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Despite living in an era dominated by digital technology, instant cameras continue to maintain their popularity. People of all ages and skill levels are drawn to the best instant cameras due to their simplicity and user-friendly nature. This makes them particularly appealing for children and beginners in photography.
What sets these cameras apart is the incomparable uniqueness of their results. While individuals may spend hours attempting to recreate the aesthetic of Instagram filters and Lightroom presets, there’s nothing quite like the authenticity of instant photography. Brands such as Polaroid, Instax, and Lomography employ traditional photochemical exposure methods, enabling the creation of striking low-fidelity shots with crushed contrasts, vibrant colors, and ethereal exposures that can only be achieved with instant film.
Instant cameras encapsulate the enchantment of photography itself. With a simple press of a button, you can capture a moment unfolding before you and witness it come to life instantly. If you desire high-quality prints that exude a retro-cool vibe without breaking the bank, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is an excellent option. The versatility of instant cameras extends beyond casual use as well.
Best Instant Cameras Comparison Table
| Product | Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 | Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo | Polaroid Now+ | Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 | Instax Mini 12 | Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lens | Fixed focal length | Fixed focal length | Fixed focal length | Fixed focal length | Fixed focal length | Fixed focal length |
| Auto Exposure | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Selfie Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Macro Mode | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| Battery | 2x AA | 2x AA | USB rechargeable | 4x AA | 2x AA | 2x CR2 |
| Film Capacity | 10 shots | 10 shots | 13 shots | 10 shots | 10 shots | 10 shots |
| Film Size | 62mm x 46mm | 62mm x 46mm | 79mm x 79mm | 99mm x 62mm | 62mm x 46mm | 62mm x 62mm |
| Dimensions | 107.6mm x 121.2mm x 67.3mm | 107.6mm x 121.2mm x 67.3mm | 94.7mm x 112.2mm x 150.2mm | 167.8mm x 94.7mm x 120.9mm | 107.6mm x 121.2mm x 67.3mm | 130.6mm x 118.7mm x 57.5mm |
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Format | Instax Mini |
| Picture Size | 62 x 46mm |
| Lens | 2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7 |
| Viewfinder | Real image finder, 0.37x magnification |
| Shutter Speed | 1/2 – 1/250 sec. |
| Exposure Control | Automatic, Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800) |
| Flash | Constant firing flash with automatic light adjustment |
| Battery | 2x AA-size alkaline batteries |
| Dimensions | 107.6 x 121.2 x 67.3 mm |
| Weight | 293 g (without batteries, strap, and film) |
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 is a good choice if all you want to do is press a button and get a good print for a fair price. It is a simple quick camera that is easy to set up and use, making it a good choice for kids or people who are just starting out with photography. We were able to put in the AA batteries and film (which was not included), quickly read the instructions, take a picture, and print in less than five minutes. It took about 20 seconds for the picture to start to show up and less than a minute for it to fully show up.
The Instax Mini 11 uses credit card-sized Instax Mini film, which usually costs around $0.99 per sheet and comes in packs with up to 20 pictures for around $19.99, though you can get it from Walmart right now for only $13.98. Unlike some other films, like the one you need for Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Square Retro, Instax Mini film is easy to find at most big stores.
The Good
- Compact and portable design
- Automatic exposure control makes it easy to use.
- Built-in flash for when there isn’t enough light
The Bad
- Fewer options for setting the exposure
- AA batteries are needed for it to work.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Format | Instax Mini |
| Picture Size | 62 x 46mm |
| Lens | 2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7 |
| Viewfinder | Real image finder, 0.37x magnification |
| Shutter Speed | 1/2 – 1/250 sec. |
| Exposure Control | Automatic, Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800) |
| Flash | Constant firing flash with automatic light adjustment |
| Battery | 2x AA-size alkaline batteries |
| Dimensions | 107.6 x 121.2 x 67.3 mm |
| Weight | 293 g (without batteries, strap, and film) |
With its black fake leather finish and silver accents, the Mini Evo has a vintage look like the Fujifilm X100V compact camera. Its plastic construction keeps it light. There is a 3-inch LCD screen for viewing photos, and the controls include a lens that turns to turn on the camera, two shutter buttons, flash, a preset dial, and a physical lever to print your pictures.
The hybrid design means you don’t have to waste paper and ink writing out every picture you take, and the camera can hold 45 pictures (or more with a microSD card) while still having the charm of an instant camera. We found that the Mini Evo’s image quality was similar to that of other Instax cameras, with bright colors and a good amount of detail. However, skin tones can come out quite pale, and the camera has trouble focusing in settings with less than ideal lighting.
The Good
- Sleek and modern design
- Interface that is easy to use
- Reliable automatic exposure control
The Bad
- Few options for manual control
- AA batteries are needed for it to work.
Polaroid Now+
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Format | Polaroid i-Type |
| Picture Size | 79 x 79mm |
| Lens | Fixed focus lens, 2 ft – infinity |
| Viewfinder | Optical, with target spot |
| Shutter Speed | 1/3 – 1/200 sec. |
| Exposure Control | Automatic |
| Flash | Built-in, with strobe feature |
| Battery | High-performance lithium-ion battery |
| Dimensions | 94mm x 112.2mm x 150.2mm |
| Weight | 434 g (without film pack) |
The Polaroid Now+ is the most advanced Polaroid yet because it has a retro look and current features. On the outside, the Now+ doesn’t look too different from its vintage peers. It has the same iconic OneStep silhouette, but its lines are softer and more refined. Under the hood, though, things are much more modern.
