Let's face it, nostalgia is a drug. And no one sells it better than Fujifilm. Just when I thought we had reached the peak of hipster absurdity with $500 cassette players, the Japanese said, "Hold my beer." They introduced a camera that looks like a 1960s gun, records video like a digital camera, and then prints it out. Yes, you read that right. It prints video. If that's not the definition of technological hedonism, then I don't know what is. But you know what? I fucking love it.
Fujifilm introduced Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema, a hybrid camera that shoots short retro-style videos and converts them into instant photos with a QR code. Inspired by the iconic 1965 camera, it promises time-traveling fun without having to search the attic for old film reels.
Why do we need this plastic nostalgia?
Let's face it, nostalgia is the devil's drug. And no one does it better than... Fujifilm. Just when I thought we had reached the absolute pinnacle of technological absurdity with smart refrigerators that tweet, the Japanese said, “Hold my beer.” They introduced a camera that looks like a weapon from a 1960s spy movie, records video like a digital camera, and then prints it out. Yes, you read that right. Prints the video.
If that's not the definition of technological hedonism, then I don't know what is. In a world where all phones have become boring black tablets that take clinically perfect photos, Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema It brings back something we've lost: soul. Or at least a very good marketing approximation of soul. Is it the most unnecessary device of 2026? Maybe. But, oh my god, how I want it.
Design: Tactile nirvana in the world of touchscreens
The first thing you notice is the shape. The Instax Mini Evo Cinema doesn't try to be ergonomically perfect for your pocket; it tries to be cool. The design is directly based on Fujifilm's own icon, the camera FUJICA Single-8 from 1965.
That means it has that signature vertical grip that makes you look like you're aiming a gun when you shoot. And trust me, in 2026, that's the only kind of "shooting" we want to see. The body is clad in a premium black and gray combination that screams "I have taste," and it's littered with buttons. Real, physical buttons.
“In the world of screen-scrolling, the physical click of a button has become the height of luxury.”
It's here “Print Lever” (print lever) that you pull when you want to print an image. It serves no purpose other than to give you the feeling of manually winding film. Is that fake? Sure. Is it satisfying? Like popping bubbles on a plastic wrap.
A time machine at your fingertips: Eras Dial
But the essence of this device is not in the plastic, but in that big rotary knob on the side – “Eras Dial”. It's your personal time machine. Jump from the grainy aesthetics of the 1930s to the oversaturated, neon colors with one twist CRT TVs from the 1970s or into the sterile digital sharpness of 2020.
It is available 10 time periods, each with 10 intensity levelsIf you know how to multiply, you know that means 100 different combinations ways to ruin a technically perfect photo to make it look “artistic.” And Fujifilm went even further – filters not only change the image, but also distort the sound. If you shoot in 1960 mode, you’ll hear the characteristic hum of a film reel in the background. Completely useless for documentary journalism, but brilliant for your Instagram Story.
How the hell do you print a video?
Here we come to the part that will confuse your grandmother. The camera is hybrid. Records digitally, prints analogically.
The main attraction is filming 15-second video clips (which you can stitch together into 30-second masterpieces in the app). When you catch that perfect moment where your dog is chasing its tail in the style of an 80s movie, you press that satisfying lever. The camera doesn't spit out a VHS tape, but a classic Instax Mini photo.
The trick is to choose the best frame (“hero shot”) and the camera prints on it QR codeWhen you scan this code with your phone, the video plays from Fujifilm's servers (where it's stored for two years).
Is that complicated? Yes. Could we just AirDrop the video? Sure. But where's the fun in that? It's a physical artifact of digital memory. It's "slow food" in a fast food world.
Under the Hood: It's Not All About Lipstick
Even though it's a lifestyle toy, Fujifilm hasn't forgotten the basics. The lens has a focal length of 28 mm (full-frame equivalent) and aperture f/2.0, which means that in dark bars, where you'll undoubtedly be showing off this camera, the image will be at least roughly usable.
The sensor is small (it's probably a classic 1/5-inch CMOS, although Fujifilm is officially silent about megapixels), but with the Instax format (credit card), resolution was never the point. It's about the atmosphere, not the pixels.
Technical specifications:
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Model: Instax Mini Evo Cinema
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Lens: 28mm equivalent, f/2.0
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Focus: Fixed focus (100 cm to infinity)
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Video: 15-second clips (compatible up to 30s in the app)
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Display: Rear LCD monitor (for those who don't trust the viewfinder)
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Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (also works as a printer for your phone)
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Special feature: 100 combinations of “Eras Dial” effects with sound
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Movie: Fujifilm Instax Mini
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Extras: Built-in LED light (cool, like your ex), viewfinder mount
Conclusion: A toy for grown-up children
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema is proof that technology doesn't always have to be faster, smarter, and with more AI processors. Sometimes it just has to be more fun. This is a device for a generation that misses a time it never truly lived in.
Price? They're starting in Japan January 30, 2026The official price for the EU is not yet known, but judging by its predecessors, expect a price somewhere between 200 and 300 euros (approx. $220-330). Is that a lot for a camera that takes technically worse pictures than your phone? Absolutely. But your phone doesn't have a film advance lever and doesn't look as good on a shelf next to your vinyl collection.
Buy it. Not because you need it, but because it makes life a little less serious. And that's invaluable these days.
