Here we go again.
Today Fujifilm introduced the instax MiniEVO 2, yet another in their long line of instant cameras. Like the instax Pal 2 that was introduced earlier this fall, we again get the panda-style legacy look popularized by the X100 models and now popping up nearly everywhere in Fujifilm’s lineups.
First off, good on Fujifilm for establishing clear branding. Nikon has pretty much gone for a DSLR branding (other than the Zfc, Zf, ZR), and Sony seems to have mostly locked in an Alpha look. But no one is making instantly identifiable as Brand X cameras lately than Fujifilm.
But more importantly, Fujifilm is now playing riffs off digital with their instant film cameras. The MiniEVO 2 has a big 4.5” touchscreen on the back that is used for composition and settings. The screen is larger than the 2x3” instant prints the camera takes! But coupled with a couple of clever controls, instant cameras now have very digital like customizations in real time. Oh, and yes you can save the 13mp digital images driving the built-in printer, including an up-to-five-second video of what happened prior to pressing the shutter release.
Actually, you’ll find two shutter releases on the MiniEVO 2, one in the traditional place up top, the other near the top front of the camera for when you’ve oriented the camera in portrait mode.