So you want a better Instax camera in 2026?

I was having a conversation about a back for a Mamiya RB67 camera to shoot Instax film. The broad idea is to have a better Instax camera than what Fujifilm has to offer.

The Fujifilm Instax cameras are all designed to be simple point and shoot. They work, but really are not flexible if you want a bit more control on the images. The framing is approximate at best, the exposure not always right, and you can’t get shallow depth of field when the lens opens at f/12.7 (Instax Mini), which also, despite the film being ISO 800, make it harder to use in low light. Fujifilm other alternatives are the Evo series that are digital cameras (small sensor) with built-in Instax printer. Which you can get with your phone.

A closup show the branding badge "Instax mini 90" in silved colour on black. It's upside down from a low angle.
Insta Mini 90 closeup

I do have an Instax Mini 90. When I got it it was the most advanced Instax Mini camera from Fujifilm. With a “retro” look amd the few shooting mode, including being able to disable the flash it was the best Fujifilm had to offer. It remains that the Mini 90 uses the same lens as the cheaper Instax Mini and still offer little control over the picture taking.

In the past Fujfilm produced some very good medium format camera, so I wished Fujifilm used their know how to build a way better Instax camera, but this is unlikely to happen.

Let’s have a look at the options. There are two categories: camera that shoot one of the three Instax format, and backs that adapt Instax on existing camera. The latter isn’t a new concept and it was widely used by professionals to shoot Polaroid peel apart as part of their workflow to check for exposure.

This is deliberately about Fujifilm Instax and not about instant photography in general, so I deliberately omit Polaroid: it is about the medium, and the medium is Fujfilm Instax.

Instax Film

Fujfilm Instax film is an integral instant film, and comes in 3 different sizes. Mini whose picture size is 62x46mm, Square that is 62x62mm and Wide that is 62x99mm. First released in 1998, Instax Mini is the most common format, and easy to find, at least here in Canada. There are two emulsion, always 800 ISO: colour and monochrome (B&W). Instax Square was released almost 20 years later in 2017. “Integral” mean that each frame contain the original exposed film, the developer and turn into the final print. Unlike “peel apart” that required to peel apart some of the film to reveal the final print.

From the standpoint of film camera format, Instax square is close to the iconic 6×6 format shot by Rolleiflex and Hasselblads, while Instax Mini is close to 645, and Wide is wider than a 6×9. These size constrain the kind of camera that can be adapted to use Instax film.

Cameras

There are a few options available from manufacturers like MINT, NONS, Lomo, and maybe TTArtisan.

MINT

MINT is a small camera company out of Hong Kong and they have 3 cameras that are compatible with Instax. In the high end of the price range.

The Instantkon RF70, a foldable rangefinder camera that take Instax Wide. At CA$1320, it offers a 93mm f/5.6 lens. A smidge wider than Fujfilm Instax Wide 400 it is way faster allowing a shallow depth of field. It also allow exposure control that Fujifilm doesn’t.

The InstantFlex TL70 is a TLR that take Instax Mini. At CA$570 it offers a f/5.6 lens with a waist level viewfinder for focusing and framing, and an aperture priority exposure mode.

The InstantFlex TL70 Plus, is the younger sibling of the TL70 that takes Instax Square. At CA$1070 it offers the same as the TL70, but in square format, with an added shutter speed control.

NONS

NONS is another small camera company based in Shenzhen. They have two SLR camera the SL645 that take Instax Mini, and the SL660 that take Instax Square. At US$400 and $500 without lens, they offer a flexible solution with adapted lenses in Canon EF (passive), and with adapter, Nikon F, M42, Pentax K or Contax CY mounts. There is also the SL42 that is no longer produced.

NONS also make some backs, see further down.

Lomography

Lomography is also in the game with cameras for all 3 formats. The higher end cameras have glass lenses. What they all have in common is that they have a viewfinder that is not favourable to accurate framing, and all have optional accessories for “creative” uses, like lens adapters or gels. There are also various cosmetic editions to match your fashion style or personality.

The Lomo’Instant Wide and Lomo’Instant Wide Glass with an 90mm (35mm equivalent) f/8 lens are faster and wider than the Fujfilm Instax Wide 400. At respectively CA$229 and CA$379 they offer more flexibility than Fujifilm, the latter also having a glass lens offer a higher step in image quality, auto exposure and PC flash sync.