If you use the Now+ by itself, it works just like a standard Polaroid: load the film, point, and shoot. There is a simple two-zone autofocus system, exposure correction to make your pictures brighter or darker, and a switch to turn the flash on and off. It also comes with a set of colored lens filters that you can use to make your photos look more creative.
The Good
- Classic Polaroid design
- Large square picture format
- Automatic exposure control that is easy to use
The Bad
- Few film formats that can be used
- Compared to other models, it’s pretty heavy.
Fujifilm Instax Wide 300
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Format | Instax Wide |
| Picture Size | 99 x 62mm |
| Lens | Retractable lens, 2 components, 2 elements, f = 95 mm, 1:14 |
| Viewfinder | Real image finder, 0.37x magnification |
| Shutter Speed | 1/64 – 1/200 sec. |
| Exposure Control | Automatic, Lv 5.0 to 15.5 (ISO 800) |
| Focusing Range | 0.9 m to infinity |
| Flash | Automatic electronic flash with lighten-darken control |
| Battery | 4x AA-size alkaline batteries |
| Dimensions | 167.8 x 94.7 x 120.9 mm |
| Weight | 612 g (without batteries, strap, and film) |
With its 95mm f/14 lens, the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera makes instant pictures that are twice as wide as those made by the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11. It has an electric shutter release that can be set, an automatic flash for taking pictures in low light, and a focal zoom dial. Plus, the LCD screen shows you how many shots you have left, the exposure correction, and the flash mode.
With the fill flash mode, you can use backlighting to make your instant shots look better. The camera also comes with a close-up lens adapter, which lets you get as close to the subject as 15.5 inches.
The Good
- Wide picture format lets you get more in one shot.
- The lens is built in and can be rolled up for easy storage and protection.
- Viewfinder with a real image for accurate composition
The Bad
- Compared to smaller Instax models, this one is big and heavy.
Instax Mini 12
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Format | Instax Mini |
| Picture Size | 62 x 46mm |
| Lens | Fixed focus lens, 2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7 |
| Viewfinder | Real image finder, 0.37x magnification |
| Shutter Speed | 1/60 sec. |
| Exposure Control | Automatic, Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800) |
| Flash | Constant firing flash with automatic light adjustment |
| Battery | 2x AA-size alkaline batteries |
| Dimensions | 119.5 x 121.5 x 70.5 mm |
| Weight | 320 g (without batteries, strap, and film) |
This camera looks cool and is easy to carry. It comes in five soft colors to choose from. The new twistable lens makes it even easier to use than the Mini 11, which was the last camera of its kind. It has an auto-exposure mode and a flash, so it can take some pictures even when there isn’t much light. However, situations that are too dark or too bright aren’t good for taking pictures.
But users can use the Instax Up! app to share photos digitally and change them if they want to.Images are printed on Instax Mini film, which makes Polaroid-style shots that fit in your pocket. This instant camera is especially appealing to younger people who don’t know much about photos.
The Good
- The design is small and light to make it easy to carry.
- Easy and straight-forward to use
- With a real image viewfinder, you can frame correctly.
The Bad
- Fewer ways to change manual settings
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Format | Instax Square |
| Picture Size | 62 x 62mm |
| Lens | Fixed focus lens, 2 components, 2 elements, f = 65.75 mm, 1:12.6 |
| Viewfinder | Reverse Galilean viewfinder, 0.4x magnification |
| Shutter Speed | 1/2 – 1/400 sec. |
| Exposure Control | Automatic, Lv 5.0 to 15.5 (ISO 800) |
| Flash | Constant firing flash with automatic light adjustment |
| Battery | 2x CR2/DL CR2 lithium batteries |
| Dimensions | 130.7 x 118.6 x 57.5 mm |
| Weight | 390 g (without batteries, strap, and film) |
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 instant camera has the best mix of performance and speed, and it costs less than every other model. It is a vintage film camera that you just point and click. There is only one shutter button. This means that anyone can pick it up and start taking pictures. Since the camera instantly adjusts its white balance and exposure for each setting, almost every photo comes out well-lit and colorful, just like our top-performing camera, the Instax Mini Evo, which is its big brother.
It’s easy to hold because it’s big and has a rough surface, and it comes in a lot of fun colors. When you’re ready to shoot, you just twist out the lens to turn it on, look through the scope, and press the shutter button. The Square doesn’t have a half-press button, but almost every shot it takes is in focus.
The Good
- Square picture format for a unique and artistic look
- Sleek and stylish design
- Automatic exposure control makes it easy to use.
The Bad
- Fewer ways to change manual settings
FAQs
An instant camera is a type of camera that makes prints that develop themselves right after you take a picture. It uses a special kind of fast film that develops and shows the picture without any extra work.
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 or the Polaroid OneStep+ may be better for more experienced shooters because they have manual controls, creative shooting modes, and other features that aren’t found on other cameras.