Top 10 Best Instant Cameras

The simple and minimalistic Kodak Printomatic shies away from the vintage and retro styles.

It is one of the most tech-savvy on this list thanks to a USB charging slot, as well as a microSD card that saves all your photos.

It is the only model that uses ZINK, or zero ink, film, which uses printer-like technology and passes through a test sheet before any photos are printed. Plus there are two color modes: ‘Black and White’, and ‘Vibrant Color’.

The prints it produces are smudge-proof and waterproof. Also because of the film it uses, the body of the camera is small and portable enough to fit in your pocket.

Finally, the Printomatic has a 10MP sensor, which may be far from a DSLR, but is very good for instant cameras.

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What to Consider When Buying an Instant Camera

Although instant cameras are straightforward to use, there are a few things you should keep in mind before buying.

Here are the key features you should pay attention to when choosing the best polaroid camera to suit your needs.

Think About Size and Weight of the Camera

The size of the camera largely depends on the film that it supports. The bigger the dimensions of the film, the bigger and heavier will the camera be. Most instant cameras are fairly portable unless they use a wide film or have an unusual vintage shape.

Smaller cameras will fit into your pocket but may be difficult to handle when you’re looking through the viewfinder–especially for people with large hands.

Bigger cameras need bags, and they aren’t packable unless they can be taken apart. The handling of these may be challenging for people with small hands, especially if the cameras don’t have hand grips.

As for weight, instant cameras are usually heavier than compact digital cameras, but this is not necessarily a disadvantage. Increased size and weight can increase stability, as long as the camera feels balanced in your hand.

What Will You Take Photos Of?

Instant cameras can be used to take selfies, portraits at parties, pet photography, and even food photography. But you can also do creative projects. Instant cameras produce prints with a special aesthetic that you can apply to anything.

Some instant cameras have a built-in flash with color filters and many have different settings that you can experiment with.

Some have a Double Exposure feature, with which you can create a ghosting effect: especially cool for street photography and portrait photography.

Instant films can be used to create light paintings or laser writing, as well as photograms. A photogram is an effect when you put an object onto film and expose it to a burst of light.

Choose the Right Type of Instant Camera Film

We differentiate film by size, chemical make-up, and the technology that is used to apply color to it.

Most films available on the market are Fujifilm Instax; although Polaroid, Kodak, and Lomography brands are available too.

Instant camera film comes in many different sizes:

• Regular: these are a similar size to credit cards and are the most common type of film used. It is great for party selfies and portraits;
• Square: can be used for most subjects and are great for avid Instagram users;
• Wide: these are close to the size of conventional print photos and are usually used for group shots. They are great if you shoot landscape photography with a retro-style; and
• Mini: these are only used by Kodak Printomatic for their ZINK technology.

Films can also be categorized based on ISO: this is the film’s chemical makeup. The film ISO tells you how sensitive it is to light. Higher ISO means it is more sensitive to light and can shoot in low light conditions. You can also have films that are in color or monochrome.

Films can come in the form of sheets or rolls, have different developing times, and even different expiry times. Mostly, they are fairly similar, working with chemicals and dyes. However, Kodak’s ZINK (Zero Ink) technology works like a printer.

You need to budget carefully for the film as, on average, it costs $1 per shot.

Set Your Instant Camera Budget

Some of the most expensive brands of instant cameras are Polaroid, Lomography, and Leica. The Leica Sofort is comparable in price to modern point-and-shoot cameras, and even entry-level DSLRs.

Expensive cameras tend to be compact and full of creative features, such as double exposure. Also, expensive models will give you more control over the exposure and brightness of the resulting photo. These cameras are also more likely to have rechargeable batteries.

If you’re after a budget choice, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 and Impossible l-1 are great options. However, they have fewer creative controls, and the photos may come out over or underexposed.

Instant Camera Limitations to Be Aware Of

Instant cameras will never match digital cameras in terms of image resolution: digital cameras have bigger sensors so can capture more detail.

Instant cameras will have a slower shutter speed: no good if you like to capture wildlife photography. They also don’t offer much control of exposure, so you are not in full control of the result.

Instant cameras offer fewer modes and effects, plus you can’t edit the final image. They generally have fewer features than digital ones. Although some manufacturers develop noise triggers etc, the arsenal doesn’t reach the level of DSLRs.

Due to the retro style, many don’t usually have LCD screens on which you can see the image, you have to use the viewfinder to compose your shot. This has pitfalls and can crop the image.

The cost of the film is expensive, especially if you shoot a lot. This is a problem, especially in the beginning when you’re learning and developing your style.

Despite these limitations, you can’t really put a price on having an instant print of your favorite shot! That is why instant cameras are so popular. Both among photographers and people around them.

Time to Choose

Instant cameras are a great way to share your images with the people around you, transforming moments worth remembering into tiny, collectible artworks.

Cheap models may often do the job as well as more high-end products, especially if your goal is collecting memories, rather than building a portfolio.

With the analog trend constantly growing, we will be updating this list as new cameras are put out on the market. Make sure you come back and check for updates.