Summary
In addition to being the most visually beautiful Instax camera, the Fujifilm Instax Tiny 99 is also the most practical of all the Instax cameras. When compared to the point-and-shoot Instax Mini 12, the Mini 99 provides photographers who utilize Instax film with a greater degree of control. It is equipped with a variety of advanced functions, such as exposure compensation, built-in color filters, and the ability to double exposure, while still maintaining an exceptionally user-friendly interface. There are some of these more complicated settings that we have seen in the Evo tiny hybrid camera; nevertheless, the presentation in the analog mini 99 is considerably simpler and easier to use.
In the end, the tiny 99 fulfills a function that is comparable to that of the much-loved Instax small 90, which was introduced to the market for the first time over ten years ago. Additionally, it incorporates some of the sophisticated creative functions that are available in the Evo Mini Hybrid Cam. Despite the fact that it is more costly than other Instax cameras that are presently available on the market, this Instax camera is our favorite one to date since it offers more creative control, an attractive style, and a rechargeable battery.
With such a crowded market (which already includes a large number of instant cameras manufactured by Fujifilm), is it possible for this fashionable new model to win its spot among the finest instant cameras available? Continue reading for our comprehensive review of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: PRICE & AVAILABILITY
It is now available in a sophisticated matte black finish via a variety of online shops, and the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 can be purchased for the price of $199.95. The tiny 99 is more costly than the candy-colored Instax Mini 12, the vintage-styled Instax Mini 40, or any of the Instax Square cameras that are presently available on the market. The fact that its price is comparable to that of the Instax Evo mini Hybrid is not unexpected, considering that the mini 99 incorporates a lot of the creative capabilities that are found on the Evo mini.
Other luxury instant cameras, such as the Lomography Lomo’s Instant Automat camera, which also provides greater creative freedom and shoots Instax format film, are priced comparable to the Instax Mini 99. The Instax Mini 99 is now available for purchase. The price is far lower than that of the high-end hybrid Leica SOFORT 2 or any of the Mint instant cameras that shoot Instax film. Additionally, it has more sophisticated controls than those that are available in the tiny 99.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY
One of the instant cameras that I’ve ever had the opportunity to use is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99, which is one of the finest-designed instant cameras in terms of both its appearance and its functionality. The lens barrel and the top control dials are both engraved with vivid white writing, and the finish is a sophisticated matte black. This instant camera has a nostalgic style that is comparable to that of Panasonic’s digital mirrorless cameras, thanks to the design decisions that were made. With dimensions of 4.4 inches by 4.0 inches by 2.1 inches and a weight of 14 ounces, it is also one of the most compact analog instant cameras now available on the market.
The fact that it is composed of plastic does not change the fact that it has a high-end appearance. It has a high probability of shutting down if it is dropped an excessive number of times. As a result of Fujifilm’s decision to utilize a shoulder strap rather than a wrist strap for the Mini 99, not only is it less likely that the camera will be dropped while it is being used, but it is also much more handy to take about with you on all of your travels.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: LENS & VIEWFINDER
With a lens measuring 60 millimeters, the Instax tiny 99 offers a field of vision that is comparable to that of a full-frame lens measuring 35 percent. From 0.3 meters to infinity, the lens has a focus range that can be divided out into three different settings: landscapes mode (three meters to infinity), normal mode (0.6 to three meters), and macro mode (0.3 to 0.6 meters). Additionally, there is a little button located on the front of the lens that allows you to apply a vignette to photographs in order to darken the margins of a frame.
With a camera that has a plastic lens, the lens is easy to focus, and the photographs that are taken are often of a satisfactory level of sharpness. The frames will have a certain amount of softness to them if you use the Instax mini 99 in double exposure mode or with the light leak option. However, considering the experimental nature of these two settings, this is not surprising.
The color profile is neutral, and there is no discernible light leak effect; the picture is quite crisp.(Photograph by Jeanette D. Moses and submitted to Future)
The Fujifilm Instax mini 99 was used to take this shot of red and white flowers, and the light leak filter was used to capture the image.
Using light leak to create an identical picture results in a photo that is inherently softer. (Photograph by Jeanette D. Moses and submitted to Future)
You won’t be able to take a selfie with the Instax mini 99 since it does not have the selfie mirror that is featured on the front of many modern-day Instax cameras. However, if you do want to take a selfie, you will need to make sure that the camera is set to macro mode.
The plastic optical viewfinder that comes with the Instax mini 99 provides a clear and precise depiction of the subject of the photograph that you are going to capture. Users may more easily position their topics in the center of the frame with the assistance of a little circle located in the middle of the frame. Whenever you shoot in macro mode, the viewfinder will automatically adjust itself to account for parallax.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: CONTROLS
The shutter controls for the Instax Mini 99 are located on the top of the camera, next to the control dials, as well as on the front of the camera. When you look around the top shutter, you will discover a dial that allows you to modify exposure compensation. Additionally, there is another dial that allows you to create built-in LED lighting effects, which we will discuss in the next section.
