One of the reasons for the rising popularity of the Instax Mini 11 camera is how user-friendly it is. Very little can go wrong when using this Fujifilm instant camera with only two control buttons.
However, one common issue with the Mini 11 occasionally is the orange flashing light that renders it useless.
What could be the reason for your Instax Mini 11 flashing light? Read on as I discuss common causes for this problem and how you can fix them.
Instax Mini 11 Flashing Light: 3 Common Reasons For A Flashing Orange Light And Their Solutions
Using the Instax Mini 11 is not challenging to master.
While it does take time to get the hang of what subjects, lighting, and shooting distances work best for photos, it comes with slow synchro for low light, exposure control, automatic light adjustment, and shutter speed.
These automated features only require you to press and shoot while the camera does all the work!
The flash charging lamp next to the lens must light up for the camera to work. When we say light up, the lamp is switched on, with no blinking. Since the Instax Mini 11 (like its predecessor Mini 9) has a constant firing flash, it must charge fully for the camera to be photo-ready.
Therefore, when the flash charging lamp starts blinking, the camera won’t operate. Thankfully, there are only a few things to check (or fix) to get the light to stop flashing.
Here are the top three reasons why there’s a constantly blinking light on your Instax Mini 11.
1. Your Flash Is Charging
The number one reason the orange flash charging lamp blinks is when the flash is charging. The flash must fully charge to click a photo with the Instax Mini 11. Charging takes anywhere from 3 to 10 seconds.
When you first use the Mini 11, you may think it’s a problem, but it is standard for the flash charging lamp to blink slowly. This indicates the camera is ready to use; it should light up within 10 seconds. Once it does, you must wait for the flash to charge again before clicking.
2. Failed Battery Check
When the flash charging lamp starts blinking fast, the most common error is that the camera batteries are weak or dead. The Instax Mini 11 uses 2 AA-size alkaline batteries.
When the light blinks quickly and your camera doesn’t work, your first action should be to check if the batteries need to be changed.
New batteries are good for approximately 100 images, amounting to ten Instax film packs with ten exposures. Keep in mind how many film packs you have gone through.
The Instax Mini 11, like others in the series, includes a film counter window on the back cover. The film counter lets you know the number of shots left in the film pack.
While the film counter lets you know how many shots you have taken per film pack, you must watch how many packages you have gone through. Doing so can give you a good idea of when the camera batteries need replacement.
To change the batteries, open the battery compartment; you can find it where you grip the camera to take pictures. The compartment has a simple click-in lock, which will slide off with the help of your thumb.
Switch off the Instax Mini 11 camera by pushing the lens barrel into the camera body and opening the battery compartment. Replace with new batteries. Use alkaline batteries as instructed by Fujifilm.
If the Instax Mini 11 blinking light persists, change the batteries while the camera is still on.
Switch on the camera by pressing the power button next to the lens barrel—the power button doubles as the lens release button. Once the lens is out, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is on.
Now, take the batteries out and replace them with new ones. Click the shutter button to test the camera, which should work fine.
3. Jammed Instax Film
Another standard error is a jammed instant film. If your batteries are new and the camera won’t work, the cartridge may be stuck in the film compartment.
Ensure you do not try to pull out the instant film forcibly from the film ejection slot.
Instead, remove and reinsert the batteries while the lens barrel is released (in other words, the camera is on) to try and get the jammed film out. Once the jammed film is out, press the shutter button to take pictures. Replace the film pack if necessary.
Remember that the Instax mini film is light sensitive, and forcing it from the film ejection slot or opening the back cover while it has shots can render it useless.
If the film cartridge (after the film cover is ejected) is exposed to heat or direct sunlight, you will have to insert a new film pack.
However, if the camera still doesn’t work and the light continuously flashes, you have an unknown error. Unfortunately, this will require you to return the camera to the manufacturer.
How To Reset A Malfunctioning Fujifilm Instax Mini 11?
There is not much to cause the Mini 11 to stop working with a two-button function.
On the flip side, if the camera malfunctions (which occasionally happens since a microcomputer controls it), there isn’t much you can do to fix it except reset the device.
Resetting the Mini 11 tends to get it back to working condition in almost all cases – unless the camera has been damaged – and it is pretty simple.
