I’ve tested lots of instant cameras – here’s why the Instax Mini 99 stands out

At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

Cons

Our Verdict

The Instax Mini 99 includes colour filters, exposure compensation and multiple shooting modes to create unique instant prints. It’s certainly not for beginners, but photography enthusiasts should enjoy the wide range of options.

Price When Reviewed

$199

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Retailer Price

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Instax products are typically associated with younger audiences, with funky-coloured builds and easy-to-use features. However, this model bucks that trend.

The Instax Mini 99 is a device for photography enthusiasts. While it’s still an instant camera, a plethora of modes and filters provide endless creative options to explore. The higher price tag also means this isn’t for casual users or novelty.

I’ve tested a whole range of instant cameras over my years as a tech journalist, and the Instax Mini 99 is the first complex model that has minimal flaws that I’ve used.

Desgin & Build

The Instax Mini 99 doesn’t adopt the pastel shades of the Mini 12 range. Instead, it boasts a classic and refined finish suitable for all ages.

You’d be forgiven at first glance for thinking this camera looks like the Instax Mini 40. The plastic exterior is textured, so it appears like rough leather from a distance, with silver trimmings. However, look a little closer and you’ll notice a few upgrades.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

On the side, there are two dials. The top one is for lens filters, with the letters representing the following modes: Faded Green, Warm Tone, Light Blue, Soft Magenta, Sepia, and Light Leak.

The bottom dial adjusts the camera for different lighting environments, with four additional options besides N for Normal. For example, if you’re shooting under bright sunlight that may typically blow out a photo on an instant camera, you may want to use D+. Conversely, if you’re indoors and want to lift the tones a little bit, then you may use the L setting.

These dials are easily knocked, so if you keep the camera in a bag, you should always check before taking a snap. The bottom dial includes a shutter button, and there’s another one on the front – this is so you can easily switch the orientation of the camera.

On the back, there are three buttons. One to change the flash settings (Fill-in flash, Red-eye removal, Automatic or off), one self-timer for shooting remotely, and one for four different shooting modes: Indoor, Sports, Double Exposure and Bulb.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Indoor is for photos taken… well… indoors, while Sports is good for fast-moving objects or people. Double Exposure layers over two shots, while Bulb works with light trails from cars, phones and other bright sources of a night.

As this is an instant camera, the viewfinder won’t show you what a photo will look like with a filter or mode on – you’ll only find out the result once it’s printed.

The camera is powered by an NP-70S rechargeable battery, which must be charged externally. It’s a shame there’s no port to charge the camera without dismantling it. Film packs are loaded just underneath this.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Fujifilm claims that the Instax Mini 99 can last up to 100 shots before the battery depletes. I couldn’t test this theory, but it didn’t run out of much juice for the twenty shots I took.

The screen on the rear of the camera tells you how many sheets of paper are left, what settings are turned on and the battery levels.

Like the Instax Mini 12, there’s no power button. Instead, you twist the lens to turn the camera on. You can twist it three times to take photos in 0.3-0.6m (macro), 0.6-3m (standard), and 3m and over (landscape) focal lengths. There’s also a vignette button that darkens the edges of images.

The box for the Mini 99 also includes a hand strap and a tripod mount, meaning it can be used both on the go and statically. Weighing 340g, it’s perfectly compact for slipping into a small bag, and easy to use one-handed if needed.

One odd omission from the Mini 99 is the absence of a selfie mirror near the lens, which thus far has been present on most other Instax snappers.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Features & Image Quality

Instax cameras produce some of the best quality snaps of any instant camera, and the Mini 99 is no different. Images take around 15 seconds to print, and 90 seconds to fully develop depending on the ambient conditions.

Even without any filters, in the best lighting conditions images are glossy, bright and detailed. Mini film isn’t the largest at around the size of a credit card. If you want something larger, then you’ll want a camera that supports Square or Wide film.

If you don’t have the best lighting, then this camera can make up for that to some degree. You’ll see below three photos shot under bright, glaring sunlight. The middle dark mode highlights the details much clearer, and minimises the white glare seen on the image without any filter:

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

At night, the light mode also lifts details, but these seem to be softer rather than sharper. Filters such as Warm Tone can help deliver more boosted tones. It would be useful if Instax were to provide a guide for when to use each lighting mode, as it took a few experiments to get right.

The coloured filters, such as green, blue and magenta, are quite striking – even if one of the latter has ‘soft’ in the name.

My favourite shots came from experimenting with more creative modes. Using a guide for the Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic, I used double exposure to layer a photo of my palm against the sky with a graffitied wall, so the artwork appeared in the shape of a hand.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

I also used the Bulb mode to create a light trail with a smartphone at night – it almost looks drawn on with the print below. Naturally, these modes can be combined with various lighting options and filters to create unique prints. This can be trial and error if you don’t know what you’re doing, which results in some wasted film.

Both these effects were again achieved by following the guides on the Neo Classic web page.

The companion app Instax Up! is available on iOS and Android. Physical prints from the Instax Mini 99 can be scanned, uploaded into the app then edited via basic colour corrections, crops, and removing reflections. This app works across numerous Instax devices, which owners of this camera may well have.

Uploads can be added to a digital collage in the app, but you can also share them to your socials or download them locally.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Price & Availability

The Instax Mini 99 costs £174.99/$199.99. In the UK, you can buy it from Amazon, Fujifilm, Jessops and Argos. Meanwhile, US viewers can buy it from Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy.

That price equals the launch cost of the digital Instax Mini Evo, so it’s certainly not cheap. However, this is the most versatile instant camera I’ve used, and arguably one of the best choices for photography buffs who want to experiment with their shots.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

It can become costly to waste some film with a poor shot as I did. Instax Mini sheets cost £14.99 for a pack of 20 in the UK, and around $14 for a pack of 20 in the US. By contrast, Zink paper (used by rivals such as the Kodak Smile+) costs £24.99/$24.99 for a pack of 50, which is much more economical.

Granted, Zink paper isn’t as high quality as Instax sheets as it’s not real film. Just keep in mind that if you invest in the Mini 99 and plan on taking many photos, the costs may add up over time.

Read up on further rivals in our lists of the best instant cameras and portable printers.

Should you buy the Instax Mini 99?

The Instax Mini 99 is the most advanced instant camera from the brand so far. With a range of filters, light levels and modes, you can experiment with different shots to suit your artistic tastes, making it an ideal purchase for those who love photography.

The range of options and high price tag make it not ideal for beginners, but Instax has plenty of other cameras for that demographic. The lack of a selfie mirror is also a shame, but that’s a minor gripe for what is otherwise a solid instant camera.

Specs