Fujifilm Instax Evo Cinema Review: Retro Video Fun

The front of the grip has a cover that hides away the USB-C charging port and microSD card slot. There is built-in memory, but I would strongly suggest using a microSD card, because it’s difficult to fully extract your images from the built-in memory. You have to use the app to first download the image, but then it’s hard to save them on your phone outside of the app. Just throw a tiny microSD card in there and you’ll avoid all that hassle.

The images are tiny. The 5-MP, 1/5-inch sensor records photos at 1920 x 2560 pixels and videos at 600 x 800 pixels (though there is an option to record higher resolution using the 2020 high-quality mode, which bumps video to 1080 x 1440 pixels). The sensor shares the same specs as the Mini Evo Plus, and it seems safe to assume it is the same. That means it’s good enough for Instax prints and social media, but won’t look that great even at 4 x 6 inches.

The shutter button, which is bit more like a trigger in this design, will record for up to 15 seconds. You can use it two ways, either like a trigger, where it shoots as long as you hold it down (up to 15 seconds anyway), or push it once to start and once to stop. Yes, it is a bit awkward to try to take a selfie video with this design, but you can connect to the app and compose and shoot using that.

The lens is a 28-mm (35-mm equivalent) f/2.0 with autofocus and face recognition. Focusing is totally automated and center weighted, though the face recognition will override this when it detects a face.

Around the lens is a focus ring that doesn’t focus, but rather adjusts how strong the effect is that you’re applying. Above the lens is a light that can be a flash for photos or constant for video. Just to the side of that there’s a selfie mirror that is, quite frankly not much help. You’re better off using the app for selfies.

The rear of the camera has a small, low-resolution screen that you can use either with the optional eyepiece or just as a screen held at arms length. I preferred using the eyepiece because I have old eyes, but it works just as well either way.

The side of the camera has a power button, and two switches, one to move between still and video modes, and the other to turn off an on the frames and extra available as overlays (which vary by which “era” effect you’re using). There’s also a small dial that works as a print switch and a toggle to control the digital zoom.

Time Travel

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Then there is the Eras dial, which allows you to select various decade-themed effect presets that cover every age of film from 1930 to 2020. This is where the Evo Cinema gets fun. The effects allow you shoot in the style of jerky black-and-white video from the 1930s or the Handycam-style footage of the 1990s, as well as many more. I was fond of the 1940s era effect, which adds that strangely faded color saturation that characterized film footage from that decade.