There’s a lot to like here.
The year is 2021 and while technology has exceeded almost everyone’s wildest expectations since the iPhone first came on stream, there’s still a longing for simpler days in some.
In fact, vintage and retro items have proven to occupy a significant part of the market in recent years whether it be sports jerseys, clothes or footwear.
So it’s no surprise there’s been an increase in demand for retro tech as well, although I’m hesitant to name too many things as retro for fear of offending, well… anyone.
Not too sound too w*nkery, but analogue is more human. Prone to flaws, the same as everyone in this world. We can emphasise with the medium and it provides a momentary trip back through time.
Although we recently spoke about smartphone printers and their advantages – and there clearly are advantages to them – but they can also lack the charm that instant cameras have in spades.
I’ve been using the Fujifilm instax mini 40 for the past couple of weeks and have to say I’ve been won around by a simpler world of photography.
I’m absolutely shocking for taking a blast of photos which end up sitting on my phone until I inevitably move to a new one and I’m too lazy to transfer them.
There’s something alluring about capturing a moment in an authentic way, and it provides a nice nostalgic feeling when you’re instantly provided with a hard copy of the moment you’ve saved.
The instax mini 40 has leaned into the retro feel with a faux black leather on the body with silver accents.
It’s a lot satisfying to carry around than some of the other plastic instant cameras on the market and while it has a bit more bulk than some of Fujifilm’s other offerings, it’s lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.
Fitted with a retractable 60mm f/12.7, the instax mini 40 also has the added bonus of a “selfie mode” and a small mirror so you can capture the perfect selfie.
All in all, it’s a lot of fun to play around with and a nice trip down memory lane for the more nostalgic among us.
The Fujifilm instax mini 40 costs €99 (at the time of writing) and is available here.
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