The front of the handle has a cover that hides the USB-C charging port and microSD card slot. There is built-in memory, but I would highly recommend using a microSD card, because it is difficult to fully extract your photos from the built-in memory. You have to use the app to download the photos first, but then it’s hard to save them to your phone outside of the app. Just a small throw microSD card in there and you’ll avoid all that hassle.
The picture is small. The MP5, 1/5-inch sensor records photos at 1920 x 2560 pixels and video at 600 x 800 pixels (although there is an option to record higher resolution using the 2020 resolution mode, which shoots video up to 1080 x 1440 pixels). The sensor shares the same specs as the Mini Evo Plus, and it seems safe to assume it’s the same. That means it’s good enough for Instax prints and social media, but it won’t look as good either 4 x 6 inches.
The shutter button, which is smaller than the trigger in this model, will record up to 15 seconds. You can use it in two ways, either as a trigger, where it fires as long as you hold it down (however, up to 15 seconds), or push it once to start and once to stop. Yes, it’s difficult to try to take a selfie video with this design, but you can connect to the app and compose and take photos with it.
The lens is a 28-mm (35-mm equivalent) f/2.0 with automatic and face detection. Focusing is fully automatic and center-weighted, although face detection will override this when it detects a face.
Next to the lens is a focus ring that doesn’t focus, but adjusts how strong the effect you’re using is. Above the lens is a light that can be a photo flash or constant for video. On the side of that is the selfie mirror, which is frankly not very helpful. It’s best to use a self-shooting program.
The back of the camera has a small, low-resolution screen that you can use either as a handheld monitor or as a handheld monitor. I preferred to use an eye piece because I have old eyes, but it works well either way.
The side of the camera has an on/off button, and two switches, one to toggle between still and video modes, and one to turn off frames and extras are available as overlays (which vary depending on the “age” effect you’re using). There is also a small dial that acts as a print switch and toggle to control the digital zoom.
Time Travel
Photo: Scott Gilbertson
Then there’s the Eras dial, which lets you choose ten themed effect presets that cover every film age from 1930 to 2020. This is where Evo Cinema gets fun. Effects allow you to shoot 1930s black-and-white video style or 1990s Handycam-style photos, as well as many others. I loved the 1940s-era effect, which adds a wonderfully faded color saturation that was characteristic of film images from that decade.
