The tiny camera that’s both digital and analogue

While I’m far from a photography connoisseur, I’ve tried my fair share of instant cameras in the last two years.
I’ve been an instant film fan for a long time, and Instax’s range of small cameras has continued to impress me. They’re affordable, quite portable, and they make great gifts. They’re also perfect for capturing moments with your friends and family, and depending on the model, usually have a range of fun features to play with.
While I’d tested a camera that showed you photos before printing them (the Instax Pal and its buddy the Instax Mini Link, which can also print pictures from your phone), I was excited to get my hands on the Instax Mini LiPlay. This popular model is a hybrid with both digital and analogue features. Functioning very similarly to the digital camera I bought when I was 12, the only difference is the ability to print instantly. Oh, and Bluetooth connectivity that pairs it to your phone.
These are my honest thoughts on the Instax Mini LiPlay.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
The LiPlay has a lot of features. You can add little illustrations to your images after taking them using the Frame feature, but the camera is also pretty advanced in film settings.
I played with things like filters and exposure, and the digital nature of the camera allowed me to take a few image options with different colours and brightness. Comparatively, the Instax Wide 400 only has auto-exposure, which works well, but I do like having control over my settings. The Instax Mini 99 also has the option to take filtered images. They usually come out quite beautiful, but it’s great that the LiPlay doesn’t make you waste a square of film on an image that may not have been conceptualised well.
You can also adjust the print brightness on the LiPlay, which is helpful if your image is a little dark. However, nothing could save my attempt at capturing the Sydney Harbour Bridge here. After this, I stuck to close-up photos.
READ MORE: An instant film fan reviews the new Instax Mini 99 
I liked the digital aspects of the camera because it felt so nostalgic. However, I’d forgotten how fiddly digital cameras could be, with their various menus accessible by only a few buttons. This camera would be an awesome gift for a teen or tween who never had to use a digital camera, as they’ll get novelty out of exploring its features and how to use them. However, the overall functionality of the Instax Mini LiPlay is through its app, which is the best one I’ve seen from Instax yet.
Everything you can do with the camera is more streamlined in the app. You can set preferences for the three buttons on the side of the camera, which give you access to your favourite feature at the touch of a button. It also has functions for remote shooting and recording sound, which can be accessed via a QR code that shows up on the printed photo – honestly, a pretty cool feature.
Best of all, though, you can use the app to print photos from your phone. This means you have the option to snap photos on either the Instax LiPlay or your phone and decide overall which one deserves the place in print.
For example, I tried taking a picture of myself with the LiPlay, using the two-second self-timer so I could angle the camera properly. However, I found the design of the camera a little difficult to hold, so I ended up resorting to my phone to snap a quick selfie.
In the end, I preferred the one I’d taken on my phone and was able to select it via the LiPlay app, add a natural-ish filter and hit print. I do find that pictures printed on the LiPlay have less of a grainy outlook than on the digital screen. However, with limited film, I liked that I was able to print my favourite version.
The ability to sync up and print your phone pictures also came in handy. I was testing the camera at my local park (a top-tier selfie location) when a massive dog decided to join me on the grass while his owners played football. It would have been too difficult to take a picture of him on the camera – it can take a few seconds between pressing the button and taking the image. However, I was able to get a perfect snap on my phone and print it right there, plus a second copy for his owners. This was another great outcome from the camera.
READ MORE: After so many camera releases, is the Instax Wide 400 necessary? 
Of all the Instax cameras I’ve tried, this one is among my favourites. It felt a lot more hands-on than the other models, especially with the option to fiddle with exposure, filters, self-timing, and flash settings. I liked that it reminded me of the camera I would have used 15 years ago, while also having the novelty of instant print (the entire reason we buy these things!).
The LiPlay would make a great gift for someone travelling, or for a teenager who might want to enjoy the analogue feel and the endless menu of features before they hit print. And at $149, it sits around the middle in terms of Instax’s price range, which I don’t think is very expensive for a camera with many features. However, having a digital screen did make me cautious of scratches, so you should probably grab a case, too.
Some of the photos I took or printed with this camera are favourites among the never-ending display of instant photos I now have stuck up on my wall. I’m certain it would bring the same joy to anyone who bought it.
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