Instax Mini 11 How To Set Up

Update December 2022: I created a complete video guide that teaches you how to apply the Instax Mini in 60 seconds.

The Fuji Instax Mini 11 is 1 of my favorite cameras because it is like shooting fish in a barrel to use, affordable, and lots of fun. However, fifty-fifty every bit elementary equally information technology is, at that place is withal a learning curve for all instant film cameras. This guide will have you taking photos in no time and explain exactly how to use the Fuji Instax Mini 11.

Loading Batteries

Stride i when you get your hands on a Fuji Instax Mini 11 is putting in the batteries. Thankfully, this camera takes two easy-to-find AA batteries. If you buy the camera new, you lot'll frequently get a pair in the box. Open the side compartment by sliding down and install the batteries according to the directions printed inside. Close the bombardment compartment and you're good to go. Yous can tell the batteries are working by checking to run into if the orange LED indicator on the front of the camera turns on when the photographic camera is turned on (see how to plough the camera on below).

Be sure to get Instax Mini and non a different format like Wide.

Go the Right Motion-picture show

If you're going to shoot the Fuji Instax Mini 11, you're going to demand moving picture. Specifically, you're going to demand Fuji Instax Mini film. Instax Square, Wide, and whatsoever Polaroid format film will not work in this camera, every bit it is a unlike shape and size than Instax Mini.

Personally, I love the monochrome film, merely y'all can notice Instax in color and black and white on Amazon and but nigh anywhere that sells photographic camera equipment. I recommend getting fresh, new film whenever you try out a camera, especially if it is a used one.

The yellow marking lets you know that film is loaded. If yous have a pack of film in the camera, practice non open up it until yous take completely shot all the photos, as light will damage unexposed film.

Loading Motion picture

To load your new pack of motion picture, first open the package it comes it. Open the latch that holds the back of the photographic camera closed. There is a yellowish marking in the upper corner. Place the moving-picture show into the photographic camera and then that the xanthous mark on the cartridge lines upward with the yellow mark on the camera. The 'open' side of the moving picture cartridge (the side with the notice that says not to push down on it) should exist confront down towards the lens.

After you load the film, plow on the camera. If the darkslide isn't automatically ejected, become ahead and press the shutter to eject it. The darkslide protects the film from light earlier it is loaded into the camera, and y'all tin can throw it away afterward it is ejected.

Turning the Camera On

To turn on the camera, press down on the button next to the butt of the lens. Pushing down on this button volition push the lens forward, locking information technology into identify. To turn the camera dorsum off, simply push the lens back into the camera body, where it will snap dorsum into the body, keeping it compact and hands storable.

When you turn on the photographic camera, an orange LED indicator will plow on, letting y'all know the photographic camera is prepare to shoot. If the LED indicator stays dark, brand sure yous pushed the lens all the fashion out. If that doesn't work, then the batteries may need replaced.

When the front end barrel is extended, yous're set to shoot!

Shooting Photos

Thankfully, unlike some other Instax cameras, taking photos is easy! If your subject is farther than arm'south length away, but point the camera at them and press down on the shutter. If you are shooting a selfie or macro shot, hop downwardly to the selfie style department below.

Wink is automatically on and cannot be turned off. However, the actually isn't whatsoever reason non to have flash on for this camera. Instant moving-picture show requires a ton of low-cal to work well, and in any indoor scene the wink is critical to getting a good exposure. Don't be surprised if the background behind somebody is nighttime compared to your subject, especially indoors. Besides, if you're indoors, if you lot're as well far from your subject and the wink can't reach it, the image may exist underexposed. When possible, outdoor daylight is optimal to go the best results from this camera.

The lens butt fully pulled out in selfie/macro mode.

Selfie Mode

Selfie mode (formerly known on older Fuji Instax cameras as macro or close focus) manner is useful someday you lot want to take a photograph of something closer than arm's length. Hence the name 'selfie mode' – if you're going to hold the camera out to take a photo of yourself, this is the mode you're going to desire to use.

Putting the photographic camera in 'selfie style' is easy. Just grasp the front of the lens and pull forrad. It'll pop out, revealing the words 'Selfie On' on the top of the barrel. Now you can just point and shoot your selfie. To turn this mode off, simply push the front of the butt back in. It'due south often easiest to button the lens completely in, turning the camera off, then pressing the on/lens out button. The camera will default to not-selfie mode whenever information technology is turned on in this manner.

Selfie mode, equally I mentioned above, is basically a close focus mode. If you need to take a motion picture of annihilation small-scale or close, this is the mode y'all're going to desire to use.

From left to right: Instax Mini, Foursquare, and Wide

Scanning and Next Steps

One time you've taken a photo, it'll automatically eject from the top of the camera. You don't demand to milkshake the epitome or annihilation to 'dry' it – the image is completely sealed from the elements. The photograph volition emerge from the white opacifier (a chemic that protects film from low-cal every bit it develops) as it dissipates, leaving you with an image after a handful of minutes. Fuji Instax emerges relatively slowly from the top of the camera, and so exist sure non to yank information technology out while it is nonetheless going through the rollers on its way out.

Congratulations! You take an image. The window will let you know how many frames from the cartridge you lot take left. Now that y'all accept a photo, you may want to digitize it so yous can share it online. The easiest manner is just pointing the camera on your phone at it, but if you desire to actually go the almost from your photos, I have a complete guide to scanning.

Instax Mini is bully for having fun with friends and shooting photos at events, but if you want to step upwards to a bigger format that'south optimal for more detailed artist work, I recommend checking out Fuji Instax Broad, or better nevertheless, Polaroid 600. You tin can read all almost both in my guides to buying Instax cameras and Polaroid cameras.

If you enjoyed this article and want to stay up to date with everything happening in the world of instant pic photography, check out my newsletter! I only put it out 4 times a year, so you don't need to worry nigh me bottleneck up your inbox, I hope!

Source: https://danfinnen.com/article/how-to-use-the-fuji-instax-mini-11-instant-film-camera/

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