Expert note
Pros
- Retro design
- Large and brilliant impressions
- Wide range of filters and shooting options
Disadvantages
- Very expensive for what it is
- Heavy construction
- Battery and internal storage on the lower side
Our verdict
Although it is not to deny that the Instax Wide Evo can produce a versatile range of plans on high quality paper, this camera hybrid has a high price that most people will have trouble justifying.
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If you have trouble deciding between the spontaneity of an instant camera and the practicality of a portable printer, why not opt for a hybrid model?
Instax expanded its EVO range after launching the Mini Evo Camera in 2021. This is now joined by the Instax Wide Evo, which has a lot of the same features of the Mini version. The main difference is that it supports the large film, which is double the size of a mini printed.
Although this can ring the obvious choice, wait until you hear about the price …
Design and build
- 490g without film
- Fun dials and levers
- Support of 45 images with just internal storage
The Instax Wide Evo follows in the footsteps of his mini-brother by adopting a retro design language, with some fun attachments that remain in this theme.
The camera is only available in basic black and is made up of a textured plastic body with shiny gray accents. I used the Large Evo at a party and I had a lot of compliments on its nostalgic novelty, doubly due to its hybrid nature.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Let's do the disadvantages away – yes, it's a large camera. I had not tested one that supported a wide film before, and compared to the size of the EVO mini-construction, it took some time to get used to it. He settles down almost in my Magic Uniqlo bag which is like a Tardis, but it is not light at 490g, excluding the cartridge of the film. Nor is it usable with one hand.
If you don't mind a larger construction, then crack – it's inevitable if you want something that takes care of a film twice as big as the mini prints.
On the front, there is the goal, and Instax throws a blanket to prevent it from picking up scratches. There is a button to switch to wide angle mode, a selfie mirror and a flash that can be activated, disabled or automatic. The shutter lever is on the front, and a few will have to understand a few – you have to maintain it to take a shot, and there is sometimes a delay on this subject.
I used the large evo at a party and I had a lot of compliments on its nostalgic novelty
On the one hand, you have the power button, with dials on each side to mix and match various filters and modes (more on this subject later). Careful feature is the printed crank, which can be removed and found to choose a photo of your digital library to print.
Film packages are loaded at the back, and you can load ten impressions at the same time. It takes about 16 seconds for an image to print. The rear also includes an LCD screen, which you can use to preview images before committing to using an Instax Large movie.
Navigation on the large EVO Instax is easier than on the mini thanks to the dials and additional buttons at the rear – again, one of the advantages of having a larger camera overall.
Internal storage is not the best, with only a space for about 45 images. I reached the limit during the tests and I had to delete a few shots. Fortunately, there is a microSD location that extends storage up to 850 photos. There is also a slit where you can set up a tripod, if you wish.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Characteristics and image quality
- The large film is perfect for frames and scrapbooking
- 16MP Main camera
The Instax Wide Evo is for all those who thrive on experimental photography, and certainly not a product for younger or occasional users.
Unlike the Instax Mini 12, where you point and pull, there is a wide range of combinations that you can try to get unique artistic photos. For example, if you opt for something like Flare beam mode, you can use the degree control dial to change the light steering, and this dial works for many other modes.
Or you can have two different filters, such as monochrome and sticker. There are also options for the surrounding border. For example, you can have a date and a time time for the bottom right.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
I would say that it took a while to get used to which filters worked best, but that is the advantage of a digital camera printer hybrid – you will not have waste of prints if you do not want.
The camera itself is 16MP, with a 16 mm focal distance, so don't expect it to capture tiny details. It can fight in the lower lighting and the conditions that are too bright, but it is not a smartphone. These drawbacks are typical for a digital camera, and some users prefer a more “retro” finish anyway.
As this is the real film, the prints are shiny and colorful. There is the possibility of printing in rich or natural mode, and high quality photos of your smartphone or a professional photographer are incredibly impressive on this type of paper, in particular compared to the mini film where certain details are lost due to the small size of the photo.
Those taken directly on the camera have a more nostalgic atmosphere in the moment, which is ideal for social events where you are looking for a unique way of documenting the night. As the wide film is so large, you can even use some to create a collage frame for your home.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Battery authorization and load
- The estimated lifespan of the Instax battery is higher than real tests
- Two to three hours to charge
The Wide Evo Instax is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, with enough power for around 100 snaps according to Instax, although the website indicates that this is due to the conditions of use. I found her to be absent faster than that, with her exhausting for a day of use, but I mainly expressed all the available filters.
The camera supports the USB-C load, and it takes between two and three hours to go from the apartment to the full. There is a cable included in the box, although it is on the short side.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Instax Wide Evo application
- Used for direct printing and remote shooting
- Can change photos
- Discovering the flow can be used for inspiration
To fully enjoy the Wide Evo Instax, you will want to download the support app for iOS and Android.
By connecting the camera to your phone, you can print photos taken on your smartphone, transfer images taken on the camera to be stored digitally and use the remote shooting function to get a live flow from what the lens captures on your phone.
Like other Instax applications, it's easy to use. However, the text is quite small, which is not the best for accessibility. You can modify printed photos with various filters and cropping tools.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
A new careful feature that this application includes is a flow of sample images flow, as well as the parameters that the photographer has used for inspiration.
Again, it is a shame that Fujifilm cannot create an application to house all its cameras and printers … But it will only be discomfort for those who have several products, which I imagine is a small pool of people.
Price and availability
I have established that there is a lot to love in the Wide Evo Instax, but let me be clear: that is only suitable for those who have a lot of budget to lose, or to those who take photography as a reasonably serious hobby.
Indeed, it costs £ 319.99 / $ 349.99. It is £ 145 / $ 150 more than the Instax Mini Evo, which is a wilder price.
If you are in the United Kingdom, you can buy it on Amazon, Jessops and Currys. In the United States, you can buy it from Best Buy and Target.
In addition to that, you will have to consider the operating costs of the film. You can buy a pack of 20 Instax Wide prints for £ 16.99 / $ 18.99 from Amazon, which is more expensive than the mini film. Zink paper is also much cheaper at around 50p / 50c per leaf, compared to the large instax film, which is 85p / 85c per leaf – although zink prints are not technically real.
For more options, see our graphics from the best instant cameras and the best portable printers.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Should you buy the EVO Instax Wide?
The Instax Wide Evo will check a lot of boxes for those looking for a camera and a portable printer hybrid. The nostalgic aspect and sensation distinguish it, while the endless range of parameters means that you will have a lot to experiment during the shooting.
But, and it is a big but, the price is probably much higher than what the usual instax fans will expect. In addition, the construction is heavy and bulky, which makes it the best to use it and unless you have a bag large enough to store it, and the battery life and internal storage are low.
The Instax Mini Evo offers most of the same features, just with smaller impressions. If you really want the larger option, you can even buy a wide link printer on the top of the Mini Evo and spend even less than what you would do on the open EVO.
If money is not an object, go for it. But otherwise, it is probably too expensive for the most part.
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