Fujifilm has added a retro-inspired instax camera to the range, called the Instax mini 40. The Instax mini 40 is an easy to use instant camera that reminds one of cameras from years back. The instax mini 40 was also launched with the mini format film in the Contact Sheet design, which you will see below. I spent some time with the Instax mini 40 to find out more!
The Design:
Picking up the Instax mini 40, I am instantly reminded of the cameras my Grandfather used to own. I remember the design and the feel of those classic cameras, which has clearly inspired the mini 40. The mini 40 comes in a square plastic body with a faux leather finish with silver trim, which gives it a classy look and feel.
On the front of the camera, you will find the lens and lens button, a selfie mirror, shutter button, viewfinder, flash, and the power indicator. While on the sides you find the battery compartment and the holes for the lanyard strap. The back of the camera has the film compartment, film indicator, and viewfinder. The top has the slot where your prints will come out.
The mini 40 measures in at 104 mm × 121 mm × 65 mm and weighs 330 gram (without batteries, strap, and film). The camera is small enough to carry around in a bag but not small enough to fit in your pocket. One-handed use is possible though.
Taking photos and printing:
Taking photos and getting instant prints is really simple with the Instax mini 40, much like what I experienced with the Square SQ1. To get started, insert the batteries into the battery compartment and the film into the rear.
The mini 40 uses the instax mini Instant film sheets and the new Contact Sheets both in the 62 mm × 46 mm size. The camera is turned on by pushing the button located on the lens, which then opens the shutter while extending the lens. Now you are ready to capture an image and get an instant print.
To do so, simply look through the viewfinder on the back of the mini 40 and press the shutter button. What you see through the viewfinder is slightly off-center, so keep this in mind when getting your subject in the frame.
The image will start to print and will come out of the top slot. It takes roughly 90 seconds for the film to develop, and no shaking is necessary. You can also pull out the lens further to capture selfies or close-up shots of objects, as long as you keep to 0.3 and 0.5m from the object, otherwise, things get blurry.
The instax mini 40 uses automatic exposure to optimize the shutter speed, flash, and other settings, to capture images no matter the time of day. The programmed electronic shutter captures images at 1/2 to 1/250 sec and features Slow synchro for low light.
The auto-exposure does a good job at capturing both dark and light elements and blending them into the image. The film does struggle if you shoot at the sun, so best to always shoot away from the sun. The exposure goes from LV 5.0 to 14.5 depending on how much light is in the scene.
I did find that in bright conditions, the lighter areas were over-exposed, thanks to the automatic flash. At night though, the flash saves the day and ensures that the subject has adequate lite.
Battery Life:
Powered by 2 AA batteries, the instax mini 40 can capture 100 prints before the batteries must be replaced. To save power, the camera will auto power off after 5 minutes.
What is in the box:
In the box, you will find the user guide and other info, 2 AA batteries, the lanyard, and the instax mini 40 of course.
Pricing:
The Fujifilm instax mini 40 sells for R1399, which is not bad at all for an instant camera from the Fujifilm range. A pack of 10 Mini Films will set you back R155 (R15,50 per film) and the instax mini Contact Sheets are about R169 for 10.
Verdict:
The instax mini 40 is a great point, shoot and print instant camera. It does not have any modes or settings to fiddle with, so if you are looking for an instant camera that anyone can use, this is it. It captures decent prints no matter the lighting conditions, though some prints may be a bit over-exposed if the subject is already bright. But with some practice, the instax mini 40 is a great instant camera. And let’s not forget about its retro looks, a definite conversation starter.
