Chic and Captivating: A Deep Dive into the Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo Instant Hybrid Camera

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Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo: Design

• A hybrid instant camera that allows direct printing or printing from a micro SD card.
• Numerous dials and switches for choosing different film effects.
• Equipped with a mirror and button for selfies.

When rumors emerged about the Instax Wide Evo, it was said to be the “most aesthetically pleasing Instax camera ever created,” capturing the interest of many enthusiasts, including TechRadar’s senior news editor Mark Wilson, who remarked that the “Instax Wide Evo sounded like the ideal instant camera.”

With the camera now available, we can confirm that it’s a gorgeous gadget. Its slim design balances its wide structure, making the Instax Wide Evo one of the larger options available. It boasts an elegant retro appearance, reminiscent of classic cameras with textured black bodies and silver lenses.

As the only other wide-format Instax camera available is the bulky Instax Wide 400, the Wide Evo’s stylish textured black design is definitely more appealing than its larger counterpart, which features a tacky dull green finish. (If you’re looking for another wide-format option, the Lomo’Instant Wide Glass set to release in 2024 is a charming instant camera we rated 4.5 stars in our thorough review.) It’s unlikely anyone would mind carrying the Wide Evo throughout the day.

The optional leather case for the Wide Evo makes carrying it easier and helps protect it from scratches and dings, ensuring a longer lifespan since the LCD screen is prone to scuffs, especially since this camera does not feature a viewfinder. While I can’t confirm if this will be a concern, it’s something to consider.

Moreover, the Wide Evo is light—roughly half a kilogram—making it quite portable, but don’t expect to slide it into a pocket. Due to its design for wide-format instant prints, it is larger than most cameras.

Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo: Performance

• Ample opportunities to experiment with 100 creative combinations
• The broadest Instax lens and wide-format prints provide extra space for your subjects

The Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo offers a variety of built-in film and lens effects, making it easy to try out different styles. With the ability to create 100 unique combinations, there’s plenty of scope for creativity.

The Instax Wide Evo emphasizes customization, allowing users to modify images with various effects such as lens flares, borders, and color filters, making it ideal for those who enjoy experimentation.

The camera’s design simplifies the process of making photo editing changes. Each effect has dedicated dial buttons on the side. Notably, the most prominent button at the top, typically for the shutter, is instead for applying diverse film styles to images.

It also features a button on the front to disable the wide-angle, enhancing its hybrid capabilities. Additionally, the lens itself can be twisted to alter the intensity of filters and film effects.

I enjoyed experimenting with the various film effects and styles thanks to the dedicated buttons. However, my favorite feature has to be the hand crank on the side, which evokes a sense of analog nostalgia.

In contrast to the Mini Evo’s standard shutter button, the Wide Evo utilizes a rocker switch located beside the lens on the front. Initially, this setup felt awkward, especially for selfies, as I struggled to engage autofocus by half-pressing.

It’s worth noting that with more practice, this may become easier, but I found it less intuitive at first. However, other controls, like the spin dials and printing crank, are very tactile and user-friendly.

Moreover, there’s an Instax Wide app that provides more basic editing features, such as cropping, adjusting brightness, and contrast, as well as a ‘Discovery Feed’ for sharing and exploring creations from other users. It’s important to note that only printed images are automatically saved in the app; photos taken with the camera won’t appear in your library until transferred from a microSD card.

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All images printed using the Instax Wide Evo are saved in the app library, allowing you to view details about the effects applied.

Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo: Image Quality

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I tried different film effects and styles while testing the Instax Wide Evo.

I explored various film effects and styles when testing the Instax Wide Evo.

• Images are primarily digital, losing the nostalgic charm of analog
• Photo quality in prints seems flat, but appears acceptable in digital form
• Not as good as traditional analog instant cameras like the Instax Mini 99

Every instant camera comes with a compromise in picture quality, and most users accept this trade-off. While these models don’t deliver the same accuracy as modern dedicated digital cameras, many who buy them are drawn to the nostalgic experience of having instant prints, making image quality less critical.

Regarding overall picture quality, I was particularly keen on comparing the film prints with those from a non-hybrid instant camera, as the Evo Wide is digital-first. This matters to me because I find myself torn between analog and digital, and I feel this detracts from the magic of the experience.

For some background, I purchased my first Instax in 2014 and quickly recognized the costs associated with this type of photography after discarding a few unsuccessful shots, making me more selective about what I captured. My boyfriend gifted me an Instax printer to address this problem, but I felt this diminished the charm of the style I loved initially. Additionally, I noticed that the quality of printer photos didn’t match up, appearing flatter and less vibrant than those produced by a true analog instant camera.

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If high-quality prints are essential to you, consider opting for an analog Instax camera instead. The prints from these cameras typically display more contrast because the light interacts directly with the sensor, avoiding the overexposure seen in hybrid Instax prints.

The wide-angle prints have a larger size that gives them a more premium feel compared to the smaller rectangular formats that resemble smartphone pictures. They are much closer in spirit to the classic instant prints that were once the norm.

Digital images captured with the Instax Wide Evo don’t compete with the quality of top-tier smartphones, which utilize superior sensors and sophisticated image processing. Therefore, aside from sharing on social media, these photos might not be used much otherwise.

How I evaluated the Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo

• One hour hands-on experience at the UK launch event
• Casual testing throughout the day and night across a week
• Experimented with multiple filters, two lenses, and selfie mode

My time with the Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo was limited: after the UK launch event in London, I had just under a week to explore the camera’s features in both the office and at home.

During this time, I was able to get a good feel for the camera’s performance for standard photos and selfies, along with various filter and film effects controlled through physical buttons on the camera.

I used two packs of Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo film at the event, each containing 10 prints, along with a few additional packs throughout the one-week product trial.