Best instant cameras: our complete guide

As an experienced photographer, I have a real soft spot for instant cameras, which have made a strong comeback in recent years. You’ve probably heard someone at a family gathering or evening with friends say, “Let’s take an instant photo.” The idea is simple: capture a moment and get a physical print just a few minutes later. It’s a fun, tangible way to preserve memories, and each photo has a unique character with that little nostalgic touch we love. Don’t hesitate to check out my Photography Equipment page, where you’ll find more articles to help you get started. We also recently published a guide to the latest action cameras, which may interest you too.

Whether you’re a beginner, an enthusiast, or even a professional photographer, an instant camera can be a fun addition to your gear. In this guide, I’ll help you choose the best instant camera for your needs by looking at the best instant cameras currently available, their features, strengths and weaknesses, user feedback, and my own recommendations.

If you also use a tablet for editing, organizing, or sharing your photos, you can check out our comprehensive guide to the best iPads.

You can click on the links below to go straight to each Fujifilm instant camera:

• Fujifilm Instax Mini 90
• Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
• Fujifilm Instax Mini 40
• Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
• Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay
• Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1
• Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40
• Fujifilm Instax WIDE Evo

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 offers a few interesting creative features, including long exposure and double exposure modes. These options give you more room to experiment than with a basic instant camera. Its macro mode and flash performance are also quite good.

Strengths: its classic, stylish design is very appealing, and it produces lovely instant photos. It’s available in brown or black.

To be honest, I own the older version of this camera, the Instax Mini 70. It’s easy to use, and the photos look really nice. I’d recommend adding a protective camera case or a shoulder bag, depending on what you prefer, so you can carry it safely wherever you go.

Combining the features of a compact digital camera and a portable photo printer, the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo is a stylish 2-in-1 hybrid instant camera. It has a 5-megapixel sensor and lets you choose which photos you want to print, which helps avoid wasting film. Its design is both compact and elegant. You can also use the Instax Mini Evo app to manage prints and transfer images more easily.

Weaknesses: the cost per photo remains fairly high, and the 5-megapixel sensor quickly shows its limits. That said, it is still enough for small Instax Mini prints (6.2 x 4.6 cm image size).

In conclusion, the Instax Mini Evo is a versatile, enjoyable camera with a very stylish design. If you choose this model, I’d recommend protecting it properly with accessories such as a quality case or a transparent case, depending on your taste.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 stands out with its distinctive vintage look. Compared with the previous two models, however, its features are more limited. There are very few settings: you can’t disable the flash, and the shutter fires instantly, so you won’t have much time to pose!

Strengths: good image quality, simple operation, and a very appealing design.
Weaknesses: the photos take a few minutes to develop, and exposure can sometimes be a little tricky. Pay attention to the lighting when you take your shot, otherwise the result may be darker or brighter than expected.

In conclusion, users appreciate the Instax Mini 40 for its design, simplicity, and efficiency. It also offers good value for money. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use retro instant camera, I would definitely recommend it. Don’t forget to protect it: I recommend either a case designed for this model or a very practical travel case.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is the successor to the Mini 11. In my opinion, it keeps everything that made the previous model appealing: compact size, ease of use, and fun, beginner-friendly features.
Most of the changes are design-related and don’t fundamentally change the way you use the camera.

Strengths: selfie mode, which is great for easy self-portraits.
Weaknesses: similar to the Instax Mini 40, with few settings, no option to turn off the flash, and an instant shutter release.

In my opinion, the Instax Mini 12 is a fun, modern camera available in several colors (purple, pink, white, green, and pastel blue). There is also a case to match each pastel shade, or a pack that includes the case plus a few creative accessories.

The Instax Mini LiPlay is more than just an instant camera. It includes advanced hybrid features such as microSD storage, photo selection before printing, image customization through the dedicated app, and an LCD screen. It is available in two colors: pink and black.

Strengths: 10 frames built into the camera, 20 additional frames available through the app, and audio recording, which lets you attach a 10-second sound clip to your photos.

As you can see, the Instax Mini LiPlay is appreciated for its creative and practical features. Feedback on this model is generally very positive, and it feels like one of the more complete options in the Instax Mini range. If you plan to travel with it, I’d recommend a protective case and a photo album to keep your prints safe.

The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is a square-format instant camera available in three colors: ice blue, orange, and white.

