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.

RIP Martin Parr

British photographer Martin Parr dies aged 73

Martin Parr, a British documentary photographer, was known for his colour pictures of Britain. He is often named as an influential figure among street photographers these days.

The Guardian has a short retrospective of Martin Parr photography.

The also further pieces on or by Martin Parr, with his recent work:

– August 2025 — ‘There’s something very interesting about boring’: Martin Parr on his life in pictures

– July 2025 — Decks appeal: Martin Parr captures life on a cruise liner – photo essay

– April 2025 — Martin Parr catches the cherry blossom season in Kyoto – in pictures

Stata Center, MIT (11 October 2008)

I building with a reflective silver-ish siding. The windows are not aligned but rather in an curve, so is the buillding. Behind a more traditional modern brick building. To the side an even more shiny part of the building. That style is characteristic to Frank Gehry's style of architecture.
Stata center, MIT, Cambridge, MA
Building designed by Canadian American architect Frank Gehry.
11 October 2008
Canon 20D, Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Fisheye.

Frank Gehry passed away this week. This is to my knowledge the only building he designed I have taken pictures of. It was last time I went to Cambridge, MA. It has been a while.

The Stata Center or Building 32 is part of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It was opened in March 2004. Source: Wikipedia

The picture was taken with the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Fisheye on a Canon 20D. The APS-C crop lead to less pronounced fisheye distortion. It was at the time my widest lens, which is an equivalent of a 24mm FoV on full frame.

X-E5 is still unobtainium

So I have a request for an X-E5 in black with a XF 23mm f/2.8 kit on a wait list at a Canadian retailer. It was days the announcement that I was put on the list. So I should be pretty much on top of the list. Turns out the camera in black is “back ordered” and the silver model comes in more often. I definitely want it in black.

At that pace Fujifilm will announce the X-Pro4 (whatever name the X-Pro3 successor will have) before I can even get an X-E5 in black.

November 2025 Links

Film news

DPReview just confirmed that Eastman Kodak has resumed direct sales of consumer film after more than a decade — This following the release of Kodacolor and the repackaing of both Gold 200 and Ultramax 400.

Trying Aerocolor — Erica Fustero tries Kodak Aerocolor that is sold only by the brand respooling it, even though most of them don’t say it. It’s a 100 ISO colour negative.

Fujifilm

The Complete History of Fujifilm X and GFX Cameras — An almost up to date timeline of the Fujifilm X and GFX line.

Leica

Pope Francis’ One-of-a-Kind Leica Sold for Nearly 100x Its Estimated Value — It’s not a camera that will shoot a lot if at all. It should be noted it’s a film Leica M, not a digital one. It’s serial number 5000000 (five million) so is the Noctilux 50mm f/1.2. It sold for €6,500,000 (instead of the €60,000 estimated)

Pope Francis’s Leica M-A set sells for 100 times its estimate at Leitz Photographica Auction — Same thing but this article also mention the bsck-up Leica M3 of the one gifted in 1958 to Queen Elizabeth II by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany. It sold for only €156,000.

A closer look at some of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite cameras — The Queen used many cameras. Including one similar to the M3 mentioned above.

Other

Digicams: The Cameras of the Modern Digital Rebellion — About that trend of using old digicams…

Link: First impressions: Lomography LOMO MC-A

I mentioned the Lomography LOMO MC-A recently. Kosmo Foto has had the privilege to shoot with one for a while and now have their first impressions of the Lomography LOMO MC-A.

Lomography is know for cheap plastic cameras that define the style of what people call “Lomography”, a sort of lo-fi photography.

Lomography’s new 35mm compact camera is a world away from simpler cameras like the LomoApparat or the Fisheye No. 2.

As it stands the LOMO MC-A is already on a different trajectory of more premium, with a build quality that feel solid with metal parts, exposure system, autofocus with manual options.

The test rolls seems to show good results. At ₤450 (CA$699) it’s definitely not cheap, but the result seems to be on par. This show the commitment of Lomography to film photography in general, as they also release a new film. Kosmo Foto expects to publish a more thorough review in 2026.