Creative Director, photographer, foodie and Negroni connoisseur, Alessandro Galassi, spent some time with the instax mini Evo Cinema. Does instax’s new video camera, printer and instant camera pass the taste test?
Q: Hi Allesandro! You recently tested the instax mini Evo Cinema for a few weeks. What surprised you most about the device?
A: The most surprising thing about the instax mini Evo Cinema, before even turning it on, was how good it felt in the hand. There is something really cool and inspiring about holding the camera and feeling the Super 8-esque form factor.
Having the option to look through the screen or the eye-cup viewfinder (my personal preference after using it for a while) was also great. As a camera nerd, form factor matters.
Another point worth mentioning is the all-round functionality. Being able to film a clip, process a physical photo, transfer it to your phone, and do all of this from a compact body was a massive bonus.
Lastly, even without the emulations and simply using the bare camera without any filters, the footage was of pretty great quality for general use.
Q: Which decade on the Era Dial appealed to your aesthetic while recording video?
A: I stuck to the 1990s–2000s settings for the entire time. Something about those two particular settings really resonated with me.
I do a lot of video and film work where I make mirrorless camera footage look like film footage – which can take hours, so having this camera replicate these gorgeous looks straight out of the hand was brilliant. The fact that you can adjust the intensity came in handy too.
Q: In an awesome reel you posted on your Instagram, you said: "So it was really refreshing to have something that just made shooting feel fun again." What do you think drives this sense of fun?
A: This is actually something I realised while shooting with the instax mini Evo Cinema out in the streets of Cape Town: having a camera where you aren't overly concerned about the quality or stressing about the right settings makes you focus purely on the enjoyment. The camera does what it does, and so can you.
Stripping away any overly complicated techniques or setting changes on the run and focusing on getting cool clips made me feel like I did when I initially started my street photography journey. There is no better feeling than simply capturing for the sake of capturing.
This camera is also able to fit in my jacket pocket, so it was amazing to whip it out and shoot almost anything interesting that caught my eye. I would set up my preferred era simulation at home and go out all day without thinking twice about capturing little moments in the city. There is a level of catharsis and relief of pressure there that makes this camera worth getting, even before considering all of the cool features.
Q: Who would you recommend the instax mini Evo Cinema to?
A: If I had to make a hard decision, I would say anybody who enjoys filming. Simple as that. This definitely won't replace your cinema camera, nor will it be your primary camera for shooting videos for work, but rather fill the gap for an everyday carry – something that keeps the fun and inspiration alive.
It is the perfect addition to the camera bag for anybody who likes shooting creative clips for socials, as well as being an incredible choice for people who are into capturing memories with friends, trips, events, and the kind of moments you don't want to forget. This is where the physical photo dispensing comes in so handy.
Lastly, if you are someone who travels and takes a lot of trips, this camera will be your best friend.
Find more of Alessandro’s work here:
https://www.instagram.com/ale_the_intrxvrt/
