The best instant cameras in 2024 – retro prints from Instax, Polaroid and more

A selection of Instax, Polaroid and Lomography instant cameras, against a teal background
(Image credit: James Artaius)
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The best instant cameras do something that no other camera can do: give you an immediate, physical, one-of-a-kind, actual photograph!

A 40-year instant film addict!
James Artaius wearing a blue baseball shirt holding a Polaroid Stranger Things camera
A 40-year instant film addict!
James Artaius

I took my first Polaroid in 1984, and I've been addicted to instant cameras ever since! I've still got a Polaroid 600 from the 1980s, and I bought the very first Instax camera ever made (the Mini 10) which is now 25 years old. I currently own 19 instant cameras, and my collection keeps growing!

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

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Lomo'Instant Wide Glass

Lomo'Instant Wide Glass
Made by Lomography, this camera takes Instax Wide film. Like the Polaroid I-2 it features a glass lens – and thus offers the better image quality than the Wide 400, along with a boatload more features. However, it's more complex to use – and more expensive, too.

Instax Mini Evo

Instax Mini Evo
This isn't an analog camera, but a digital instant camera hybrid. It takes bright, sharp images more like a phone, and only prints photos when you tell it to (instead of as soon as you take them). As a bonus, it can print any image on your phone onto Instax Mini film.

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FilmOverall sizeImage sizeImage area
Instax Mini54 x 85mm46 x 62mm2,852mm²
Instax Square86 x 72mm62 x 62mm3,844mm²
Instax Wide108 x 85mm99 x 62mm6,138mm²
Polaroid Go53.9 x 66.6mm46 x 47mm2,162mm²
Polaroid88 x 107mm79 x 79mm6,241mm²
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FilmPrice per packPrice per print
Instax Mini$7.99 (10 shots)$0.79
Instax Square$9.99 (10 shots)$0.99
Instax Wide$13.99 (10 shots)$1.39
Polaroid Go$19.99 (16 shots)$1.24
Polaroid$16.99 (8 shots)$2.12
TOPICS
James Artaius
Editor

James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.