Instax Mini 99 Instant Film Camera Review

You can purchase the Instax Mini 99 from Amazon. Using these affiliate links helps me keep this site ad-free and costs you nothing. Thank you!

Some of my favorite 35mm photos I’ve taken were chaotically colorful images using pre-exposed film. I went the route of doing it in-camera, which meant that I set my exposure compensation low, then took lots of out-of-focus photos of colors on a computer screen, then rewound the film back to the start to take photos. The results are color-filled pictures with lines where the previously exposed frames didn’t line up exactly with the second time around. Revolog even makes film that they’ve already pre-exposed for you that I’ve also used and loved.

What does any of this have to do with a review of a Fuji Instax Mini instant film camera? Fuji has managed to build in this kind of color pre-exposure directly into the analogue picture-taking process in one of the most innovative instant film cameras I’ve seen in decades. And I’m delighted to report it’s just as fun here as it was with my Nikon F3. And no, before you say anything, this isn’t just slapping a color filter in front of the lens – Fuji is way more clever than that with the Instax Mini 99.

The Instax Mini 99 is Fuji’s new flagship Instax Mini camera, replacing the old Neo 90 at the top of their lineup. It comes with a price tag to match, so I went into this review wondering if there was any reason to spend so much more for a Mini 99 when the Mini 12 is a perfectly good camera?

Turns out, for the first time in the Instax Mini line, the most expensive camera really is the best. And for the first time in my well-over-a-decade reviewing instant film cameras, it’s the gimmick that makes it all worth it.

Features

Let’s talk about the features the Instax Mini 99 brings to the table, because that’s what really separates it from all the other Mini cameras out there.

The biggest feature is the ‘color modes’ dial, which allows you to select between 7 color profiles. I assumed this was simply an in-camera filter, but what’s actually happening is that there are four small LEDs inside the camera that simultaneously expose the film to specific light patters as you snap a picture. As a result, you can get pictures that look like they have light leaks, pictures with specific color profiles, and more.

It’s super cool, and because it’s working by adding light rather than removing it (like with a filter) the results are awesome. It works really well and easily sets this camera apart. I personally love the warm tones mode, as it counteracts the clinical coldness of Fuji Instax Mini film.

More subtle but also great is a new vignette control switch on the front of the lens. Turning this on adds an extra round shutter-like thing in front of the lens, which darkens the corners. Personally, I think it looks fantastic images, and most people will probably like photos with it on better than ones without it. It’s funny, camera and lens manufacturers have been pushing image science to the bleeding edge to remove darkened corners from their equipment, while we all go and add it right back in. Even in the high-end video that I do as my day job, we’re constantly adding in artificial vignettes to focus the eye where we want it to go.

Beyond these two big features, what separates the 99 from cheaper Instax cameras are the build quality and ergonomics. Which brings us nicely to…

Controls and Ergonomics

This camera folds up nice and compact, and it feels even better than the already excellent Neo 90 that it replaces. The plastic used has a premium texture that’s worlds better than the weird chalky-ness of the Instax Mini 40. I think the all-black look with white text and a Instax badge reminiscent of the Fuji X100 line are all nice touches.

Proper buttons and knobs abound, including two (count ’em!) shutter buttons, two dials, and several control buttons.

Despite the premium, this is still a viewfinder style camera. You’ll be looking through a window next to the lens rather than through the lens itself when framing your shot. This gets worse the closer the subject gets to the camera. The black circle in the center of the viewfinder really doesn’t do anything other than look sort of cool, so don’t be surprised if closeup subjects are a bit off.

There’s a screen on the back of the camera that’ll give you info on battery status, how many shots you have left, flash, etc. Oddly, while the screen shows the effects selected, it won’t show exposure compensation. If you have the knob knocked to an odd setting, you won’t see any kind of warning.

This LCD on the back of the camera is the only source of info on the camera. There is no information in the viewfinder itself, which isn’t great. You’re not looking at the back of the camera when shooting.

Manual Focus

Despite the high cost of this camera, the Mini 99 still carries a manual focus lens just like the cheaper Mini 12. Bummer.

You need to manually select your focus from three options on the barrel ring. Most Instax cameras have two simple options (closeup or everything else), but this one has three (closeup/selfie, medium, and landscape). I have a feeling this will trip people up, because it’s kind of hard to properly guess distance or just miss this aspect of the camera entirely if you’re not paying attention. Remember, there’s no indication in the viewfinder if you’re getting focus.

At least each focus point has the distances labeled (unlike the unlabeled SQ1/SQ40 focus points), though it is in metric (sorry imperials).