Strengths: its main advantage is automatic exposure, which adjusts the flash output according to the ambient light when you take your photo. It’s a very useful feature on this type of camera and helps improve your results.
Weaknesses: few settings, no way to disable the flash, and a viewfinder that some users find narrow.

I’d recommend it if you’re looking for an affordable square-format instant camera. In my opinion, the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is a solid Instax option. Remember to protect it with a leather case or a hard-shell case so it lasts as long as possible.

The Fujifilm Instax SQ40 is another good square-format Instax camera. Its features are very similar to those of the Instax Square SQ1, including automatic exposure and selfie mode. It is only available in black.

Strengths: it is quick and easy to use, and the print starts developing almost immediately (ideal if you’re impatient!). Better still, its CR2 batteries can last for around 300 shots.

I recommend an 80-sheet photo album or 192-sheet photo album to keep your photos safe.

The Instax Square SQ40 is a great choice if you want a square instant camera that combines a vintage look with simple modern features.

Good news: Fujifilm has launched a new instant camera, the Instax WIDE Evo. It is a wide-format hybrid model that combines digital photography with instant printing. Its sensor can record up to 16 megapixels when a microSD card is inserted. Without a card, the resolution is lower, but still sufficient for instant prints. It stands out with its wide-angle lens, rated at 15.67 mm. It also has a non-touch LCD screen and creative modes such as double exposure.

In terms of size and weight, it remains a wide-format camera, but it is still relatively compact for what it offers. It has a retro design with high-quality finishes. Its advanced features include dials for applying lens and film effects. For connectivity, the camera works via Bluetooth and has its own mobile app, which also makes updates easier. Battery life is more than enough to print up to around 100 photos per charge.

In short, the Instax WIDE Evo is a great camera for fans of creative instant photography. You can use it for landscapes, events, portraits, and more. It also includes autofocus with face detection. Although it is not the cheapest instant camera, it is a very appealing option if you want a hybrid model with wide-format prints. Its creative features and build quality help justify the higher price. I’d also recommend adding a pouch or case to protect it.

We’ve now looked at the best Instax cameras. It’s also useful to understand which film format each camera uses. The Fujifilm Instax range includes three main film formats: Instax Mini, Instax Square, and Instax Wide.

Instax Mini:

• Picture size: 46(W) x 62(H) mm
• Film paper size: 54(W) x 86(H) mm
• Compatible with the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90, Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo, Fujifilm Instax Mini 12, and Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

Instax Wide:

• Picture size: 99(W) x 62(H) mm
• Film size: 108(W) x 86(H) mm
• Compatible with Fujifilm Instax 300, 210 and 200 cameras.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

Instax Square:

• Picture size: 62(W) x 62(H) mm
• Film size: 86(W) x 72(H) mm
• Compatible with Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 and Instax Square SQ1.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

And that’s not all: these film formats are available in many different borders and themes, so you’ll probably find one or more that match your style: white, plain, rainbow, confetti, soft lavender, candy pop, macaron, pink lemonade, spray art, blue marble, hearts, contact sheet designs, and more.

With features such as Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated mobile app, the Polaroid Now+ is a more advanced version of the Polaroid Now. Through the app, you can access creative tools such as double exposure and tripod mode.

Strengths: autofocus, self-timer, flash control, and USB charging.
Weaknesses: it is fairly bulky, exposure is not always perfectly consistent, there is no true selfie mode, and the viewfinder can feel narrow.

In conclusion, I think the Polaroid Now+ is a complete and enjoyable instant camera. Its distinctive design has a strong vintage feel, and it comes in three colors: white, black, and green. Don’t forget to protect it with the famous Polaroid protective case or simply with a good-quality hard-shell case.

The Polaroid I-2 is a high-end instant camera that combines vintage charm with modern features. It is worth noting that it costs around €700, and the cost per print is high. The design is unique, and the optics are excellent for an instant camera. Quick tip: if you want to take it with you on trips, I recommend a good travel case or the Polaroid Box bag.

Weaknesses: although the camera can produce sharp, high-quality instant photos, the colors do not always look true to life.

To sum up, despite its weaknesses and high price, the Polaroid I-2 remains a very appealing camera, especially thanks to its iconic design, advanced controls, and overall build quality. In my opinion, it is a beautiful high-end instant camera, but it is still a serious investment and definitely not a cheap Polaroid.

