Fujifilm Instax Film Mini 8 Instant Camera
Last updated: June 7, 2021
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Product Details
In our analysis of 119 expert reviews, the Fujifilm Instax Film Mini 8 Instant Camera placed 12th when we looked at the top 14 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.From The Manufacturer
The new, compact INSTAX Mini 8 color models preserve the ease of use and attractive design elements of the existing INSTAX Mini series. At the same time, the Mini 8 cameras offer new features and enhancements. You will instantly notice a slimmer and lighter body. The INSTAX Mini 8 is approximately10% smaller than the Mini 7S in volume ratio. It is now even easier for the consumer to carry around an INSTAX with them everywhere. The new INSTAX Mini 8 features automatic exposure measurement. The camera signals the recommended aperture setting with a flashing LED light and the user can manually adjust the dial to the recommended setting. This helps the user capture the perfect photo every time. A new High-Key mode is available on the INSTAX Mini 8 cameras. This mode enables consumers to take brighter pictures with a soft look -perfect for portraits. The viewfinder has also been improved for enhanced subject viewing. Framing a shot becomes easier for the user with even greater clarity and improved visibility.
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
Fujifilm Instax mini 8 camera is a lot of fun. It’s extremely easy to use, and you can capture some decent photos if you manage to match the right exposure levels with the right surroundings.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 is one of the oldest instant cameras you can still find widely, and it's best suited if you want to get a cheap camera for a kid or teenager.
- Reviewed
The Mini 8 is powered by two AA batteries, a big advantage over other instant cameras that use more obscure CR2 photo batteries.
It has an auto flash, a brightness adjustment dial for everything from indoor to sunny settings, an electronic shutter and a built-in lens cover.
Using the Instax Mini 8 is as easy as pushing the lens button, rotating to the desired exposure, waiting for the red light signifying flash is ready, and pushing the shutter. It takes roughly five seconds to power on; a successful photo should print out from the top of the camera and complete processing in approximately 10 seconds.
The high key feature lets you adjust your photos quality before you snap the picture. Close-ups come through loud and clear with the short focal range of .6 to 2.7 meters. Only 2 AA batteries power this camera and lets you take those great shots you always wanted.
Our favorite thing about this camera is that it is so easy to use, especially for kids. It also has an automatic exposure adjustment that helps catch the best picture every time.
It is extremely easy to use, as all you need to do is to press the button, adjust the dial, and then shoot to get your picture instantly.
- The Z9
It is easy to select the exposure level to take better quality pictures using the adjustment dial around the lens.
The camera is highly portable due to its small size and lightweight. It fits in any small bag or purse. This means that you can quickly take pictures anywhere you might be and instantly have them in hard copy.
The flash will always fire but the output level is adjusted automatically based on the camera’s metering of the scene. Flash recycle time can vary between 0.2s and 6s with new batteries and depending on the output.
It’s fixed focus, so you don’t have to mess with that. And the built-in flash fires automatically.
It is lighter in weight and this makes it easily portable. It comes with a stylish design that most customers enjoy.
The Instax Mini 8 has a 60mm wide angle lens with a fixed focus range of .6 meters to infinity. I found the lens to be quite sharp
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 8’s operation is one of the easiest out there, it’s certainly a major contributor to the cameras popularity.
The FujiFilm Instax Mini 8 is a basic, easy to use, point and shoot camera that takes instant photos and develops them like the good and old Polaroid cameras.
The size and weight of the camera makes it very portable. It fits in any purse or even small bags. So wherever you are, you can easily get pictures and instantly have a hard copy.
What reviewers didn't like
Photos indoors can take a bit more work and it’s here with the lack of focus really shows. The always-on flash can help make up for low-lit conditions, but colours can look too washed out and image clarity is not great.
The only downside to this option is the lack of a selfie mirror.
- Reviewed
Selfies are a thing that many people enjoy. If you're a selfie shooter, you'll be disappointed with the Mini 8—it doesn't have a mirror to frame up shots
However, figuring out the right exposure, even for a tiny toy camera, can be rather tricky. How do you differentiate from a fairly sunny to a not-too-sunny-but-still-a-bit-bright setting? This is supposed to be simple photography, not meteorology!
The film does not last long, though this does not affect the overall performance of the camera.
- The Z9
It only supports Fujifilm Instant Color Film “Instax Mini” which is expensive. As there is no auto focus, it will not be easy for you to take the picture first time with the camera.
The viewfinder is not very accurate making it difficult to focus on images. The Instax Mini 8 produces a very small sized photo that sometimes may miss the small details.
Shutter speed is fixed at 1/60s on the Mini 8. All Instax Mini film is currently rated at ISO 800 and is only available as color film.
The viewfinder is small and a bit finicky to use, but it works.
The camera has no automatic focus option and this means that the photographer needs to come closer to the object or person when taking photos.
Close up objects will be noticeably out of focus. The focal length of the lens is just wide enough to easily frame up people in tight environments, but isn’t so wide as to introduce distortion.
The lack of autofocus can take a bit of practice for those of us who are so used to the little green box on your digital point-and-shoot.
Focus: the camera has no autofocus. The shooting range is 3 to 9 feet (0.6m to 2.7m), so you need to get up close.
Another negative point about this camera is its inability to create clear copy when taking close up photos. Some users also report that the viewfinder is not that accurate as well. In addition to this, the LED flash is not as bright as it should be making it difficult to take clear photos under low light condition.
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