These cameras are also always going to be popular with kids and teens who love shooting with friends, taking selfies, and making prints that they can use to decorate their room or school notebooks. If you’re shopping for a new instant camera, or are thinking of trying one out for the first time, we’ve reviewed some of the best instant cameras from top brands including Polaroid, Leica, and Fujifilm. We’ve assessed these cameras based on factors such as ease of use, print quality, price, size, and additional features and controls. Here’s our guide to the best instant cameras, whether you’re brand-new to the world of instant film or you’re an avid photographer looking for a new way to shoot. Shooting couldn’t be easier–simply press a button to turn on the lens, adjust your dial, and you’re ready to take a photo and print. Oh, and if you can’t resist a selfie, there’s a mirror on the camera’s front so you can check that you’re looking your best. The included macro lens adapter lets you take close-up shots from 35 to 50 centimeters’ distance from the subject. To help ensure the right aperture, the Mini 9 adds both an automatic exposure measurement and a high-key setting for pictures that have a softer look. The resulting prints are accurate, clear, and just how you want them to look. Note that the shutter’s design means this camera works best for portrait shots, rather than landscape. From the stylish design to high-quality images, the Mini 9 is our top overall choice in the instant camera market. Flash: Automatic | Picture Size: 2.4 x 1.8 inches | Shutter Speed: 1/60 seconds | Weight: 1.15 pounds | Connectivity: None The settings and controls are easy to use, with the useful inclusion of exposure compensation—this means you can shoot equally well in bright or low-light settings. An automatic flash helps with this too. The limited controls make it easy to take a great shot, but it does mean that users are limited in their creative controls. A tripod socket is also included, along with an expandable lens so you can shoot from a range of distances and still have a clear, crisp shot. It performs well on a macro level, too, for those close-up shots. The Instax Wide 300 runs on AA batteries, with an LCD screen to make it easy to compose and print only the best photos. If you’re looking for a simple but effective instant camera, the Instax Wide 300 is a perfect choice. Flash: Automatic | Picture Size: 3.38 x 4.25 inches | Shutter Speed: 1/64 to 1/200 seconds | Weight: 2.10 pounds | Connectivity: None Prints are impressive, with a long battery life that gives you about 100 prints on a single charge. An LCD screen lets you view and select your shots before printing, with prints taking about 12 seconds per photo. Users have plenty of fun creative controls, including over 30 frames and six filters available to personalize your design—just keep in mind that it works best in bright light. You can even add an audio message to your photo—record and attach up to 10 seconds of sound or voice messages that can be replayed through a QR code on the print. For selfies or group shots, the “Remote Shooting” function lets you use your smartphone to control the camera. This compact and affordable camera is available in three colors and is sure to come in handy. Flash: Automatic | Picture Size: 62 x 46 millimeters | Shutter Speed: 1/4 to 1/8000 seconds | Weight: 0.56 pounds | Connectivity: Bluetooth Users can adjust their photos based on lighting, with four different scene settings (indoor/dark, fine, cloudy, clear) that can be selected via the top dial. While there’s no LCD screen, you do get a useful countdown pane that tells you how many sheets of printing paper are left in the camera and an energy-saving power function. Printed images are around 1.8 x 2.4 inches in size, roughly that of a business card. The PIC-300 also wins major points from a design perspective. The thick, square design makes us nostalgic for the original Polaroid cameras, but with the modern addition of fun colors such as red and blue. Thanks to its affordability and ease of use, the PIC-300 is great to leave out on the table at parties and weddings. Flash: Automatic | Picture Size: 1.8 x 2.4 inches | Shutter Speed: 1/60 seconds | Weight: 0.71 pounds | Connectivity: None With the OneStep+, you can use the Polaroid Originals app to shoot in full manual mode to control both aperture and shutter speed, which is pretty unique. Or, take advantage of six different creative tools, including a portrait lens, for stunning close-up photos, a double exposure option for capturing two scenes in one frame, and light painting. There’s also a self-timer mode for the perfect selfie or group shot. While the camera is relatively inexpensive, keep in mind that the cost of film adds up over time. For Polaroid enthusiasts, this camera delivers the best of both worlds—the fun of instant Polaroid snaps, but with the added ability to manually set up your shot, just as you would with a DSLR or mirrorless. Flash: Flash can be controlled by user | Picture Size: 3.1 x 3.1 inches | Shutter Speed: 1/125 seconds | Weight: 1.08 pounds | Connectivity: Bluetooth The Lomo’Instant lets you take long exposure shots with multiple exposure choices, and also offers a flash-on auto mode that determines the appropriate amount of flash. You can also use the flash-off manual mode, which is great for evening shots. With a maximum aperture of f/8, the Lomo’Instant is the largest aperture instant camera in the world. However, you can also switch to f/22 for vivid detail in every 1.8 x 2.4-inch image. It’s also compatible with different lenses, with options available for portraits, macro, and fisheye shots. The Lomo’Instant is a boxy, minimalist camera, with a gorgeous style to it. It’s rare to find an instant camera capable of taking long exposure photos. If you’re new to shooting in manual modes on cameras, it may take some time to master the controls, but it’s worth the learning curve for the creative and unique photos this camera can take. Flash: Flash controlled by user | Picture Size: 1.8 x 2.4 inches | Shutter Speed: 1/125 seconds | Weight: 1.63 pounds | Connectivity: None Get creative with automatic exposure control, macro and landscape mode, and double exposure mode, which lets you superimpose two photos onto one print. You can also play around with different colored flashes, which give your snap a unique look. A selfie mode (with a mirror) is also included. Because the SQ6 is analog rather than digital, it has a cool retro feel that would appeal to teens or college students and is sure to be popular at parties. It prints with Instax film, so the cost can add up quickly per shot and is probably best used sporadically. While some users report the exposure can be a bit unpredictable, sometimes that’s part of the fun of instant cameras—waiting with anticipation to see how the print turns out. With its retro design, unique square photos, and a durable build quality, the SQ6 is an ideal gift for the kids (or yourself). Flash: Automatic | Picture Size: 2.4 x 2.4 inches | Shutter Speed: 1.6 - 1/400 seconds | Weight: 0.5 pounds | Connectivity: None
What to Look For in an Instant Camera
Price
Price is an important factor to consider in instant cameras. For most users, an instant camera isn’t going to be your primary camera. They tend to be something fun you bring out at parties or when you’re feeling creative, so you might not want to spend too much on it. They’re more like a fun and creative toy that you can use to print photos than a camera you’d use every day. Check out not only the cost of the camera itself, but also the cost of the film and replacement batteries. Instant film can be pricey, so this cost can add up quickly if you’re going to be shooting often.
Size
Think about the size of your instant camera, especially if you want to take it with you places. Some cameras are rather bulky, so won’t fit easily into your backpack or purse.
Design
For some, one of the most fun aspects of using instant cameras is the camera itself. Design aesthetic is a big thing in instant cameras, with models available in all sorts of colors, retro styles, and eye-catching designs.
