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Fujifilm Instax Mini 41: One-minute evaluate
The Instax Mini 41 is the most recent inexpensive on the spot digicam constructed for Fujifilm’s Instax Mini movie, changing the 2022-released Instax Mini 40 because the ‘mature’ various to the playful, vibrant Mini 12.
Whereas the Mini 40 has a straight-up retro aesthetic, the Mini 41 takes issues in a extra distinctive and fashionable route. I’d name it retro-tinged quite than all-out vintage-inspired, and I feel it’s all the higher and extra eye-catching for it.
Instax Mini cameras have at all times been easy to make use of and the Mini 41 fortunately continues this custom. Loading it with a cartridge of movie takes seconds and isn’t fiddly in any respect and, because of the automated publicity settings, taking a photograph actually is only a matter of pointing and capturing. 90 seconds later, you’ll have a totally developed and sure great-looking credit score card-sized print in your fingers.
The viewfinder is massive and shiny, and because of the brand new parallax correction mode, you not must compensate composition for close-up objects. As with the Mini 12, the Shut-Up mode shifts the viewfinder angle barely in order that centering an object inside 50cm will truly preserve it within the heart of the completed print.
The construct high quality is light-weight and plasticky, however fortunately doesn’t come throughout as low-cost; I feel it feels wonderful for a digicam on this value vary. I’ll concede that the usage of normal AA batteries quite than a chargeable built-in battery appears slightly old style in 2025, however I suppose you’ll be able to’t have all of it.
When it comes to picture high quality, it’s troublesome to say the Mini 41 is any higher than the 2023-released Mini 12 (which is a bit cheaper), as a result of the lens and movie getting used is just about equivalent. However that’s no dangerous factor: Instax Mini photographs are colourful, charming and really easy to cross round, pin as much as a corkboard or stick on the fridge.
All in all, it is a enjoyable, easy-to-use on the spot digicam with a good-looking design and an excellent value.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41: Value and availability
- Digicam obtainable now for $129.95 / £94.99 / AU$179
- Instax Mini movie prices round $20.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95 for a 20 pack
The Instax Mini 41 is offered now for round $129.95 / £94.99 / AU$179. That value, which is fairly cheap for my part, contains the digicam, two AA batteries and a wrist strap, however you don’t get any Instax Mini movie packs included. US-based readers ought to notice that the worth within the States could go up on account of the latest tariffs, so do preserve a watch out for that.
Every movie cartridge options 10 photographs, and so they’re often offered in double packs (so 20 photographs in complete) for round $20.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95. That may initially appear costly in comparison with the near-free value of digital photographs, however as these prints are tangible, personalised objects I don’t suppose it’s truthful to instantly examine them to photographs that sit in your cellphone or social media account. In my view, the movie is priced fairly pretty.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41: specs
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Movie Sort: |
Fujifilm Instax Mini movie |
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Print measurement: |
62mm x 46mm |
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Lens: |
Retractable lens, 2 parts, 2 parts, f= 60 mm, 1:12.7 |
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Focus vary |
Guide 2-range switching: Shut-up Mode (0.3m to 0.5m); Regular Mode (0.5m and past) |
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Shutter Pace |
Programmed digital shutter launch (1/2 to 1/250 seconds) |
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Energy: |
Two AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6) |
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Dimensions: |
104.5mm x 122.5mm x 67.5mm |
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Weight: |
345g (with out movie or batteries) |
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41: design
- Plastic physique with retro-inspired however fashionable design
- Easy controls and viewfinder
- Selfie mirror constructed into lens barrel
Once I pulled it out of the field, I used to be immediately impressed by the appears of the Instax Mini 41. It will have been straightforward for Fujifilm to retain the purely retro Sixties-esque styling of the Mini 40, however as an alternative its designers have blended outdated and new into one thing fairly singular, very similar to it did with the Instax Wide Evo.
