Thanks to advancements in both imaging and inkless printing technologies, these instant cameras have captured the hearts and pockets of many hobbyist photographers who find something alluring about the design and simplicity of these products. Building upon that, Fujifilm is launching a new INSTAX Mini 11 that adds just a bit of smarts without going into digital camera territory.

One of the disadvantages of such simple instant cameras is that you really have little to no control over their settings. In a way, it is both simpler but also requires a bit more photography know-how to get the perfect shot. With the new Automatic Exposure, which senses ambient light the moment you press the shutter button, even novice users will be able to take good-looking photos no matter the condition.

Selfies are also harder to pull off with instant cameras but the INSTAX Mini 11 has a rather curious solution. Pull out the front edge of the lens to activate “Selfie Mode” and then and then use the small mirror next to the lens to frame the shot. While that mode can support subjects 30 to 50 cm away, Fujifilm does warn about some shifting in closeups.

The design of INSTAX Mini cameras has always leaned more on the whimsical and fun side while retaining part of the appearance of professional cameras. For the INSTAX Mini 11, Fujifilm is allowing for some customization by changing shutter buttons. Included in the package is a jewel button that matches the color of the camera as well as a glow button that glows in the dark.

The FUJIFILM instax mini 11 will be available locally starting mid-July 2020, retailing for R1 199, or as a kit with one pack of instax film (10 prints) for R1 349.

Necessary? Hardly. Interesting? Definitely. The LiPlay has a button dedicated to capturing audio, and when you press it, it’ll record up to 10 seconds of sound. From there, your image will print with QR code on it, which can be scanned with your smartphone to view the image and hear the audio together. While we imagine that most audio clips will amount to nothing more than people shouting the word “smile” at each other, the sound functionality could be a nifty tool for reliving some particularly happy memories.

The LiPlay supports two different kinds of Instax film: the Confetti mini-format and the Star-Illumination square format. You don’t have to print all of the photos you take, though, which is good news indeed because each Instax film stack only includes enough film for 10 pictures. The LiPlay has enough internal storage for around 45 photos, though you can also add a microSD card to expand on that.

The 2.7-inch LCD display on the back will let you cycle through your stored photos to help you find the best ones for printing, but you’re not limited to only printing the photos on your LiPlay. You can also connect your phone to the camera and print photos in your camera roll using the LiPlay’s “Direct Print” feature.

Other specifications include an capture resolution of 2560 x 1920, a battery that’s said to last for 100 prints on a full charge, a 1/5-inch CMOS sensor, and a remote shooting function that lets you control the camera and snap pictures from your smartphone (assuming you’ve got the LiPlay app, which is also required if you want to capture audio). It’s definitely not the most capable digital camera around, but it should be a decent choice for people who like instant cameras. We’ll see the Instax Mini LiPlay launch in three beautifully stylish colours – Blush Gold, Stone White and Elegant Black, at the opening of the FUJIFILM PrintLife Exhibition, scheduled to run at Sandton City Centre Court from 19-24 June 2019 at R2 499.