Searching for the best instant camera? We’ve reviewed all of the latest retro cameras and collected all of our top picks in this in-depth buying guide. Whether you want an affordable instant camera for family fun or a more hit of film nostalgia, you’ll find the ideal instant camera for you in the list below.
Instant cameras might seem like an anachronism these days, but there are many reasons why you might want to buy one in 2021. Offering a fun, tactile contrast to smartphone snaps, instant cameras let you shoot quick, easy and creative photos, with minimal settings to contend with. They’re generally a lot cheaper than today’s digital cameras, and the results of your retro efforts are printed right away on glossy paper – perfect for sharing with friends or sticking on your fridge.
With analogue photography enjoying a continued revival, instant cameras offer an easy entry-point for those who are new to the medium. They deliver the joy of an instant physical print which you can hold in your hand, without the hassle and expense of darkrooms and developing fluids.
When it comes to choosing the best instant camera for you, there are a few things to consider. The cheapest options are simple toy cameras with basic settings, while the more expensive models offer a broader range of features, such as macro focus modes. Many instant cameras also include a kind of hybrid functionality, with digital connectivity that allows you to share snaps to your smartphone – or print images from your camera roll or social media.
It’s also important to think about the kind of film a camera requires. Some papers, like Polaroid, deliver dream-like prints, while others, such as Instax, serve up more natural results. And the cost of film will also be a big factor when assessing the overall budget for your analogue photography experiment: shooting with film can be an expensive business, so you’ll need to take account of the price of replacement paper.
Our current pick for the title of best instant camera is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11. Simple and inexpensive, it’s a fun photography gadget that’s accessible enough for anyone to play with.
But that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect option for you: the list below features a whole range of instant cameras to suit every budget, style and skill level, including a few older models that continue to offer great value and versatility. Read to the end and you’re sure to find a camera that ticks all of your instant printing boxes.
Best instant cameras 2021 at a glance:
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11Fujifilm Instax Mini 70Polaroid NowFujifilm Instax SQ1Polaroid GoCanon Zoemini SFujifilm Instax Mini 40Fujifilm Instax Wide 300Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay
Best instant cameras in 2021:
1. Fujifilm Instax Mini 11
Improves on a classic, while keeping the price right
Specifications
Lens: 60mm
Focusing: Normal and macro
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: None
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Largely accurate auto exposure+Easy for beginners+Compact design
Reasons to avoid
-Instax Mini prints rather small-No advanced features for pros
If you’re looking for an affordable, easy-to-use camera that won’t overwhelm anyone that’s new to instant photography, Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 is our current favorite.
It may lack the more advanced modes and controls that you’ll find on more expensive models, but that’s a big part of its charm. An auto exposure system takes out a lot of the guesswork, meaning you just have to point and shoot to get decent credit card-sized instant prints.
A tiny mirror built into the front of the camera and a pop-out lens barrel for close-ups means it’s easy to get an instant selfie, while the affordable packs of Instax Mini film make it a great addition to any party. It’s available in a range of fun colors, so you should be able to find one that suits your style.
Another great thing about the Instax Mini 11 is how great it is as a present. Available at a reasonable price, it’d make a lovely gift for a photography fan – especially young ones – who are keen to experiment with the medium. Remember to factor in some extra cash for film, though.
2. Fujifilm Instax Mini 70
Another well-priced Instax Mini model
Specifications
Lens: 60mm
Focusing: Macro, Normal and Landscape
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: Yes
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Really easy to use+Selfie mode
Reasons to avoid
-Can obscure flash-Limited control
Slightly more advanced than the Instax Mini 11, the Instax Mini 70 comes with five shooting modes (including that all-important selfie mode). Despite having a few more features, it doesn’t cost too much – but again you need to factor in some budget to pay for some Instax Mini Film.
In terms of usability, one thing to be careful of with the Instax Mini 70 is obscuring the flash with your finger when you’re taking shots vertically, but you get used to how it works with enough practice.
All of the modes are automatic, so everything is taken care of – focusing, exposure and flash are a doddle, but it would be nice if you could control the flash manually (see the more expensive Instax Mini 90 for full control).
3. Polaroid Now
An upgraded instant icon, now simpler than ever
Specifications
Lens: 35-40mm approx.
Focusing: Autofocus
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: Yes
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Uses classic Polaroid film+Consistent autofocus+Long battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Bulky shape-Sometimes inconsistent-Expensive film
Upgrading a retro camera might seem like a contradiction in terms, but the Polaroid Now takes the Onestep 2, streamlines the shell and adds autofocus abilities to create an even better instant photography tool.
Physically, it bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor, retaining that iconic – if bulky – throwback form but removing a few buttons, refining the viewfinder and replacing the LED lights with a much clearer digital shot counter.
