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Overall Rating
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Performance
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Features
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Price
Pros : Easy to use, auto mode and customisable settings, a value for money product with a vintage touch
Cons : Glossy plastic feels a bit cheap, can only load 10 films at a time, flash can overexpose images, expensive films
Bottomline : Fujifilm Instax series recreates the yesteryear memories of Polaroid camera at an affordable price. Though the prints are not as clear and detailed as the images we get from our point and shoot cameras or smartphones, but the payoff of having instant prints in the digital age compensates everything. It is a fun device to bring back the nostalgia and will force you to capture everything on the film strips, but films are pricey and use them wisely if money is not peanuts for you.
Design:
Mini 8 comes in an array of colors; Blue, White, Yellow, Pink and the Black that we got as the review unit. The rear has a slot to load the pack of films specifically designed for the Instax Mini series. The Mini 8 takes the films of the size of a credit/debit card and a pack of films have a maximum of 10, so make sure you use them wisely. You can buy them online at a price of Rs. 1020 for a pack of 20 films.
Just above the slot you have the controls; a power button, a counter that displays the number of remaining shots and a timer. The plastic used in the construction is not the best and the glossy feel looks a bit cheap but considering the price-point, it is justified.
The front of the camera has the large collapsible lens, a button to take the shots and the flash light. We must say that the Mini 8 exactly looks like a toy and will turn a number of heads whenever you will take a picture. It’s not the camera for the serious photographers but a perfect one to capture candid shots in house parties or a family trip.
Operation:
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Instax Mini 8 is quite easy to operate. The Power button is located beside the collapsible lens. This lens has the adjustment dial to adjust the camera settings according to the lighting conditions. And the camera can also determine the best brightness mode while taking a picture. Once identifying the scene, it lights the corresponding lamp to inform you about the suitable setting. The various adjustable modes are: Indoors, Cloudy/Shade, `Sunny/Slightly cloudy and Sunny & Bright.
Performance:
The INSTAX Mini 8 does what it is built for. The shots taken from it have a washed out vintage feel that looks really good. The automatic exposure control adjusts the aperture according to the different lighting conditions for better results and works fine. The viewfinder at the top is not the best but allows you to frame a shot with the subject in focus.
The LED flash light serves the task of capturing shots in low-light condition but sometimes overexpose the subject.The camera also has the High-Key mode to take the pictures in the case of extreme brightness (outdoor shots). We found it to be a bit inconsistent and you might waste one or two films but when applied correctly it can deliver good pictures with a soft touch to them.
Overall, we can say that the Instax Mini 8 is one fun device to relive the days of Polaroid cameras in the digital age. It might look like a gimmick or a toy to many but if you want the uniqueness and the vintage feel then you should definitely go for it.