Instax Mini 11 is a new instant camera from the Fujifilm brand that is an improvement of Instax Mini 9. As the name implies, it uses the Mini film format. Due to its ease of use, Instax Mini 11 has become so popular in recent years.
However, there have been reports about Instax mini 11 blinking orange light in recent days. What can be the cause and how can it be fixed, as well as how to reset Instax Mini 11?
“The orange flashing light, which renders Mini 11 cameras useless and frustrates most photographers, is a typical issue with it from time to time. As much as it can be frustrating, it is no big deal. Such can be taken care of by simply playing around with the batteries or touching a few things here and there.”
In this guide, we will walk you through the inside out of Instax Mini 11 cameras and why it is blinking orange light, the causes, and how to fix it.
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Contents
What Does the Orange Light Mean on Instax Mini 11?
If you see an orange lamp on your Instax Mini 11, it is the battery indicating light indicating that your battery power is down and should be replaced. When you replace the battery, this light will immediately turn off.
What Do You Do When Your Instax is Blinking?
If your Instax Mini 11 blinks, try troubleshooting it by taking off and reinserting the battery while your camera is turned on to observe how it reacts.
Also, If your Instax lens continues to blink, it is important to change your camera`s batteries with new ones while it is extended (in other words, the camera must still be on). All the LEDs will keep blinking if the batteries are replaced when the lens is retracted.
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Why is My Instax Mini 11 Blinking Orange Light? (Causes & Fixes)
For your Instax camera to work, the flashlight must light up (without blinking). Because Instax cameras include a continuous flash, they must be completely charged before they can take photos.
Here are three (3) main causes for your Instax Mini 11 constant blinking and how to fix it.
01. Failed to check the battery
Immediately your Instax flash charging light starts to blink, you should immediately know that the batteries are dead or weak.
But if the blinking is fast and the camera refuses to work, you should quickly check the state of your battery power.
New batteries can take about 100 photos, which is equivalent to 10 Instax film packets with 10 sessions.
Although the film numbering system will tell you the number of shots you have taken for each film pack, you will also want to keep track of how many packets you have gone through.
Which clearly indicates when you must replace your camera`s batteries.To replace your camera`s batteries, flip the battery port open and slide off the click-in-lock with your thumb.
Then push the lens button of your camera into the body of your camera to switch it off and open the battery port.Next, replace the old batteries with new ones. Make sure the new batteries are Fujifilm recommended Alkaline batteries.
If the charge light is still blinking, then change camera`s batteries with the camera lens still out. I mean, the camera must still be on.
02. Your flash is charging
To take a picture with Instax Mini 11, the flash must be fully charged. Charging time varies between 3 and 10 seconds.It may appear to be a problem when using a Mini 11 for the first time, but it is not.
Rather, this signifies that your camera is getting set for use; within 10 seconds, it should light up. After that, you must give the flash some time to recharge before clicking.
03. Instax Film Jam
Instax Film Jam is also a common problem with Instax Mini 11 cameras. Sometimes even with new batteries, you may still find the cartridge stuck inside the film housing.
When this happens, do not use force to pull the Instant film out. Rather, nicely, and gently take off and reinsert your batteries, and should be done with the lens button of your camera still released.
So that you can easily take out the jammed film.
Once that is done successfully, you can now go ahead and start taking pictures by pressing the shutter-release button. And if necessary, you can change the film packet.
If after doing this your camera is still not working, or the blinking continues, then the problem is unknown. In this case, you must return the camera to the manufacturer.
But in case the film cartridge got exposed to direct sun or heat, you will need to insert a new film pack after the film cover is ejected.
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Why is My Instax Mini 11 Not Working?
You are out snapping pictures and you notice your Instax stops operating for no obvious reason. The lights on the brightness control dial start flashing. Your camera will surely not turn on at all.
Below are some reasons why your camera will stop working.
01. Dead or dying batteries
In most cases, the common cause of Instax camera failure is dead or failing batteries. What you will need are 2 new AA batteries.
With this, you can capture an average of 100 shots, according to the handbook, so keep track of how many you have used up to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Fujifilm also recommends sticking to the same brand of battery and only utilizing alkaline batteries. If somehow the batteries are low or dead, one of two things will happen:
- Your battery adjustment dial lights will start blinking at the same time, or
- Your camera`s red light beside the viewfinder will light up.
If all the lights are blinking, then change camera`s batteries with new ones. But if the red lights are the only lights that come on, just turn off your camera and change the batteries.
02. You either wrongly fitted or damaged your film
In rare cases, you may be able to purchase a defective or cracked box of film, however, most problems are caused by improper handling habits.