To reset your Mini 11, ensure it is on by clicking the power button next to the lens barrel. Once the lens barrel is extended, please reinsert the batteries in the battery compartment.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 – 5 Common Mistakes To Avoid
While a flashing light indicates that the Mini 11 needs new batteries or the film is jammed in the ejection slot, you can make several other mistakes.
You may also like: Why Is My Instax Mini 11 Not Working? 6 Most Common Issues
Most of these mistakes will not cause the camera to stop working, but they affect the picture quality or eject blank images.
Here are some of the most common errors you should avoid while using the Instax Mini 11
#1 Wrong Battery Orientation
The Mini 11 power supply is two AA batteries, which can light up the flash charging lamp. This means the camera is ready to use. When placing batteries inside the battery compartment, ensure they go in as indicated.
#2 Touching The Lens
When taking a picture, ensure you are not touching the lens, which can cause the flash charging lamp to go off. If this happens, the shutter button won’t click, and you cannot take a picture. Even touching the lens barrel lightly as you try to take a photo will cause the developed image to have dark borders.
#3 Covering The AE and Flash Sensors
The AE (Auto Exposure) and flash sensors are below the flash charging lamp. Since the Mini 11 determines the correct shutter speed and flash based on the surrounding light, covering these sensors will result in overexposed Instax Mini 11 photos.
#4 Leaving the Selfie Function On
One improvement made by Fujifilm in the Mini 11 is the access to Selfie Mode by extending the lens barrel till you can see the “SELFIE ON” mark. This was far simpler than the Instax Mini 9, where you had to keep a lens attachment handy.
However, the selfie mode is only suitable for selfies and close-range shots. You can turn the selfie function off by pushing the lens barrel back into the camera body to take standard landscape images. Click the power button to turn off the selfie mode when the lens pops out.
#5 Opening Up The Film Door With Unused Film
I have discussed how sensitive film cartridges are and how easily they can spoil if exposed to heat and sunlight. A common mistake that causes your final photos to turn white is opening the back door while the film still has shots.
When taking photos, check through the film confirmation window for the film inside the camera (if yes, it will be yellow). Also, check the film counter, which reveals the number of shots left in the film.
Instax Mini 11 Flashing Light FAQs
Why is My Polaroid Flashing Orange?
An orange flashing light on a Polaroid camera signifies low batteries, a film pack issue, or a malfunctioning film counter.
To resolve this, check and replace batteries if needed, ensure the film pack is inserted correctly and unexpired, and clear any obstructions in the ejection slot. If the issue persists, I recommend contacting the manufacturer for further assistance.
Why is My Instax Mini 11 Blinking Orange?
Instax Mini 11 cameras blink orange light when an error occurs. The most common error is the batteries being dead or too weak for the flash to charge. Another reason could be that the film is jammed in the ejection slot.
To stop the light from flashing, change the batteries. For the jammed film, take the batteries out with the camera turned on and reinsert them; reset the Instax camera and eject the film.
Why is My Instax Mini 11 Blinking Orange With a New Battery?
If your Instax Mini 11 is blinking orange even with new batteries, it could be due to a film pack issue or a malfunctioning film counter. Ensure the film pack is inserted correctly and unexpired.
Check the film ejection slot for any obstructions and clear them if necessary. If the orange light persists despite addressing these potential causes, consider contacting the manufacturer for further assistance, as there may be an underlying issue with the camera itself.
Why is The Orange Light Flashing on My Instax Mini 11?
The orange light on the Instax mini flashes when the flash is charging. Once the flash is charged, and the camera is ready to take a picture, the light becomes steady. However, should the light keep flashing quickly, an error has occurred.
Two main errors cause the Mini 11 to flash an orange light quickly: the batteries need to be changed, or the film has jammed.
To stop the light from flashing, change the batteries. If that doesn’t work, reset the device by taking out the batteries and reinserting them while the instant camera is on, i.e., the lens is released.
The Bottom Line
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 uses two buttons to operate, thanks to auto exposure. With limited control, only a few things cause the camera to flash an orange light – either the batteries need to be changed or the film is jammed. Both of these errors are easily correctable.
You can change the batteries or reset the camera by removing working batteries and placing them back in the camera while it is turned on. Unfortunately, the camera must be returned to Fujifilm for any other unknown error.