The Lomo’Instant Square Glass offer a 95mm (45mm equivalent) f/10 glass lens. Longer but a bit faster than the Fujifilm SQ1, it also offers more controls and auto exposure, starting at CA$169. Some kits offer an adapter to be able to also use Instax Mini, for CA$30 extra (CA$199).

The Diana Instant Square brings Instax Square to the legendary Diana family of camera. Starts at CA$179, with a 75mm glass lens option at CA$189.

The Lomo’Instant Automat Glass offers, for Instax Mini, a wider 38mm (21mm equivalent) glass lens at f4.5, with auto exposure for CA$269. The less expensive Lomo’Instant Automat offers a bit faster and longer plastic 60mm (35mm equivalent) f/8 lens for CA$209.

The Lomo’Instant is the most budget friendly Instax Mini camera from Lomography, at CA$89. Fitted with a 27mm f/8, it doesn’t have auto exposure as it only has a single 1/125s shutter speed.

Escura

The escura instant60s are 100% hand powered Instax Mini camera, with a 60mm f/12.7 lens. As of writing they are listed as out of stock.

Mercury Universal

Mercury Universal offers two built to order Instax Wide compatible camera, that can take any of the lens that can be adapted in their system. The mechanism are the same they offer in the backs mentioned below.

TTArtisan

In February 2025, TTArtisan sort of announced making a folding instant camera. This is not something anyone can get now, but this it is to watch for, eventually.

Backs

Backs allow using Instax on existing medium or large format cameras. These are more economical if you already own a compatible camera and likely offer the best image quality. They are a niche of a niche market product, so they mostly are small production runs of hand made products.

NONS

All the NONS Instant Back are motorized.

The NONS Instant Back for RZ67 offers an Instax Square back for the Mamiya RZ67, for US$319.

For Hasselblad, NONS has two different backs. The older NONS Instant Back produce images with a black border due to a slightly smaller image gate, and the image is oriented sideways. US$279. The newer NONS Instant Back H1P introduce some spacer to correct the image size, and also orient the image like Polaroid: the wider side of the frame is down. US$349.

Lomography

LomoGraflok 4×5 by Lomography offers a Graflok compatible motorized Instax Wide back for 4×5 cameras, at CA$229.

Mercury Universal

Mercury Universal offers a complete camera system, and, in addition to their Instax Wide camera, they have a set of Graflok backs for Instax.

Part of their offering are two motorized Graflok backs to use Instax wide, one in 45 and one in 23, for respectively CA$730 and CA$765. Both of them push the focal plane 30mm, limiting the cameras that can use them. They are built on top of modified Fujifilm development units.

Mercury also offers an Instant Mini back Graflok 23 compatible for CA$417 that is suited for their Mercury 6×9 camera.

Jollylook

Jollylook has a range of backs for various medium format cameras. They are based on their in-house crank powered development units for Instax. Includes Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 (Square), Bronica ETR/ETRS/ETRSi (Mini), Bronica SQ/SQ-A/SQ-Ai (Square), Mamiya 645 (Mini), Mamiya Press (Wide) and Hasselblad V system (Square). At US$169/CA$235 (US$189/CA$263 for the RZ67) they are on the low-end cost.

Jollylook also sells the development units separately if you endeavour to build your on back or camera.

Misc

Frankinstax is an Instax square back for Mamiya RB67 or RZ67. At US$600 it’s in the expensive side. They are hand built out of Fujfilm SQ40 in Denver, CO.

binstax and zinstax are Instax Square backs for Mamiya RB67 and RZ67. Hand assembled to order in Germany, out of a Fujfilm SQ1 with an hand crank for development, they cost EUR350 + VAT (if applicable) and shipping.

Escura makes the Hasselback Portrait for Hasselblad V System, compatible with Instax Mini and Square. Cost US$365.

Transformation

Instant options has a custom service for transforming Instax cameras to use better lenses, or converting cameras to use Instax.

Ektachrome 100

Kosmofoto tells us Kodak Ektachrome E100 added to Eastman Kodak’s in-house distribution.

The legendary slide film, discontinued and then revived, is now being folded back to Eastman Kodak. This comes after Ektar 100 and Tri-X 400. It’s looking like the whole range of Kodak product is being repatriated from Kodak Alaris. It feel reassuring after learning that Kodak Alaris was being bought by private equity. The were just the exclusive distributor of Eastman Kodak in a deal with the Kodak UK pension, but now it seems that the deal changed and Eastman Kodak is getting it back.