Unfortunately, the dials for exposure adjustment and color effects both turn with a click that is incredibly pleasing; yet, it is also very simple to change them from their predetermined places when the camera is not being used. It would have been wonderful to have some form of locking mechanism to prevent the dials from rotating to other settings so readily, similar to what Fujifilm incorporates into their mirrorless cameras, such as the Fujifilm X-T5. Take into consideration that this is a plastic camera, so it should not come as a surprise that it does not have an advanced design function such as that. Therefore, before you take a picture, you should double-verify that your settings are correct.
In order to activate the camera, you must first convert the lens into one of the three different focus settings. Additionally, the lens has a click that is incredibly pleasant when it is adjusted, and unlike the control knobs, it is not readily knocked out of position.
There are controls for shooting modes and flash settings located on the back of the camera, on top of the film pack. These controls may be accessed easily. On top of the door that allows film packs to be loaded into the Mini 99, these controls are located. Additionally, they are situated above a smaller door that contains the rechargeable Fujifilm NP-70S battery.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: IMAGE AND PRINT QUALITY
When it comes to the quality of the print, there is a degree of unpredictability that comes along with having greater creative freedom. The ability to take multiple exposures, regulate exposure correction, and experiment with the many different color effects provided by LEDs made it possible to create frames that did not always work out precisely. On the other hand, understanding the most effective techniques to shoot with the Instax Mini 99 is part of the pleasure! This is particularly true for photographers who are just starting out with instant film.
Those who have used the Instax Evo small hybrid camera will recognize the six LED color effects that are included in the Instax Mini 99. Fortunately, the Mini 99 makes it far simpler to access these effects than the Evo Mini Hybrid camera itself. Additionally, there is a shooting mode that is neutral. The filters are only intended to be used with Instax color film packs, and while they need some practice to get familiar with, they provide a number of creative alternatives that are both fun and interesting. During the time that I used the Instax Mini 99, I discovered that while I was shooting with the color effects, I was most often drawn to shooting with warm tones, light blues, and light leaks. When it comes to photographing inside photos late at night, warm tones are especially well-suited, while pale blue was a wonderful choice for daylight street scenes.
Light Leak Mode was my personal favorite option on the Mini 99, despite the fact that the frames that were taken in this mode were not always the most technically effective. The order in which the light leak occurs is arbitrary, which adds a degree of gentleness to the overall composition of the frame. The way it worked with the photograph of my orange cat was my favorite part. A peculiar lo-fi quality was imparted into the photograph of the flowers, yet the frame that was shot in neutral mode is the one that I like more. When you look at the two pictures of my buddy eating a hotdog, you can see quite clearly how the location of the light leak may have an effect on the overall appearance of the photo.
The results of double exposures are comparable; at times, they were a complete and utter success, while at other times, they were a complete and utter failure. In spite of the fact that the “double head” look is a little unsettling, I was able to do just what I had hoped to do. When I tried to shoot a double exposure of someone posing with their eyes open and then with their eyes closed, it was less effective and came out a little bit overexposed. I was unable to get the original image. Also, I really like how the double exposure of the toy pigeon and the cat line up with each other.
In my opinion, the photos that were taken using the faded green setting were excessively green. In this photograph taken from a fruit stand, the green watermelons seem to have a sickly appearance. Even after adjusting the exposure compensation, soft magenta’s photographs frequently appeared overexposed.
It is always possible to keep the mini 99 in neutral mode in order to capture Instax prints with the same degree of dependability that you would obtain when shooting with the fully-automatic Instax mini 12 if you are not feeling adventurous. When used as a general-purpose profile, neutral mode works very well. I used it to take the conventional selfie, the picture of the laundromat, and the picture of the camera in the position that allowed me to take the most effective double exposures.
In spite of the fact that it means that not every Instax print will come out flawlessly, I appreciate having more creative alternatives available to me. As a result of the extra controls that are available on the Instax Mini 99 and the many ways in which you may combine them, it is possible that you will end up wasting some film, but it is also absolutely certain that you will end up with some happy accidents.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: FILM COST & YIELD
You will be spending around 70 cents for each image when you use the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 since it utilizes Instax mini film packs, which typically cost approximately $14 for a double film pack that contains twenty pieces of film. If you compare it to a Polaroid film pack, it is substantially less costly than the Instax film format, which is the least expensive in the Instax series of films.
(White) The Instax aesthetic is my favorite because of its high gloss finish and stunning colors, despite the fact that it is more costly than instant cameras that use competing ZINK sheets. As a result of the fact that I’ve discovered that an Instax print is considerably more durable than a Zink print over the course of time, I am more than willing to spend a little bit more for it.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 REVIEW: VERDICT
A person who is searching for a degree of creative control without compromising practicality may find the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 to be a great solution. It is more complex than the Instax Mini 12, but it is far less complicated than the Hybrid Evo Instax. It is also the most small Instax camera that is presently available on the market; it utilizes a battery that can be recharged; and it comes with a lot of fun and creative functions. One of the things that makes using this camera so enjoyable is the fact that the results it produces when shooting might be a little bit surprising. If you are searching for a sophisticated instant camera, the Instax Mini 99 is a wonderful option. The price point is expensive in comparison to other cameras in the Instax series, and we do wish that the control knobs had some type of locking mechanism. However, the Instax Mini 99 is an excellent choice.