It remains a model designed for quick and easy snaps, and the new autofocus makes that simpler than ever, proving largely consistent in spitting out sharp, distinctive shots. It also eliminates much of the guesswork associated with a fixed-focus system – a welcome development, given the high price of I-Type film.
It’s not totally reliable – exposure can be inconsistent, with the automatic flash sometimes firing unnecessarily outdoors, or doing the opposite indoors – but that’s a flaw common to many cameras of its ilk. On the whole, the Polaroid Now feels like a definite step forward, delivering big instant prints with a unique lo-fi look – and a foolproof shooting experience.
4. Fujifilm Instax SQ1
Larger format Instax made more accessible for newcomers
Specifications
Lens: 60mm
Focusing: Fixed focus, normal and macro
Flash: Built-in (can’t be turned off)
Self-timer: No
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Point-and-shoot simplicity+Effective auto exposure
Reasons to avoid
-No advanced modes-Non-rechargeable batteries
The value-minded SQ1 makes Fuji’s Instax Square format film that much more approachable for anyone unfamiliar with instant photography. It has the same easy- to-understand features and useful auto exposure system of the Instax Mini 11, only the photos it spits out are almost twice as large.
An adjustable lens barrel and built-in mirror are useful for close-ups and selfie shots, and the automatic flash is usually smart enough to keep indoor and low-light snaps looking good once they develop. There aren’t any other shooting modes to think about, or even luxuries like a tripod thread, and the plastic construction feels noticeably less premium than the more expensive Instax SQ6, so this is a camera better suited to instant newcomers rather than creatives looking to experiment with the medium.
Still, it’s a welcome step up from the entry-level Instax for those wanting larger prints, without adding a handful of extra features they may not want to use.
5. Polaroid Go
The smallest true instant camera ever is lots of fun to use
Specifications
Lens: 34mm
Focusing: Normal (fixed)
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: Yes
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Pocket-size format+Point-and-shoot simplicity
Reasons to avoid
-Bespoke film is small and expensive-Lacks autofocus
With the Go, Polaroid has edged ahead of Fuji on instant innovation – something that hasn’t really happened since the late 1980s. It’s officially the world’s smallest analogue instant camera, fitting squarely in the palm of your hand.
It’s true that some hybrid instant cameras are even more pocketable, but they tend to ‘cheat’ by printing images on Zero Ink paper, rather than with a chemical development process. You get the real deal here, in square format just like the larger I-Type film, only significantly smaller.
It’s a shrunken-down version of the Polaroid Now (see above), with most of the same features, including self-timer and double-exposure mode, which should please more advanced photographers as well as instant beginners. Autofocus sadly hasn’t made the cut, however, so there’s a higher chance of ending up with blurry results if you don’t keep a good distance from your subject.
At launch, it costs roughly the same as the full-size Polaroid Now, making it a lot pricier than the entry-level Fuji Instax Mini 11, but that’s a figure worth paying if you want an instant camera you can take just about anywhere.
6. Canon Ivy Cliq+ / Zoemini S
Blends digital and analogue in a pocket-friendly package
Specifications
Lens: 25.4mm
Focusing: Normal and Landscape
Flash: Built-in, ring flash
Self-timer: Via smartphone app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Flexibility of digital and physical prints+Useful companion app+Compact design
Reasons to avoid
-Zink prints not ‘true’ instant-Sub smartphone image quality
Canon’s first instant effort is actually more of a hybrid, blending analogue ‘film’ with digital smarts. The Zink (zero ink) paper it uses doesn’t need exposing to light like regular instant film, so the camera can be much smaller. The Ivy Cliq+ / Zoemini S is truly pocket-sized, beating even Fuji’s Instax Mini LiPlay for portability.
A built-in LED ring flash helps you take pleasing portraits, the mirrored lens barrel is purpose-built for selfies, and focusing is automatic, making this a great party camera. Still, it can be sluggish to start up and printing a picture takes around 10 seconds – much slower than our current favorite, the Fuji Instax Mini 9. The credit card-sized prints it produces are much more detailed, though, with colors more like a traditional 35mm photo than the dream-like lomographic effects seen with other instant film.
Battery life typically stretches to two packs of 10 images, but even with an SD card installed, it won’t take any more pictures once you’re out of film. The 8MP sensor is merely on par with today’s entry-level smartphones, and with no built-in screen, you’ll need a computer to review your digital snaps.
It seems a lot simpler than other hybrid cameras, but built-in Bluetooth support lets it perform double duty as a portable printer. Being able to turn your smartphone snaps into physical prints gives it an edge over bulkier instant cameras, and it’s sensibly priced too.