I wish Fuji would put in some autofocus system, especially for the higher-end cameras like the Fuji Instax Mini 99. However, at the end of the day, we’re dealing with Instax Mini film, which is limited more by the tiny size of the film than the cameras using it.

The Mode Selection Dial

As I mentioned above, the big new feature in the Mini 99 is the inclusion of a bunch of different built-in color modes. However, Fuji has labeled the dial in a completely bizarre and cryptic way. Instead of the blue mode simply being labeled ‘Blue’ or having a blue dot, it says ‘LB.’ In fact, every option is two letters that don’t intuitively mean anything. Here’s the list:
LL
SP
SM
LB
WT
FG
N
You may think there’s a pattern, like every one is two words that make sense like LB for ‘Light Blue’ but then what does SP mean? Soft Pink? Wrong. That’s just ‘Sepia’ but with a P added to keep you confused. Does LL stand for ‘Light Lavender’ colors? No, that’s not a color at all, that’s ‘Light Leak’. It’s just total madness and easily the biggest miss on this camera. There’s even a back LCD screen where Fuji could at least elaborate on the names, but no, they just also say ‘LL’, ‘WT’ or whatever.

There is no way anybody picking up the camera is going to know what any of these options mean without a reference guide. Which sucks! One of the best use cases for Fuji Instax Mini cameras is leaving them out at events where anyone can use them, and this implementation of the dial seems needlessly obtuse. I’m tempted in my own reference codes on the dial.

Image Quality

If the only reason you’re looking at the Mini 99 is because you’re hoping the more expensive camera will beat out the much cheaper Instax Mini 12 when it comes to image sharpness and quality – don’t bother with it. Outside of all the gimmicks, the actual image sharpness and quality of the Mini 99 is basically identical to the Mini 12. Here, take a look at an ultra zoomed in high-res scan:

You can’t look this close at either image without using a literal magnifying glass, and even at this resolution there is no discernible difference in sharpness. If I hadn’t labeled which image came from which camera, I’d never be able to tell after the fact. In case you’re curious, the image on the left is the 99 and the right is the 12. The 99 happens to be ever so slightly brighter, which is the only difference I see between the two.

The Mini 12 is very good, and so is the Mini 99. Exposure is accurate and generally bright, and the flash does the job it needs to do.

Battery System

Other than the wacky labeling on the command dials, the biggest letdown for the Mini 99 is the battery system. Unlike the easily swapped AAs that power the Mini 12, the Mini 99 uses its own proprietary rechargeable battery.

This may seem more premium than AAs, but it’s actually a huge headache. First, the battery can’t be charged in camera. You have to completely remove it and charge it using this easily lost charging brick that, guess what, still requires its own power brick that isn’t included in the box. The battery cover also comes completely off, meaning that it’s easily lost or displaced when the battery is charging.

All of this is a recipe for pulling your Mini 99 out of a drawer or bag and finding it dead. Instead of being able to just pop fresh batteries in it and immediately start shooting, you’re going to have to wait hours for this thing to charge – that is if you can even find the batteries. Or if the lithium battery can still hold a charge.

Because I have another camera that uses the same battery system – the outgoing Instax Mini Neo 90. It’s years old now, and the lithium battery that came with it barely works due to being in storage. Lithium batteries have a limited lifespan, so you’ll need to replace it in the years to come to keep your Mini 99 operational. So my Neo 90 is basically a paperweight while my ancient Instax Mini 8 still works perfectly fine with fresh batteries.

At least the lithium battery can be replaced down the line unlike the built-in nightmare batteries of the Polaroid Now cameras, but I’d prefer just using AA batteries like in the Instax 12. If that camera can manage it, why can’t the Mini 99?

Conclusion

I held off getting the Mini 99 for a few months because I generally don’t like gimmicks in analogue cameras. Lots of cheap analogue cameras throw in color filters because it’s a dirt cheap way to add ‘value,’ but color filters kind of suck. However, the LED light exposure trick that’s actually here is absolute genius. It’s a rare instance of a modern day technology only possible now being combined with old-school analogue technology to great effect.

The big thing holding the Instax Mini 99 back is the fact that it’s an Instax Mini camera. The tiny mini frames are just too small for me to get quality scans out of. However, if Fuji is able to bring this tech to the square format or… dare I hope… the long neglected Instax Wide format, that would make for an incredible camera. Especially if somebody over at Fuji can figure out how to add autofocus to literally any of their film cameras.

If you’re looking for the best Fuji Instax Mini camera, regardless of price, the Mini 99 is that camera. If price is a concern, then the Instax Mini 12 is a no-brainer for less than half the price.

You can purchase the Instax Mini 99 from Amazon. Using these affiliate links helps me keep this site ad-free and costs you nothing. Thank you!