One thing that has gone away from our lives over the past few years is the printed photograph. Yes, we click way more photos now than we ever used to, but we don’t feel the need to print those. In other words, the need to frame a cherished memory for eternity is not a requirement of the digital age. But there is still a unique value to saving a memory on your walls as a reminder of a special time. The Instax Mini 99 from Fujifilm caters to this very need with its analog camera that prints photos in seconds, thus giving you a bookmark of a cherished memory.
The Instax Mini 99 looks and feels like the earlier models though this has more of a vintage feel to it now. Also, the model has been upgraded for the digital age with an app and a small LED screen to help you switch modes and see the battery level as well as the remaining shots. The camera is light and compact with a viewfinder as well as two shutter buttons one of which is up front thus letting you take selfies easily. There are dials to change the colour effects and brightness as well as a manual switch on the lens to turn on the vignette mode.
Equipped with an app and LED screen, the Instax Mini 99 offers easy mode switching and battery monitoring. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
Of course, taking photos with the Instax Mini 99 is child’s play because it is as simple as photography can be. However, what you need to get the hang of is the exact colour mode that works for you. I tried almost all and was most pleased by the warm tone, though even then you need to get the brightness levels right for the situation to say the photos have the effect you need. And if you are looking for crystal clear images like the one produced by your iPhone 15 Pro Max then this camera is not for you.
This is more of a people camera. It does not work if you, like me, like to click pics of skies, clouds, and indoor plants, this needs prominent subjects that hold the centre stage in the 1:1 frame. On your fridge that stunning cloud photo won’t make much sense in the tiny size of the Instax analog print.
Capture and print cherished moments in seconds, making memories tangible with the Instax Mini 99. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
In fact, the camera reminded me of my days with the Sears Electra, my first film camera. There you needed to know what your frame was going to look like before going ahead and clicking as you did not have the luxury of instant previews and unlimited shots. Every shot was an investment and you went ahead assessing the risks. Instax photography is a throwback to those times. For example, when I used the double exposure feature for my son, he did not move enough in the frame for the second click. The image came out like a small shake with no double exposure effect. I went back and planned the shot better. The results were great.
Yes, you also need to get the lighting right. When I had my son in frame, with natural light hitting his face from the window the overall effect of the photo was psychedelic and perfect to impress a teenager. But when you try and click inside a poorly lit restaurant, then you need to think about using the flash. But it is not as if you can’t really play with low light. There is a 10-second Bulb mode that you can use to catch light trails, though I haven’t found a good opportunity to use it.
The Instax Mini 99 features various modes, including color effects and brightness adjustments, to enhance your photography experience. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
But it is not all retro. The Instax Up! app gives you the ability to scan and digitise your printed photos and they then become shareable in the same format. This is an interesting aspect, though I had to really stretch to get the picture clear enough. The app offers the ability to remove reflections from the scans, but I would think an AI layer that enhances the photos would be needed to make this successful.
The Instax Mini 99 as a camera will really appeal to teenagers and those who like to have a collection of their memories handy in the physical world. Each instant film cartridge of 10 costs Rs 799 and this should be an interesting way of teaching youngsters the value of money. But they will also soon find value in the analog world and how not everything needs to be digital.
