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The best instant cameras for quickly printing pictures
Looking for a creative antidote to your phone’s endless camera roll? Instant cameras have transcended nostalgia to become a fun photographic tool for capturing authentic, physical moments.
With a rich legacy rooted in brands like Polaroid and Fujifilm, the instant photography world offers a diverse range of cameras, film formats and creative capabilities. The best models today don’t just rely on retro charm; they blend the classic, unpredictable magic of film with modern conveniences like auto-exposure, rechargeable batteries and, in some cases, smartphone app control and digital image previews.
After a decade working as a professional photographer and over five years dedicated to testing out the latest camera tech, I know what separates an instant classic from a film-wasting dud. In this guide, my reviews below will walk you through everything from simple point-and-shoots to advanced digital hybrids, and help you find the best instant camera for sharing your unforgettable moments.
The best instant cameras: At a glance
How to choose the best instant camera for you
The instant camera market is defined by two major players: Polaroid and Fujifilm. Both manufacturers offer a range of instant cameras, along with dedicated ranges of film formats. Crucially, these film formats are incompatible with one another, so you must choose a camp first.
Fujifilm currently offers three instant film formats: Mini, Square and Wide. The credit card-sized, 62 x 44mm Instax Mini format is the smallest, most common and cheapest at around 75p per shot. The 62 x 62mm Instax Square film is slightly larger and will set you back around 85p per shot. Fujifilm’s largest 99 x 62mm Instax Wide format film, meanwhile, runs at a similar price.
Polaroid’s prints are larger and pricier; its modern i-Type film offers a substantial 79 x 77mm image but costs around £2 per print. Polaroid also produces a smaller 47 x 46mm Go film for its Go line of cameras that costs around £1.10 per shot.
Beyond film, cameras split into two types: fully analogue cameras and hybrid models. The former shoot directly onto chemical film, resulting in ‘what you shoot is what you get’, while the latter use a digital sensor to capture the image, allowing you to preview, edit and select shots before printing.
