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Smartphone photography has allowed us to snap and send high-resolution photos and videos around the world in minutes, but most of them stay on your device or social media page. Taking and holding a physical picture, like playing vinyl, is a more hands-on experience that can’t be replicated by tapping on a screen.
Most of us don’t have access to a darkroom, but instant cameras — made famous by Polaroid — have a tiny printer built into them, so you can frame your shot, push the shutter button, and have a developed photo in about a minute.
If you’re an avid photographer looking for a new medium, or want a fun way to chronicle an important event, an instant camera is a great solution.
What Are the Best Instant Cameras?
While there has been a surge in digital camera offerings online, there are still only three main brands making good instant cameras: Fijifilm, Kodak and Polaroid. All three of them offer instant cameras with similar features and capabilities so the one you choose will ultimately be based on the look you like (I.e. modern or retro), the size of the mini photographs and the special effects that can be achieved with each cam.
Here are the best instant cameras from each brand to pick up right now.
Kodak Mini Shot 3 Instant Digital Camera and Photo Printer
$129.99
$179.99
28% off
Buy Now On Amazon
The Kodak Smile has long been our go-to when it comes to instant cameras, but Kodak’s Mini Shot Instant Camera has earned the top spot on our list this year by bridging the analog and digital divide with style.
The camera is shaped like a retro point-and-shoot, and its thin frame makes it possible to slip into your pocket. It has a 10MP (megapixel) sensor, and a flash that automatically adjusts based on how much light it detects in the scene. Around the back of the camera is an LCD screen that you can use as a viewfinder, and a series of buttons you can use to view photographs you’ve taken, apply filters, borders or effects, and set a timer.
These are all features you’d expect to find on a digital camera, but this one has a built-in printer, so you can make 3 x 3-inch photographs at the push of a button. You can choose to have every picture you take printed automatically, or change the setting to allow you to manually print photos you think are really good.
The photos are printed on ink-free zinc paper, so you don’t have to worry about smudging or waiting for them to dry. The photo paper Kodak uses is adhesive on one side, so you can stick them on a notebook, fridge, or in a scrapbook without worrying that they’ll fall out.
This camera has a rechargeable battery, and you can take a ton of shots before you have to plug it in. Its internal memory can hold up multiple pictures at a time, but you can pop in a MicroSD Card that can store hundreds of shots.
Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Instant Camera offers modern convenience features alongside the ability to print any photo you’ve taken in a matter seconds. It’s a best-of-both-worlds approach in a slim, pocket-friendly camera.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Bundle
$79.99
$89.99
11% off
Buy Now AT TARGET
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 is the latest entry in the company’s line of all-analog instant cameras.
The camera has a square shape, with a protruding grip on the right side that makes it easy to hold one-handed. You’ll be able to fit the Instax Mini 12 in a coat pocket, or stash it in a bag.
If you’re an analog purist, the Instax Mini 12 is the right instant camera for you. There’s no Bluetooth support, no LCD screen, no extra effects, and no way to store your pictures on a MicroSD card to view later. But you’re getting a classic instant camera that prints out 2 x 3-inch photographs in as little as five seconds.
Simply frame your image in viewfinder, click the button, and a picture comes out of the slot on the side (we recommend leaving it out of direct light for a couple of minutes to develop).
It may not be a smart camera, but the Instax Mini 12 does have some nice convenience features that make it easier for you to get the right shot. It automatically adjusts to the right level of exposure, which includes managing the intensity of its flash to make sure your subject and the background are lit appropriately. You can switch between macro (close up) and standard shooting modes depending on the distance between you and what you’re taking pictures of.
There’s even a selfie-mode, which you can engage by pulling out the lens to increase its level of zoom; the Instax 12 Mini has a little mirror next to the lens, so you can frame your picture before taking it.
If the only thing you look for in an instant camera is the ability to click a shutter button and get a print of your shot, Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 is the perfect photo pickup (and pick-me-up) for all occasions. It’s a fun way to frame your favorite memories.
This Target bundle is currently on sale and includes the portable camera, film, carrying strap, two AA batteries, a user manual and an “idea booklet.”
Polaroid Now 2nd Generation Instant Film Camera
$92.00
$119.99
23% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Polaroid popularized the instant camera, and their Polaroid Now model ups the game with special features while putting a retro spin on this classic cam.
One thing that didn’t change is the look. This instant camera has the same square wedge shape as the company’s older models, which makes it easy to hold (though mabye too big for your pocket). There’s a manual viewfinder on the back, so you can hold the camera right up to your eye to frame your pictures before you take them.
A dual lens autofocus system makes it easier than ever to frame your subjects and get clean and clear pics. The camera also has an updated flash, so you should have little problem getting good results in dim environments, without making your photos look blown out. Double exposure and self-timer mode add more options for photo-taking.
Like Kodak, Polaroid built some digital features into the Polaroid Now. It runs on a rechargeable battery, which you can recharge with the included MicroUSB cable.
The pictures you take are automatically printed onto a sheet of Polaroid Originals Film, which you’ll need to get separately. Polaroid recommends shielding the printed photos from light for 15 minutes as they develop.
If you want an authentic instant camera experience with a few digital enhancements, Polaroid is a great option. This is the classic instant camera done right.
Best Instant Cameras: Buying Guide
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best instant cameras for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Size: All of the instant cameras we’re recommending are of the handheld, point-and-shoot style. Not all of them will fit in your pocket, but you’ll have no problem fitting them in a small backpack.
Battery: Most of the cameras in this guide run on rechargeable batteries, but some require you to pop in a pair of AAs.
Flash: Every camera below has a flash, which makes it easier to get better pictures at night.
Digital features: The point of using an instant camera is to get a physical print of the photo you take, but some have integrated welcome digital features that make them easier to use. The biggest one is the ability to save a picture to a MicroSD card in addition to creating an actual physical photograph.