7. Fujifilm Instax Mini 40
Delightfully simple and keenly priced, with some added retro design flair
Specifications
Lens: 60mm
Focusing: Normal and Macro (fixed)
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: None
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+As easy as instant photography gets+Retro design charm
Reasons to avoid
-Price premium over Instax 11-Auto exposure struggles in bright light
If the Instax Mini 11 (see above) looks just a little too toy-like for your tastes, the Mini 40 is a more design-centric alternative. It has the same retro styling as Fuji’s more expensive instant cameras, only underneath the skin it’s mechanically identical to the Mini 11.
With variable shutter speed, an automatic flash and auto exposure system that work together to ensure more of your photos produce usable results, and an adjustable lens barrel that’s purpose-built for selfies, it’s easy to recommend for both newcomers to instant film, and those that already appreciate the medium. It uses Instax Mini film packs, which is still among the most affordable kinds on the market.
There are no extra features, shooting modes or accessories to think about, which might put off anyone looking to get creative with their photography, and it also carries a price premium at launch. That makes it less easy to recommend than the Mini 11.
8. Fujifilm Instax Wide 300
Large camera that delivers large photos
Specifications
Lens: 95mm
Focusing: Normal and Landscape
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: No
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Easy to hold and use+Large prints
Reasons to avoid
-Bulky design-Tiny viewfinder
Big hardly covers it. The Instax Wide 300 is the size of an old-fashioned medium-format rangefinder camera, even a small folding field camera. It’s because it uses Instax wide film packs rather than the regular Instax mini. The Instax 300 wide might look big and clumsy but it’s light, and the generous grip makes it easy to hold and use. You power up with a spring-loaded switch around the shutter release, which extends the 95mm lens.
The Instax wide format is much larger than a digital sensor, so this equates to a moderate wide-angle lens. For a big camera, though, the Instax Wide 300 has a tiny viewfinder. It takes practice even to get your eye lined up with the eyepiece.
Otherwise, it’s simple to use and delivers very good results. Where the regular Instax mini format produces small photo ‘tokens’, these are more like proper photographs – we’d love to see Instax producing a printer in this format , as it has done with its Mini and Square formats.
9. Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6
Square-format prints for the Instagram generation
Specifications
Lens: 65.75mm f/12.6
Focusing: Macro, normal and landscape
Flash: Built-in (can be turned off)
Self-timer: Yes
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Built-in selfie mirror+Relatively compact
Reasons to avoid
-Film is a little pricey…-… as is the camera next to rivals
Unlike the original instax SQUARE model, namely the analog/digital hybrid SQUARE SQ10, the SQ6 has a different idea in mind. Shaped like the Instagram logo and very much targeted at the kind of younger user who shares their creations on the platform, the camera runs on a pair of CR2 batteries and spits out 6.2×6.2cm prints, with the selfie mirror integrated into the front of the camera allowing for more effortless self captures.
Instax square prints feel like more serious photographs, with their larger size giving your subject more room to breathe. Fujifilm throws in orange, purple and green flash filters to allow for an instant injection of colour into images, and as the body is nowhere near as cumbersome as some of the other options here, it ends up being as convenient to carry as it is fun to use.
This is another great option for a gift, too.
10. Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay
A fun mix of digital and analogue – capture sounds with your prints
Specifications
Lens: 28mm f/2.0
Focusing: 10cm – infinity
Flash: Built-in
Self-timer: 10sec/2sec
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Small size+Easy-to-use
Reasons to avoid
-High price-Sub smartphone image quality
Combining retro-analogue charm with modern-day digital credentials, this is essentially a basic, low-resolution digital camera with a printer built-in for making instant snapshots. This gives you the opportunity to properly frame up your subject, and check it’s something you actually want to print, before wasting expensive film (it uses Instax mini).
One of the gimmicks of the LiPlay is the function to record a sound along with your image capture and “embed” it on to your print in the shape of a QR code. You can then gift that to a friend and ask them to scan the code to playback the sound – modern digital ways are much easier though so how much you bother with that remains questionable.
You might find that purchasing an Instax mini printer is a better option for better quality prints, but the LiPlay is a fun option for kids and parties.
Which instant camera film should you choose?
1. Instax Mini
The most common instant film format, producing pictures measuring just 62 x 46mm.
2. Instax Square
Fuji’s take on the square format film popularized by Polaroid. Camera support for these 62x62mm photos is more limited.
3. Instax Wide
Twice the size of instax mini and twice the price, but photos measure a meatier 99 x 62mm.
4. Polaroid I-Type
Designed for use in the Impossible I-1and OneStep 2, I-Type film packs don’t have batteries built in, so can’t be used with vintage Polaroids.
5. Polaroid 600
Film designed for vintage Polaroid 600-type cameras. It can also be used in the Impossible I-1 and OneStep 2.
6. Polaroid Zink 2×3
Credit-card sized instant film that uses heat-sensitive ink to produce images. Colors are more traditional than Instax. Compatible with many Zink-based cameras and printers.
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