• Fujifilm has a new model of instant camera, with the Instax Mini 12 unveiled and set for release in Japan on 16th March 2023.
• The Japanese company also debuted a new photo scanning app called UP!, which available to use already.
• Local pricing and availability for the Instax Mini 12 is expected to be shared later this month.

When it comes to instant cameras these days, Fujifilm pretty much dominates thanks to the popularity of its Instax range. Now the company has a new iteration for its Mini lineup in the form of the Instax Mini 12, which was revealed earlier this week.

With a balloon-like design, the Instax Mini 12 will be available in five light-toned colours – Lilac Purple, Pastel Blue, Blossom Pink, Mint Green, and Clay White.

While the Instax Mini 12 will launch in Japan on 16th March, availability and pricing for South Africa are still in the offing, with Fujifilm expected to confirm it later this month.

In the interim, looking at what’s on offer from this new iteration of instant camera compared to its predecessor which came out in 2020, it has a new close-up mode for taking selfies and close-up shots with fewer discrepancies in image quality.

Added to this is a faster print time, with Fujifilm claiming five seconds to yield a print and 90 seconds for the image to bloom. The last new feature worth mentioning is an automatic exposure which detects ambient light conditions and adjusts camera settings accordingly.

Along with the new Instax Mini 12, Fujfilm has debuted a photo scanning app called UP!, which is available to freely download and use already for iOS and Android devices.

“Instax UP! Is a free download which can be used to digitise Instax prints taken with Instax cameras and smartphone printers, including Mini, Square and Wide formats,” Fujifilm SA explained in a press release sent to Hypertext.

“Using the app, users can scan Instax prints (including frames) on their smartphone. UP! reduces light reflections during scanning, provides the ability to adjust contrast, brightness, vividness and colour temperature, and allows users to register when and where the image was taken. All scanned images are stored and categorised on the smartphone,” it adds.