X-E5, it’s here

I was complaining in early December that the X-E5 was still unobtainium. 2 month later, it’s finally here. I would have gotten it earlier if I was ok with silver, but I wanted black.

A white box that say: Fujifilm X-E5 XF23mmF2.8R WR
This is a box. The camera you want is inside.

Opened the box, the camera comes with the lens mounted, the back and body caps are provided. There is no USB cable, no charger for the NPW-126S battery, the same battery as on the X-M5 and the X-T3, no paper manual (so you need to get it online), but a USB-C to 3.5mm audio jack, and a thick camera strap.

Charging the battery now.

January 2026 links

Film cameras

‘Marty Supreme’ Star Brings a Contax G2 Camera Along on Promo Tour — Petapixel tells us that hollywood stars now use Contax G2. The prices are gonna sky-rocket.

They also remind us that Sabrina Carpenter Spotted Using a Gorgeous Contax G2 Camera — and back in October another star using Contax G2. At least she doesn’t seem to go on talk shows with it.

In 2017 Kendall Jenner Shares Her Passion for Photography on The Tonight Show ruining the Contax T-series for everyone with its sky-rocketing prices.

Printing slides

1980s F1 Photographer Sees His Work Printed for the First Time Thanks to His YouTuber Son — a bit click bait. The Toronto based car enthusiast son of the photographer just showed us how he could get the images printed. Nothing ground breaking, but these are slides, and even mini-lab could handle these (not mentioned). He end up with DSLR scanning and pro-lab large format printing. Great pictures. And this should encourage you to print your work.

Film recipes

A Movie-Like Look for Your Images – The Fujifilm “Movie Recipe” — Another film recipe.

Instax

Zinstax — The home of Zinstax and Binstax, Instax Square backs for Mamiya RZ67 and RB67. Made in Germany it seems. Not the only option.

Misc

“Throwing my camera was the right thing to do”: The photographers behind the viral protest photos — a story of photojournalism covering current events in Minneapolis.

More on the Instax mini Evo Cinema

More info starts to trickle down about the Instax mini Evo Cinema, with reviews appearing. The manual is even online (PDF).

First, the price will be CA$479 or US$409. In comparison, the regular Instax Mini Evo is CA$240 which is half that of a Evo Cinema.

Second the availability will be beginning of February 2026. I bet you this will be available in store while I’m still waiting on an X-E5 w/ 23mm.

But let’s see the details.

This is solely based on reading and review videos, and the user manual. I don’t have the camera.

The Instax mini Evo Cinema is both a movie and still hybrid Instax mini camera. What does “hybrid” mean? It mean that it is a digital camera that will print on an Instax sheet like you do print using the Instax link printed: the photographic surface is exposed by a digital system. That mean between the sensor and the sheet, everything can happen. And here it does.

You either take pictures in stills mode, or can select frames from a video taken in movie mode. With a 1/5″ 5MP sensor, and an a 28mm f/2.0 equivalent lens, it produces vertical photos in 1920×2560 resolution. The vertical video have a 1080×1440 maximum resolution, with a maximum length of 15sec. This resolution is only accessible in the 2020 position of the Gen Dial™, on any other modes the resolution is 800×600. While it comes with an internal storage, it is heavily recommended to get a microSD card, whose slot is located under a flap at the front of the camera handle. Without that you can’t even take the larger video format, and can only store 10 clip of the lower resolution, and about 50 still images (or a combination of both). At 800 images / GB or 162 low-res clip / GB, the internal storage is very tiny.

You can directly print either stills or a single frame from a video like you would do on the regular Evo camera. There is a knob you turn to trigger the print to try to make you believe you are rewinding the mechanism.

One of the print feature require the use of the phone app. It’s the one that print a frame from the video with a QR code that will send people to Fujifilm to view said video once you upload it (via the app). Fujifilm will keep the video online for two years or until they keep the service alive, whichever is the shortest. Don’t expect this service to outlast the device. This is something you’d use as follow:
– Step 1: take a short clip at an event.
– Step 2: print the picture with QR code to hand to people to view it.
– Step 3: profit (for Fujifilm)!

The camera is powered by built-in rechargeable battery. It is not removable, but it seems to be serviceable through a screwed on trap inside the film cavity. The thing is that you can’t swap it on the go, you have to charge it 2~3 hours through the USB-C port found under the flap on the front of the handle. The manual says it lasts 100 prints, but it doesn’t mention the number of clips / images you can take on a charge, which is what you’d expect to do the most.