To begin, never insert the rectangular pits behind the film, or when loading it, reveal it to direct sunlight. What next, do not uncover the camera’s back till all 10 shots are used. All the remaining frames will be exposed, turning white.
03. You may be closer to your target
If you get much closer than 60cm, the lens of your camera will not focus clearly. If you want to take selfies or semi-macro images, this is especially crucial to remember.
04. You must clean your camera
Dust and dirt can accumulate in the numerous nooks & crannies of the Instax camera, as with any electronic gadget. So, it is a good idea to keep it clean.
Check that no foreign items have been trapped inside the removal slot of the film, and the lens should be free of fingerprints, dirt, and smudges regularly.
05. Your camera was surely knocked or dropped
There is a significant risk that the camera will malfunction if you drop or hit it against something hard. When this happens, all the lamps on your camera’s lens adjustment dial will start to blink and continuously.
Another sign of this is that after fitting your two new AA batteries, the red light beside the viewfinder will refuse to go off. You may realize that the lens unit somehow does not retract smoothly due to dislodged plastic parts, or that the black lens cap does not open.
You may also observe that your pictures are blurry. To avoid injuring the camera, push the lens unit into the body as gently as possible, and use a neck or wrist strap all the time to prevent it from falling.
How to Reset a Malfunctioning Fujifilm Instax Mini 11?
If your camera malfunctions (which happens from time to time because it is controlled by a microprocessor), there is not much you could do to adjust it other than resetting the gadget.
Fortunately, when you reset your Mini 11, it is usually restored to working order. Except if your camera is destroyed, and this is a straightforward process.
Resetting your Mini 11 is easy. Make sure the on/off button adjacent to the camera`s lens barrel is turned on. Remove your batteries and replace them as soon as the lens button has been stretched.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Fujifilm Instax Mini 11
Though the flashing light indicates that your Mini 11 camera requires fresh batteries, or that the film is trapped inside the removal slot, you can still make several additional mistakes while you use it.
These errors will degrade the image quality or cause blank photos to be ejected. Let’s look at some of these mistakes
Leaving your camera`s selfie mode on
Being able to activate selfie mode by stretching the lens button until you see the “SELFIE ON” symbol is one important amendment by Fujifilm on Instax Mini 11.
Which was found to be significantly more convenient than the previous Instax Mini 9, which required the use of a lens adapter.
However, the selfie option on Instax Mini 11 must only be used for selfies and nearby images. To capture ordinary landscape photos, you must disable the selfie mode.
Touching and leaving fingerprints on the lens
If you touch the lens while taking a photo, the flashlight will turn off. You will not be able to capture a picture if this is the case since the shutter-release button will not click.
Your final picture will have black edges even if you lightly touched the lens button while trying to take the photo.
You covered the flash sensor and the AE
Both the Auto Exposure (AE), and the flash sensors are located beneath the flashlight.
When you cover these sensors, it will result in overexposed images because your Mini 11 chooses the correct flash and shutter speed depending on the light around the target`s surrounding.
Wrong battery orientation
All Mini 11 are powered by two AA batteries, which may also illuminate the flash bulb, as well as indicate that your camera is set to be used. If you are putting batteries in the battery compartment, make sure they go in the right way.
Using unused film to open your camera`s film door
Opening the back door while the film is still shooting is a typical mistake that may cause your final photographs to be white.
Check the state of the film within the camera using the film verification window when shooting images (if it is yellow, it is fine). Also, look at the film numbering system showing the number of slots left.
In this video tutorial you will get a more practical understanding of your Instax mini 11 blinking orange light, as well as shooting tips.
Top Questions [FAQs]
What are the best settings for my Instax Mini 11?
A most typical standard setting for Instax Mini 11 should be to select a setting that is a bit darker, unlike the standard setting. (Keep in mind that the lower the ISO, the more the camera takes in light).
How should I operate my instant camera?
- Insert the batteries.
- Insert the film pack.
- To turn on the camera, push the on/off button next to the lens.
- To remove the film cover, press the shutter-release button.
- To ascertain the brightness, focus the lens just at the center of your subject and you are good to go.
What film is used in the Instax 210?
It employs Instax 200 Series wide film, which provides excellent color reproduction and contrast. Instax Mini 11 camera prints images that are 62 mm x 99 mm in size.
They have a lens with a fixed focal length and a concentrating range of 0.9m to infinite space. Instax Mini 11 camera can take excellent close-up shots from 45 cm.
Final Thoughts
Because of auto exposure, Instax Mini 11 from Fujifilm uses only two operating buttons to do its job. For this reason, not much is available to cause a problem.
But if you see Instax mini blinking orange, no worries.
Just like mentioned above, it could be a battery problem, or a non, or unknown problem, which at this point you already know what to do and how to go about it.
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