2025 Micro-Tour 4 Camera Report Fuji Instax Mini Evo

2025 Micro-Tour 4 to Croton on May 3-4 saw me bring my normal array of cameras (see this post for descriptions).

• Fuji X-T30 II
• GoPro Hero 13
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

I usually like to being 1-3 "other" cameras that I am trying out, or that fill a specific need/interest.  On this trip, it was the Fuji Instax Mini Evo. This camera was bought at full retail price by me.

Released in 2021 (and updated in 2023), I am admittedly a little late to the party on the Fuji Instax Mini Evo, however this camera still seems to be a industry leader in the space it occupies.

The Fuji Instax Mini Evo is basically 3 things:

The idea of printing out images on the fly seems very 7th grade locker kind of thing. I took this camera on a self-supported bike camping trips that I lead to see how it could fit into my camera lineup.

On our trips, there are usually 3 conditions where I am taking pictures:

• While riding
• At stops
• At camp

"While riding" has me using my sling-attached Fuji X-T30 II, as this is my "primary" camera, and the one I am most familiar with shooting "on the fly". I do not deal with multiple hand-held cameras while riding (although I do use my GoPro, but that's mostly for video).

So, since I am not using this camera while riding, I needs to be packed away.  Since the Fuji Instax Mini Evo is not weatherproof, that means it goes in a specific drybag in my rear waterproof panniers.

I found the image quality to be charming (resolution 2560 x 1920 jpg), in the same way images from inexpensive digital cameras like CampSnap (which I also own) are charming. We were in a rainy camp environment, so i didn't bring the camera out as much as I normally would. With a $60 CampSnap, I wouldn't have cared so much about the rain...but the $200 Fuji Instax Mini Evo had me a little more nervous having it out relative to my investment.

The elephant in the room is that this camera is also a printer, and do I have the need to print out pictures on a self-supported bikepacking trip? Since the cost of film roughly comes out to $1 a shot, and since people on tours with me don't have a real need to have an images of themselves while on a trip (unlike a fun wedding or prom), I do think the printing side of this camera may be a novelty at best for me...but a nice novelty! That being said, just it justify coming along with me?

Do I think it adds something to my documentation and creative process that isn't covered by any other camera that I own...yes, I do. The myriad of lens effects/film effects (10x10) is unmatched in anything that I have.

Would I take the Fuji Instax Mini Evo out on a trip again? The answer is yes. It's lightweight, small-ish, easy to use and produces some unique images.

Transferring images from the Fuji Instax Mini Evo to use on a phone/social media while remote is kind of a pain. Only pictures that have been printed can be shared wirelessly with another device (this is surly a way that Fuji ensures film purchase, and not a technical challenge). You can take the Micro SD card out and swap to a card reader on your phone, but the hatch to remove the Micro SD card on the Fuji Instax Mini Evo is very small and delicate...I can see snapping it off at some pint due to the rough use it would get out "in the wild".

So, in conclusion, a fun camera that produces some surprisingly creative shots...with the added extra that you can make prints.

This is a collection of things that I wouldn't be caught without on any of our Bike Camping trips. I have led over 150 group Bike Camping trips, and have developed an affinity for things that just work.

The list may grow or shrink, but will always contain items that have been tested on many, many bike camping trips. Every one of these items is packed in my bags on every trip I go on.