I mentioned the Gen Dial™. It is the Film Simulation dial for the Evo Cinema, and it offers 10 different video effects named after decades (generations) from 1930 to 2020, with each effect representing the decade. For example 1960 is the Super 8 generation. and 2010 is the streaming generation. Each effect has an option overlay backed into it. For the 1960 you get the faux Super 8 sprocket hole effect, so popular and cheesy, and with the 2010 generation get the streaming overlay with the video control. Only the 2020 position allow recording movies in full resolution. These effects also include audio effects, and can be modulation with a strength level.

For the hardware, the camera comes with two accessories: a grip that extends the handle, and an eye cup. The eye cup turn the small 170K LCD into a viewfinder, making it easier to use when you need reading glasses, proof that they are trying to convince GenXers that they can also have fun with it. The grip screw at the bottom of the handle to make it longer. And that screw is a 1/4″ tripod mount with alignment hole.

To conclude, this is an Instax camera with a video mode relying heavily on nostalgia to drag you into printing. At CA$14 the 10 pack of Instax mini, it’s how much one of these QR code will cost you on top of the CA$480. It’s not a movie camera.

X-Half on sale, is it a signal to the end?

In Canada the Fujifilm X-half is CA$140 off. South of the border it’s US$200 off. (Did I miss where the loonie is more than a US dollar?) The promotion was even extended, which probably indicate they want to move more of it.

Also, in the US at Adorama, you could get a X-Half for free with a X-T5 kit. That’s quite a big gift. Albeit I can’t find it anymore so it’s possible the promo is over.

Now the question about the discount and promotions: is the X-Half selling that bad? I still can’t get the X-E5 + 23mm in black after like 7 month on the wait list but they have enough X-Half for a firesale. I know it’s not a simple move this here to produce more, but Fujifilm seems to be very off with the demand.

News: instax mini Evo Cinema

The tl;dr: Fujifilm announced the instax mini Evo Cinema: a movie camera shaped Instax mini Evo camera.

That means it is a digital camera that directly print on Instax mini. But the rest feels very gimmicky:

– record short videos (up to 15sec) and then print a thumbnail with QR code to share it with other.
– the “Eras Dial”: it’s like a film simulation dial but for time period specific effects, including with the audio.

Most of it requires the use of the associated mobile app.

The ergonomics look interesting, with a grip allegedly inspired by Fujifilm own FUJICA Single-8 movie camera (an 8mm film movie camera from 1965) and a viewfinder attachment to turn the small rear LCD into an EVF. Seriously Fujifilm, make this a proper movie camera that can do 4K and you get my money.

It feels like we are being punked by Fujifilm. The fact that there are very few articles (no review) and very few videos on YouTube about it is either that Fujifilm didn’t send the camera to influencers. Even the Fujifilm corporate channels are light on content with only a video in Japanese. Reading closer what Peta Pixel knows, it seems that the instax mini Evo Cinema is set to be released in Japan, with an unknown prices and international availability.

December 2025 Links

Fujifilm

Shall We Talk About the Fujifilm X-Pro4? — Kevin Mullins talk about his expectations for the Fujifilm X-Pro4. In 2024. End of 2025 and we haven’t heard of anything.

Ross’s Fujifilm Recipes — Ross and his JPEGs has a bunch of Fujifilm recipes.

Winter Chrome — Just another film recipe.

X-E5 x FS RECIPE: Ben Savage — Fujifilm X story giving 3 film recipes.

X-E5 x FS RECIPE: Davide Gazzotti — Another Fujifilm X story with file recipe.

Panasonic

Digital Kodacolor 200 is Here. And It’s Beautiful — Lumix LUTs are Panasonic answer to Fujifilm film simulations / recipes. This one is for Kodacolor 200.

Kodacolor 200 — The original link for the one above from Ross and his JPEGs. Ross has many other recipes for Lumix, including conversion of other Fujifilm recipes (from the community). And the Fujifilm ones above.

DIY

This Photographer Built an Awesome Medium-Format Rangefinder, and So Can You — 3D printing has a great potential.

Misc

What Bruce Davidson Taught Me About Street Photography — Frederik Trovatten talks about Bruce Davidson, New York based photographer know for his colour scenes from the New York subway in the 80s.

A couple of years with the Minolta P’s — A review of the Minolta P, and “panoramic” format 35mm film point and shoot, from someone who shoot the TX-1 or X-Pan regularly.