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Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay
POINT, SHOOT, PRINT, AND PLENTY IN BETWEEN.
THE MINI LIPLAY is the smallest Instax
camera in Fujifilm’s range, offering up the
barebones functionality of a point-and-shoot
digital camera combined with a portable
Bluetooth printer. For the money, having both
of these in one machine is quite good value,
but unfortunately we found that the
experience isn’t necessarily greater than the
sum of its parts.
The camera is available in three rather
eccentric and playful colour schemes, each
with its own distinct texture. While its vertical
orientation is novel, it results in some
moments of confusion when trying to take a
quick snap, and its peculiar button placement
only exacerbates the issue. You can store up to
45 images on the internal memory or use a
microSD card to expand its capacity at 850
snaps per gigabyte, functionally converting it
into a compact digital camera, albeit a bulky
one. There are six filters you can apply before
taking your shot, and dozens of frames you
can add to your snaps even after you’ve taken
them. Alongside the power button are three
quick access buttons that allow you to assign a
frame of your choosing, customising their
function via the associated Mini LiPlay app.
This app is also used to directly print images
from your smartphone via Bluetooth, activate
a remote shutter, or play back sounds. This
audio recording feature allows you to capture
up to ten seconds worth of audio alongside
your snap and embed it via QR code on the
image, though you’ll need the app in order to
then play it back. This feature is definitely on
the gimmicky side of things, so it’s a shame
that its dedicated button takes up such a
prominent and large space on the device, even
more than the shutter release. Speaking of
which, it’s a little unsatisfying to trigger the
shutter, although a soft squeeze will allow you
to focus on your subject – a rarity amongst
instant cameras. The digital images you end up
with are certainly ideal for printing in the tiny
Instax format, but their quality doesn’t
compare with most modern smartphone snaps
when using the Mini LiPlay as a straight-up
digital camera.
While the new additions to the world of
Instax mostly hit the mark, we can’t help but
feel that some of the charm is lost when you’re
able to preview a shot before and after it’s
taken, and then choose whether or not to print
it. Surely the appeal of instant cameras is
wrapped up in their immediacy – the joy of
clicking the shutter button after eyeballingyour subject through the viewfinder and
instantly getting an imperfect yet endearing
physical memento. This is lost with the Mini
LiPlay, and we found the extra steps in the
process resulted in far fewer printed shots than
should have been the case. Ultimately, if you’re
not chasing after the spontaneity that a typical
instant camera grants but are still interested in
their physicality, this is a compelling and
affordable option. In fact, it could even be
worthwhile just as a mini Instax printer
considering it’s only around $70 more than
FujiFilm’s dedicated unit.
[ HARRY DOMANSKI ]RADAR31 / 2FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI LIPLAY
$229
instax.com.au
CRITICAL SPECS
2,560 x 1,920 resolution photos; Built-in memory
(approx. 45 shots) and micro SD support; 28mm focal
length; F2.0 aperture; Auto-focus 10cm to infinity;
2.7-inch LCD monitor; Instax Mini film printer;
Rechargeable battery via micro-USB; Frame and filter
effects; 82.5 x 122.9 x 36.7 mm; 255g.