focal length of 30cm and beyond.
It takes about 90 seconds for your photos to develop as they emerge from the slot of the top, which is about as long as a credit card.
Unlike most instant cameras, the Mini 40 has an ace up its sleeve in the form of its “selfie mode”.
Simply pull the lens out a bit and voila, your camera is ready to snap close-up photos of you and your mates.
- Fujifilm Insta Mini 40 for £89.99 from Argos – Buy now
Photos take around 90 second to pop out[/caption]
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Fujifilm has even stuck a little mirror on the front of the lens to give you a rough idea of how your selfie will turn out.
All in all, if you’re looking for an instant camera to play around with this spring, the Instax Mini 40 is a great choice.
It’s lightweight and easy to use, and boasts a design that is sure to turn heads on your next socially distanced night out.
At £90, it’s not as cheap as offerings like the £70 Instax Mini 70, but for me it’s worth it for a camera that feels more like a quality bit of kit.
Instant cameras are arguably the most fun you can have taking pictures, and the Mini 40 is up there with the very best.
- Fujifilm Insta Mini 40 for £89.99 from Argos – Buy now
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
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