From the grippy geometric texture on the entrance to the understated colours (with these all-important pops of the orange accent coloration right here and there), that is only a fashionable and chic digicam – and quite a bit much less conspicuous and extra grown-up than the Instax Mini 12.
It’s made nearly fully of plastic. That’s regular for one thing priced as little as this, and helps preserve the burden down, however it would get marked and broken fairly simply if dropped or mistreated. My evaluate pattern already had a scrape throughout the again from a earlier consumer, and I believe a ten-year-old Mini 41 would look fairly battered and bruised until saved in a carry case more often than not.
Operation is superbly easy. Loading a cartridge Instax Mini movie by the rear hatch is idiot-proof because of the yellow indicator strains, and as soon as it’s in all that you must do is twist the lens barrel to show the digicam on. This energy swap doubles as a mode dial too, flipping the digicam between its Regular and Shut-Up capturing modes: Regular is for capturing something greater than 50cm away, whereas Shut-Up handles the whole lot between 50cm and 30cm (the digicam’s closest focusing distance).
When in Shut-Up mode, the viewfinder shifts perspective barely, making it simpler to border your photographs. That is known as parallax correction and I’ve seen it on the Mini 12 too, nevertheless it’s an excellent function to have should you don’t wish to find yourself losing photographs by poor composition.
To take a shot, you simply look by the (massive, shiny) viewfinder to compose, then hit the shutter button. All the things else, together with shutter velocity and flash, is totally automated. If you wish to take a selfie, there’s a helpful mirror on the lens to assist composition (one other function, like parallax correction, carried over from older fashions).
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41: Efficiency
- Postcard-sized prints delivered in 90 seconds
- Robust coloration copy and sharp element
- Runs on 2 x AA battery delivering round 100 photographs
This digicam actually is simplicity personified. From urgent the shutter button to taking a look at your totally developed print, all the course of takes simply 90 or so seconds. The Mini 41 doesn’t do something completely different to its Instax Mini predecessors on this regard, however then it doesn’t must: the system works very effectively. The one factor it is lacking, if I am nit-picking, is a self-timer that’d assist you to set it up someplace for a gaggle shot.
The prints are bank card sized (62 x 46mm to be exact), properly shiny, and filled with allure. I suppose you may be disenchanted should you’re on the lookout for essentially the most element, the punchiest distinction and the richest, most saturated colours – however, effectively, you didn’t actually look forward to finding them on an affordable on the spot digicam, did you?
Picture 1 of 4
What these pictures have in spades is spirit and character. The colours are nice and interesting and there’s sufficient element right here, regardless of the small print measurement. And that analog movie particular sauce fits portraits and selfies effectively, imbuing them with a timeless high quality that digital has at all times struggled to recreate.
Ought to I purchase the Fujifilm Instax Mini 41?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41: Additionally think about
It’s greater than twice the worth of the Mini 41, however Polaroid’s newest point-and-shoot on the spot digicam delivers great-looking sq. prints because of its four-lens system. An extended minimal focus distance means it’s not preferrred for snapping selfies, although.
Learn our in-depth Polaroid Flip review
With very comparable picture high quality to the Mini 41 (it makes use of the identical movie packs, in any case), the 2023-released Mini 12 makes for an excellent and barely cheaper various – should you can dwell with the cutesy, cloud-shaped and vibrant design, that’s.
Learn our in-depth Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 review
How I examined the Fujifilm Instax Mini 41:
- Used two packs of Instax Mini movie (20 photographs)
- Took photographs in and outdoor in several circumstances
- Experimented with portraits, self portraits, close-ups and landscapes
I used to be solely given a few week to make use of the Mini 41 earlier than my evaluate pattern had to return to Fujifilm, however that was sufficient time to get by a few cartridges of movie: 20 photographs in complete. I took these in and outdoor and in a wide range of conditions, from selfies to landscapes. I personal an Instax Mini 12 too, so am fairly conversant in the design and picture high quality of the Instax Mini vary and movie, which helped me type an opinion on the Mini 41 regardless of having restricted hands-on time with it.