From vinyl records to physical photographs, analogue technology is having a real revival right now – and for good reason. In a screen-centred world, tangible memories that you can pick up, compile and treasure are more special than ever, serving as a crucial outlet for both self-expression and the forging of connections.

Thankfully, you don’t need to sign up for a night class, or spend hours in a darkroom, to embrace the feel of analogue photography – with Fujifilm’s instax cameras providing an easy way to capture your own creative world, and bring your stylish aesthetic to life. Their new instax mini 41™ instant camera, which launched this week, takes the timeless design of its predecessor, the mini 40, and gives it a contemporary, user-friendly twist. The result is an even sleeker look, enhanced features, and, of course, vibrant, totally unique photographs…

From the moment you take the mini 41 out of the box, the set-up is speedy and straightforward – for photography newbies and seasoned old-hands alike. Then, it’s as simple as point-and-shoot, with the camera doing most of the hard work for you. That includes automatic exposure – meaning the mini 41 senses the level of light in the scene, and adjusts its settings accordingly, whether you’re out exploring the cityscape, or taking some in-the-moment kitchen shots at a party.

Twisting the lens of the mini 41 will bring you to Close-up Mode – which, alongside the built-in mirror, is ideal for selfies. The Close-up Mode is also handy for taking shots less than an arm’s length away, and uses a feature called Parallax Correction to help centre the image (making your photography skills look even more impressive!).

Although the classic design makes a bold, elegant statement, it's also worth noting that the mini 41 takes ergonomics into account too – with the textured body ensuring it feels nice and secure in your hands. It's also portable enough to pop in your bag when you're heading off on your adventures, to whip out whenever inspiration strikes.

The photos, which are around the same size as credit card, and take just 90 seconds to develop, can be easily carried around too – whether you plan on adding them to your own lovingly-curated collection at home, or sharing them with friends.

Of course, embracing the joy of physical photos doesn’t mean you have to leave your phone at home. If you want to keep a digital collection of your shots, or share them on social media, it's worth downloading the instax UP! app, to scan and save all your instax photos.

Blending striking style with effortless fun, consider the mini 41 your essential summer companion...

The instax mini 41™ instant camera is available for purchase now, at a suggested retail price of €110. Pick up yours at one of Fujifilm's stockists across Ireland: instax.ie/stores