Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Retro design
- Large and glossy prints
- Wide range of filters and shooting options
Cons
- Very expensive for what it is
- Cumbersome build
- Battery and internal storage on the lower side
Our Verdict
While there’s no denying that the Instax Wide Evo can produce a versatile range of shots on high-quality paper, this camera-printer hybrid has a high price tag that most people will find hard to justify.
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If you’re struggling to decide between the spontaneity of an instant camera and the practicality of a portable printer, why not opt for a hybrid model?
Instax has expanded its Evo range after launching the Mini Evo camera back in 2021. This is now joined by the Instax Wide Evo, which has a lot of the same features of the Mini version. The key difference is that it supports Wide film, which is double the size of a Mini print.
While that may make this sound like the obvious choice, wait until you hear about the price…
Design and Build
- 490g without film
- Fun dials and levers
- Support for 45 images with just internal storage
The Instax Wide Evo follows in the footsteps of its Mini sibling by adopting a retro design language, with some fun attachments that keep within this theme.
The camera is only available in basic black and is made up of a textured plastic body with shiny grey accents. I used the Wide Evo at a party and had quite a few compliments on its nostalgic novelty, doubly so because of its hybrid nature.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Let’s get the downside out of the way – yes, this is a big camera. I hadn’t tested one that supported Wide film before, and compared to the size of the Mini Evo build, this took some getting used to. It just about fit inside my magical Uniqlo bag that’s like a TARDIS, but it’s not light at 490g, excluding the film cartridge. It’s also not usable with one hand.
If you don’t mind a bulkier build, then crack on – it’s unavoidable if you want something that supports film that’s twice as large as the Mini prints.
On the front, there’s the lens, and Instax throws in a cover to stop it from picking up scratches. There’s a button to toggle on wide-angle mode, a selfie mirror and a flash that can be turned on, off or to automatic. The shutter lever is on the front, and it took me a few goes to get the hang of it – you need to hold it down to take a snap, and there is sometimes a delay on this.
I used the Wide Evo at a party and had quite a few compliments on its nostalgic novelty
On one side, you have the power button, with dials on either side to mix and match various filters and modes (more on that later). One neat feature is the print crank, which can be pulled out and wound up to choose a photo from your digital library to print.
Packs of film are loaded at the back, and you can load ten prints at a time. It takes about 16 seconds for an image to print. The rear also features an LCD screen, which you can use to preview images before you commit to using a piece of Instax Wide film.
Navigation on the Instax Wide Evo is easier than on the Mini thanks to the dials and additional buttons on the back – again, one of the benefits of having a bigger camera overall.
Internal storage isn’t the best, with only space for around 45 images. I reached the limit during the testing and had to delete a few snaps. Thankfully, there is a microSD slot which expands storage up to 850 photos. There is also a slot where you can mount a tripod, should you wish.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Features and Image Quality
- Wide film is perfect for frames and scrapbooking
- 16Mp main camera
The Instax Wide Evo is for anyone who thrives on experimental photography, and certainly not a product for younger or casual users.
Unlike the Instax Mini 12, where you point and shoot, there’s a wide range of combinations you can try to get unique, artsy shots. For example, if you opt for something like the beam flare mode, you can use the degree control dial to alter the direction of the light, and this dial works for many other modes.
Or you can have two different filters on, such as monochrome and vignette. There are also options for the surrounding border. For example, you can have a date and time stamp on the bottom right-hand side.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
I’d say it took some time to get used to which filters worked best, but that’s the benefit of a digital camera printer hybrid – you won’t have any wasted prints if you don’t wish to.
The camera itself is 16Mp, with a focal length of 16mm, so don’t expect it to capture minute details. It can struggle in lower lighting and overly bright conditions, but this isn’t a smartphone. Those downsides are typical for a digital camera, and some users prefer a more ‘retro’ finish anyway.
As this is real film, prints are glossy and colourful. There’s the option to print in either rich mode or natural mode, and high-quality photos from your smartphone or a professional photographer look incredibly impressive on this sort of paper, especially compared to Mini film where some details are lost due to the small size of the photo.
Those taken directly on the camera have a more nostalgic, in-the-moment feel, which is great for social events where you’re looking for a unique way to document the night. As the Wide film is so large, you could even use a few to create a collage frame for your home.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Battery Life and Charging
- Estimated battery life from Instax is higher than real world testing
- Two-to-three hours to charge
The Instax Wide Evo is fitted with a lithium-ion battery, with enough power for around 100 snaps according to Instax, though the website does state this is down to usage conditions. I found it to run out of charge quicker than that, with it depleting during a day’s usage, but I was experimenting with basically every filter available.
The camera supports USB-C charging, and it takes between two and three hours to go from flat to full. There’s a cable included in the box, though this is on the short side.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Instax Wide Evo App
- Used for direct printing and remote shooting
- Can edit photos
- Discover Feed can be used for inspiration
To take full advantage of the Instax Wide Evo, you’ll want to download the accompanying 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 feature to get a live feed of what the lens is capturing on your phone.
Like other Instax apps, it’s simple to use. However, the text is quite small, which isn’t the best for accessibility. You can edit photos that are being printed with various filters and cropping tools.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
One new neat feature this app includes is a Discover Feed of sample images, along with the settings that the photographer used for inspiration.
Once again, it is a shame that Fujifilm can’t create one app to house all its cameras and printers… but this will only be an annoyance to those who own multiple products, which I imagine is a small pool of people.
Price and Availability
I’ve established that there is a lot to love about the Instax Wide Evo but let me be clear: this is only suitable for those with plenty of budget to spare, or those who take photography as a hobby reasonably seriously.
That’s because it costs £319.99/$349.99. That’s £145/$150 more than the Instax Mini Evo, which is a wild step up in price.
If you are in the UK, you can buy it from Amazon, Jessops and Currys. In the US, you can purchase it from Best Buy and Target.
On top of that, you’ll have to consider the running 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 sheet, vs Instax Wide film, which is 85p/85c per sheet – though prints from Zink aren’t technically real film.
For more options, check out our charts of the best instant cameras and the best portable printers.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Should you buy the Instax Wide Evo?
The Instax Wide Evo will tick a lot of boxes for those looking for a camera and portable printer hybrid. The nostalgic look and feel make it stand out, while the endless array of settings means that you’ll have plenty to experiment with when shooting.
But, and it’s a big but, the price tag is probably a lot higher than what usual Instax fans will expect. Plus, the build is heavy and bulky, making it not the best for using out and about unless you have a big enough bag to store it in, and both the battery life and internal storage are on the low side.
The Instax Mini Evo offers most of the same features, just with smaller prints. If you really want the option of larger ones, you could even buy a Link Wide Printer on top of the Mini Evo and still spend less than what you would on just the Wide Evo.
If money is no object, go ahead. But otherwise, this is probably too expensive for most.
