Instax mini EVO 2-in-1 photo camera and printer with a 2.7 inch LCD screen, 10 Lens and 10 film effects, mini film format, Black

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Instant print photography purists can of course argue that being able to review your shot before printing it takes some of the magic away. Not only can certain images be selected for print after reviewing first; an amount of image editing can also be undertaken and effects added in-camera.

To print a photo, there is a little lever which you can pull, and it takes about 16 seconds to print an image. The digital-first approach and lack of optical viewfinder might put off fans of true analogue photography, and the low resolution means it won't replace even a basic digital camera. In bright conditions, the shots that it can produce are fine for the small size of an Instax print, though, even taking into account the increased 600dpi resolution that the Instax Mini Evo prints at. You’ll need to dive into the menus to tinker with exposure compensation or use the self-timer, flash or macro mode.

With so many filter and effect combinations, plus the ability to only print the pictures you like, the Mini Evo is the ideal instant camera for anyone looking to experiment or try out different photography styles.

If you’re into the idea of instant film photography but don’t want some cheap kit or loads of prints going in the bin, this is the one to get. While the Mini Evo isn’t Fujifilm’s first crack at a hybrid instant camera, it is the first to lean into such an old-school design. This vintage-inspired model trades away some of the “instantaneousness” for more control and better results across the board. I can’t think of any good reason for this handicap other than Fujifilm looking to ensure continued film sales. Everyone loves holding an Instax Mini print in their hands and they love it even more when they can take it with them.

Analogue purists may baulk at its hybrid design, but it brings a host of practical benefits to the table that you simply won’t find on all-analogue alternatives. Printing is incredibly fast on the Evo, and the images it produces have that classic vintage feel to them. Inside the Fujifilm Mini Evo is a 1/5-inch CMOS sensor which is capable of producing digital images of 2560x1920 pixels. It mimics the look of classic film cameras pretty well, with the faux leatherette coating both looking genuine from afar and also making it easier to grip than the smooth, shiny surface on the LiPlay.

But you do not just have to print snaps taken on the Evo – it can also connect to your phone and print photos, just like a standard portable printer. Though it isn't as straightforward as a point-shoot-print, the lack of buttons and intuitive interface help amateurs quickly get to grips with adding filters, snapping photos and printing their favorites.The camera comes with dual shutter buttons so you can use it both in portrait mode and landscape mode – though the orientation of the prints makes portrait mode the most obvious choice for snaps. As it is, the camera boasts an internal storage capacity for up to 45 images to get us going out of the box. This is a digital camera with a back screen that allows us to compose and review shots and then only print the ones we’re happy with via the self-same camera, rather than pointing and shooting and then praying what we’ve got is good before it materializes on the credit card-sized film sheets provided.

Now featuring auto exposure and a built-in 'selfie' lens setting, is this the best instant camera for beginners?While the credit-card-sized Instax Mini prints aren’t the largest, they still offer a decent amount of detail and look nice when displayed. They're built into the film door, which is held in place with a catch that's sturdy enough not to fly open at the slightest knock. We've no real idea why this limitation exists, and hope that Fuji fix it in a future firmware upgrade.