Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Macro Lens Instant Camera

Last updated: October 11, 2021

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Macro Lens Instant Camera
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We looked at the top Instant Cameras and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Instant Camera you should buy.

Overall Take

For those who plan to routinely shoot in a variety of lighting environments, the Fujifilm Mini 9 Instant Camera is the perfect camera to have on hand. There are separate exposure settings to capture the best images when you're in sunny, cloudy or indoor lighting conditions. A "Hi-Key" exposure option lets you print a softened version of whatever image you've just grabbed.

In our analysis of 119 expert reviews, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Macro Lens Instant Camera placed 9th when we looked at the top 15 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

The new, Instax Mini 9 camera retains the ease of use and attractive design elements of the extremely popular Instax Mini 8 while adding five new exciting colors and a couple of new features. The new colors are: Flamingo Pink, Ice Blue, Lime Green, Cobalt Blue and Smokey White. The new, Instax Mini 9 features a selfie mirror for the perfect selfie photo every time. Close up macro photos are now easier thanks to the included close-up lens adapter which allows you to focus on subjects as close as 35-50cm. The Instax Mini 9 retains all of the other great features found in the Mini 8 including: 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. The High-Key mode enables consumers to take brighter pictures with a soft look -perfect for portraits.

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

This little camera is lightweight and compact. A great option for beginners. Pictures taken with this inexpensive mini cam turn out consistently well. Auto flash and auto exposure help to make picture taking a simple art.
The Mini 9 does have a selfie mirror. We also recommend the Mini 9 as a solid choice for an inexpensive instant camera for kids: It’s built to withstand the occasional drop, and it comes in four bright colors
Auto exposure takes a lot of hassle out of composition
The LED light turns on for the suitable setting, and all you need to do is make sure that the dial's notch is lined up with that scene for optimal output. The "Hi-Key" option gives you photos with a softer impression once printed.
- iMore
Its build is lightweight for easy portability, but it also doesn't feel flimsy. Its viewfinder, on the back of the camera, is simple to use; its film exposure counter, also on the back, helps you keep track of how many shots you have left.
It has a built-in flash, which always fires when you take a photo, and is powered by two AA batteries.
New to the Mini 9 are a tiny but surprisingly effective selfie mirror by the lens and the inclusion of a clip-on lens accessory for close-ups.
The close-up lens is much easier to use in tandem with the front-facing selfie mirror.
The camera has a number of different exposure modes, which can be selected by turning the dial around the lens. There is a light sensor on the front of the camera that will decide which setting would be best for a given situation.
With the Instax Mini 9, they’ve tweaked the design, added some great new colors, and improved on what little shortcomings the old version had.
Robust, lightweight and portable design
The settings for shooting in sunny, cloudy, and indoor environments are simple to figure out at a glance, with symbols like a sun, cloud, and house easily transcending language.
It comes with a rounded grip on the side that is comfortable to hold and helps you compose in both landscape and portrait orientation.
You can adjust for your settings a bit using the light dial on the lens. That way, you can make sure you’re getting the best flash possible for your situation, whether you’re outside or in a dark room.
Selfie mirror to help you keep your shots in the frame.
Instax Mini 9 is very easy to use and for this reason, it is the perfect choice for starters. The best thing about this camera is that it has automatic settings selection which shows you the best settings for different light conditions.
Set to be the most used new feature, the Instax Mini 9 comes with a built in selfie mirror.

What experts didn't like

You can't mount this model on tripod. No timer function
It’s a little tricky to turn on, but once you find the lens release/power button, it’s ready to pass around a party without instruction.
Lining up shots can be a little tricky on account of the tiny viewfinder. It has a guidance spot in the centre, but this doesn’t account for the parallax effect, which can lead to some off-centre shots.
Somewhat bulky design. Can't manually adjust exposure. No support for microSD card.
- iMore
One of this camera’s most distinctive design features is its selfie camera, which is located on its front, right next to the lens. In theory, this is a cool idea, but in practice, it doesn't really help you frame selfies—the reflection is blurry and has a sort of fisheye effect, so you can’t see yourself as well as you might need to when you’re trying to frame your photo, especially if you’re taking it with another person.
The viewfinder is at the side of the body, directly above the front shutter release. In testing, putting the camera to my eye and keeping my finger on the shutter while holding it in landscape orientation was uncomfortable. I wish Fujifilm had moved the shutter release with this update.
Like other Instax Mini cameras, don't expect 100% accurate framing with the basic viewfinder and beware that prints can often be over-exposed under very bright conditions.
The shutter on the Mini 9 is fixed to 1/60 sec, and the flash always fires (with a max range of 2.7 m / 8.8 ft), which can be very annoying. Exposure is controlled via the various shooting modes, which progressively stop the lens down. There's no true exposure compensation, but the camera does offer a 'High-key' mode which overexposes by about 2/3rd stop.
Tends to overexpose when used in bright sun, smaller photo size, limited image settings
As with any film camera, the cost of prints are a little higher than a digital format.
Very grainy and rough images compared to a digital compact
Size remains the Mini 9’s biggest issue. Its compact body prints likewise compact film. Once you get accustomed to cameras that shoot in a larger square format, it spoils you to want more imagery for your buck and fit more into a scene.
One issue with the film is that black speckles sometimes emerge in extremely overexposed areas of the frame, such as the highlights on the water in the backlit image below.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is not slim, nor is it super compact. I kept struggling to find the right place to put this camera as I traveled. It was too big for either my proper camera bag or any pockets on the outside of my backpack, so it ended up floating around loose in the main compartment of my backpack.
Can’t turn off the flash. If there’s one thing we don’t like about the Instax Mini 9, it’s the fact that its flash always fires.
It is not suitable to take pictures from far distances. Buying a film is a bit expensive.
Limited shooting range. Missed opportunity for more improvements.

Our Expert Consultant

Jay Soriano   
Portrait photographer

Jay Soriano a headshot and portrait photographer in Las Vegas.

View our Instant Camera buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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