Fujifilm Corporation announced on January 7, 2026, the latest addition to its renowned instax™ series: the “instax mini Evo Cinema” (hereinafter mini Evo Cinema), a hybrid instant camera set to hit shelves on January 30, 2026.
Building on the series’ signature convenience—allowing users to shoot while viewing a monitor and select specific images to print—the mini Evo Cinema introduces a groundbreaking “Video Recording Function.” By converting recorded footage into a printable QR code, the device proposes a novel form of communication: the ability to physically “hand over” a video.
目次
New feature: Printing videos via QR codes
The flagship feature of this device is its ability to capture not just still images, but video as well. Users can record clips up to 15 seconds long. When a user selects a favorite scene to print as an instax print™, a QR code capable of playing the video data is printed alongside the image.
The recipient simply scans the QR code on the print with a smartphone to play or download the video at any time. This hybrid functionality facilitates easy sharing on social media, allowing users to preserve precious moments in a tangible “form” while simultaneously sharing digital “movement” and “sound.”
Visual expression transcending eras: “Jidial™”
The mini Evo Cinema is equipped with a new feature designed to enrich the shooting experience: the “Jidial™.” This creative tool offers effect functions inspired by various historical eras. Users can select from a total of 10 different effects, such as “1960,” which mimics the look of a 1960s 8mm film camera, or “1970,” which reproduces the texture of a 70s CRT television.
Each effect allows for 10 levels of adjustment, resulting in a total of 100 possible combinations. The attention to detail is meticulous; effects apply not only to the visual texture but also introduce noise, tape flutter, and even specific audio filters to the recorded sound. In certain modes, sound effects resembling a film reel spinning are played during recording, providing an immersive shooting experience that feels like slipping back in time.
Vertical design reminiscent of the legendary “Fujica Single-8”
In terms of product design, the camera adopts a “vertical grip style” that pays homage to the “Fujica Single-8,” the legendary 8mm cinema camera released by the company in 1965. The classic, premium exterior, based on a black and gray color scheme, is a finish that will impress even long-time camera enthusiasts.
The operational interface is equally committed to an analog feel. It features dials that transmit a satisfying click to the fingertips and a “print lever” that offers a tactile sensation similar to winding film. Furthermore, by attaching the included viewfinder or grip attachments, the device supports a more authentic, professional shooting style.
Expanded editing and usage via App integration
By linking with the dedicated smartphone app (iOS/Android), the ways to enjoy the camera expand significantly. Users can combine multiple video clips to create videos up to 30 seconds long, or add movie-like opening and ending templates to easily produce cinematic works.
Additionally, the device is equipped with a “Direct Print Function” that allows images stored on a smartphone to be output to an instax print™. This makes the mini Evo Cinema a versatile “3-in-1” device, functioning as a video camera, a still camera, and a smartphone printer.
With the message “Cinematically transcend eras,” the instax mini Evo Cinema is poised to launch on January 30, 2026, as a new instant camera that bridges digital and analog, as well as the past and the present.