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Instant cameras are having a moment: a print in your hand seconds after the shutter clicks is hard to replicate on a phone. The right one depends on print size, how much control you want and what the film costs per shot. These 8 instant cameras are real models sold on Amazon, sorted by format, features and budget.
Best Overall for Beginners
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is the easy default. Twist the lens to turn it on, point and shoot, and the automatic exposure and flash handle the rest. It is small, light and comes in several pastel colors, which is why it is so common as a first instant camera.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 — credit-card-size Instax Mini prints, automatic exposure, built-in flash, close-up lens, selfie mirror
Best Premium Hybrid
The Instax Mini Evo is part digital camera, part printer. A 3-inch screen lets you preview and pick only the shots worth printing, film effects add some personality, and it can also print photos from your phone.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Hybrid — Instax Mini prints, 3-inch preview screen, film and lens effects, phone printing over Bluetooth
Best for Larger Prints
The Instax Wide 400 prints on wide-format film, about twice the area of Mini film, which suits group shots and landscapes. It is one-button simple and the film costs less than Polaroid’s large format.
Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 — Instax Wide prints, automatic exposure, close-up mode, one-button shooting
Best Square Format
The Instax Square SQ40 makes square prints in a classic retro body. It adds a selfie mirror, a flash and a hand strap, and the square frame gives photos a more traditional instant look than Mini film.
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 — Instax Square prints, selfie mirror, built-in flash, hand strap, retro design
Best for Creative Control
The Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 is the pick for people who want to experiment. Beyond autofocus it adds an app with manual controls, double exposure, light painting and aperture priority, plus a tripod mount. Film is the priciest in this guide.
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 — Polaroid i-Type film, autofocus, app-controlled manual modes, double exposure, tripod mount
Best Pocket-Size Polaroid
The Polaroid Go Generation 2 is among the smallest true instant cameras you can buy. It makes mini Polaroid prints, includes a self-timer and double exposure, and slips into a bag easily. Close-up focus can be inconsistent, so keep a little distance.
Polaroid Go Generation 2 — Polaroid Go film, self-timer, double exposure, rechargeable battery, compact body
Best Premium Polaroid
The Polaroid Flip folds closed like a clamshell and uses sonar autofocus with a multi-lens system to keep subjects sharp at varied distances. It is a step up in image quality and flash for Polaroid shooters willing to pay more.
Polaroid Flip — Polaroid i-Type film, sonar autofocus, folding design, adjustable flash
Best Digital-Print Alternative
The Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is a digital camera with a built-in printer, so you can see a photo on the screen and print only the ones you like. It prints 3 by 3 inch images on Kodak’s own cartridges and shares to your phone over Bluetooth.
Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro — digital camera with built-in printer, 3 x 3 inch prints, Bluetooth phone printing, app filters
How to Choose
- Compare film cost. Each shot costs money. Instax Mini film is usually the cheapest per print, while Polaroid film costs noticeably more.
- Pick a print size. Mini is wallet-sized, Square and Polaroid are roomier, and Wide suits groups and scenery.
- Decide how much control you want. Point-and-shoot models are easiest, while manual modes and double exposure reward experimenting.
- Think about a hybrid. A screen to preview shots, as on the Mini Evo and Kodak, means fewer wasted prints.
- Buy film with the camera. Film is not always included, so add a pack to your order.
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Prices and availability change frequently — click through for the latest price on each pick.
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