The Polaroid Go Generation 2 is the successor to the original Polaroid Go. It keeps much of the same spirit, but with a more modern, minimalist design and slightly improved image rendering. It is quite simply the smallest camera in the Polaroid range, so you can take it almost anywhere to capture everyday moments. It is available in three colors: red, black, and white. Its simple, minimalist design is ideal if you want a small instant camera for creative photos. To store your prints safely, I highly recommend the Polaroid Go photo album.

Strengths: highlights include an improved light sensor, double exposure, self-timer, selfie mirror, and a rechargeable battery. It is also made with 30% recycled materials.

In my opinion, the Polaroid Go Generation 2 is one of the best Polaroid instant cameras to buy if you want a compact model with a good price/performance ratio.

I hope these Polaroid instant camera reviews help you make your choice more easily. These models are among the best Polaroid instant cameras currently available. As for Polaroid film, there are three main types: Polaroid i-Type, Polaroid Go film, and Polaroid Color 600 film.

Polaroid i-Type :

• Film format: 88 x 107 mm
• Picture size: 79 x 79 mm
• Compatible with Polaroid Now, Polaroid Now+ and Polaroid I-2.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

Polaroid Go film:

• Film size: 53.9 x 66.6 mm
• Picture size: 46 x 47 mm
• Compatible with Polaroid Go and Polaroid Go Generation 2.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

Polaroid – Color 600 Film:

• Compatible with Polaroid Now, Polaroid Now+ and Polaroid I-2.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

Here’s a slightly lesser-known brand that still offers some very interesting options if you’re looking for an instant camera.

The Lomo’Instant is a compact instant camera that is easy to carry, easy to handle, and designed for creative shooting.

Strengths: three shooting modes (one automatic and two manual modes for more creativity) and fun instant-film rendering.
Weaknesses: indoor lighting can be tricky, the flash can be blocked depending on the lens attachment used, and the strap is not included.

To sum up, the Lomo’Instant is an easy-to-use camera that can suit both beginners and more experienced photographers. It is also very affordable.

As its name suggests, the Lomo’Instant Automat offers automatic features that make it easier to use. It is available in black, yellow, white, and burgundy red.

Strengths: a remote control for triggering photos from a distance, which is handy when everyone needs time to get into position.

To sum up, the Lomo’Instant Automat is a very good instant camera and easy to use thanks to its automatic modes.

The Lomo’Instant Wide is an instant camera with a wide range of creative functions, but it can be more difficult to use properly.

Strengths: flash-off option, color gel effects, multiple exposure, long exposure, and compatible accessories such as wide-angle, close-up, and Splitzer attachments.
Weaknesses: it can feel fragile because of the materials used, and it is bulky rather than compact.

In my opinion, this instant camera can be complicated to use. I’d recommend it mainly to people who already have some basic photography knowledge and want more creative control.

The Lomo’Instant Square is a bellows-style camera that folds and unfolds like an accordion. Lomography launched this model with a bold retro look, and it remains one of the most original instant cameras in this guide. It is only available in black.

Strengths: a remote control that slots neatly into the camera body, color gels included with the camera, and good image quality.
Weaknesses: narrow viewfinder and three batteries required for the camera and remote control.

I think this instant camera has a truly unique style, and opinions are often very clear: you either love it or you don’t like it at all.

It is not always easy to find in the usual shops, so availability may vary.

Let’s also look at the film formats used by Lomography cameras. They are the same Instax formats mentioned earlier in the Fujifilm section.

Instax Mini :

Compatible with selected Lomo’Instant Mini-format cameras, depending on the model.
Buy on Amazon / B&H

Instax wide :

Compatible with the Lomo’Instant Wide.
Buy on Amazon / B&H

Instax square:

• Compatible with the Lomo’Instant Square.
• Buy on Amazon / B&H

Here’s a table summarizing some of the key features of the instant cameras mentioned above.

That’s it, we’ve reached the end of this comparison of the best instant cameras. Now it’s up to you to choose the model that best suits your needs, budget, and creative style. You can also check out our article on the best compact cameras if you’re interested in smaller digital models.

If you’ve used one of the instant cameras mentioned in this guide, or if you already own one, feel free to share your feedback in the comments.

See you soon!

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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