Remember when Instax Mini Instant Cameras were all the rage?
I would see these fancy cameras on Instagram and in various art stores such as Michaels. These were the modern day solution of not being able to have physical pictures to show off to others now that we are in the digital age.
These cameras are cute, but are they worth it?
What is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera?
In today’s The Things I Carry post, we’ll discuss my relationship with my Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera. For those of you who aren’t familiar with these cameras, they are pastel colored cameras that print every single picture you take. There are no ‘retakes’, it’s a point, click, and print type of deal. I have a cute pink one.
What I love about the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
It’s pink: I love the color pink and I think it looks really cute in my room. The color perfectly matches with several of my other pink items in my room so it looks great in pictures.
It prints out pictures: Since I’ve gotten used to getting everything instantly (thanks internet), I now think it’s such a hassle having to go to a pharmacy to print out my pictures whenever I want them. The fact that I can take a picture and automatically have it printed (without fussing about ink in a printer), is awesome.
It’s stylish: Having one of these bad boys makes for a cute accessory. I remember that whenever someone had one of these, it was a head turner and I’m sure it still garners attention.
What doesn’t work about the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
It collects dust: I honestly haven’t used my camera for about a year. It has been more of an accessory to make my bedroom look “cute” than to actually take pictures.
There are no redos: While I love how ‘instant’ it is to get my pictures printed, I wish there was some way to review the photo before it was printed. I’m not super photogenic so I get nervous about taking pictures and wasting film.
Film is pricy: The price of getting new film for my Fijifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera is expensive. It’s similar to how getting a printer is cheap, but then refilling the ink makes any printer expensive.
Accessories for the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini Candy Pop Film: If you are serious about purchasing one of these Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Cameras, then you need to stock up on film. This cute film gives you the ‘iconic’ white borders of instant camera pictures but with a twist, colorful polka dots!
Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film (3 Twin Packs, 60 Total Pictures): If you want more ‘bang’ for your buck, I highly recommend the 3 Twin Packs since you’ll get more pictures for less money. The borders won’t have any cute decorations, but that’s what stickers and your creativity are for!
The Ultimate Accessories Kit: If you want to splurge on your Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera or simply want to give a gift to someone you know who has one, this kit has a case, lenses, and more to go with the Instant Camera so that it’s safe and lives up to its potential.
Would I recommend the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera?
Honestly, in my journey towards minimalism, I might actually try to sell or give away this Instant Camera. It looks cute and has brought me a lot of joy, but I don’t use it for its intended purpose. Polaroid and other companies have come up with more modern solutions to instant printing that may actually give me the instant pictures I want, but without needing to take the ‘perfect shot’ every time.
Would this work for you? Sure. It’s a great camera and the pictures that come out of it all look authentic and timeless. While I wish I had second and third chances to take some of the pictures, the memories and laughter shared with each shot has been priceless.
What do you use?
What kind of camera do you use? Do you like high end cameras that take amazing digital pictures or do you prefer the cheap and quick method of clicking and printing? If you have any recommendations for cameras, feel free to comment below or tweet at me your recommendations.
Otherwise, check out other posts that I’ve written on “The Things I Carry Series”
In today’s The Things I Carry post, we’ll discuss how I obtained this my Pure Zen Tea Tumbler and what my thoughts are about it. I’m on Team Coffee, however, I do realize that coffee is not always a good healthy option and with all the different types of tea available, substituting a cup of coffee for a cup of tea (especially at night) may be good for me. So I began my tea journey with my Pure Zen Tea Tumbler.