The best instant cameras do something that no other camera can do: give you an immediate, physical, one-of-a-kind photograph. An actual photograph!
These photos can be gifted, scrapbooked, slipped into greeting cards, stuck on the fridge, treasured in a wallet… in short, the best instant cameras make meaningful, physical photographs, which are wonderful for wedding receptions and perfect for parties with friends.
While most models are analog, popping out an image as soon as you press the shutter, there are also digital instant cameras that marry the thrill of instant photography with the convenience of modern technology. These hybrids combine a digital camera with a built-in printer, so you can choose which shots to print (and when you print them). Some can even print photos from your phone!
I believe that these cameras should be affordable. So I haven't included what is technically the best instant camera ever made, the Polaroid I-2 (with its eye-watering $600 / £600 / AU£1,000 price tag), or the luxurious Leica Sofort 2 (which is just a rebranded Instax Mini Evo).
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 we've reviewed at least double that number on Digital Camera World.
The Quick List
This is the quickest way to navigate the best instant cameras. Check out my quick thoughts below, and you can jump to my in-depth verdict of each pick along with specs and a link to my full review.
With new and improved power and lens controls, the latest Mini is easier to use than ever before – simply point and shoot, and the auto exposure mode does the rest. Affordable, colorful, desirable and great results – this is the camera that I and everybody else wants!
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For full-size instant photos with great quality and that elusive 'vintage look', the Now+ is my top choice. It combines the same image quality as the Polaroid Now with some advanced features and filters that make it ideal for simple shooting and special effects alike.
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Unlike the bubblegum Mini 12, the 99 is chic and classic-looking – but it packs colored LED lights inside to simulate light leaks and other effects. It sounds like a gimmick, but it's incredibly creative! A rechargeable battery saves on waste, too.
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Want to go large? The Instax Wide 300 produces the biggest and widest prints possible – I call it the "medium format of instant cameras"! It uses Instax Wide film that's perfect for group shots, landscapes, and photos for the front of the fridge!
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Get tiny little pocket-sized prints on the go! I think the Polaroid Go is the cutest camera ever made, and it will make you very popular at parties when you start passing it around. It's also the ideal size for kids' hands, if they catch the photo bug.
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Instax cameras deliver the best conventional image quality, but their designs are usually bright, bubbly and candy-colored. I love the SQ40 because it looks a bit more grown-up, making it a better fit for those times when you're shooting more seriously.
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The best instant cameras I recommend in 2024
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Here are my thoughts on each of the best instant cameras that have made the cut for this guide. After testing them all, I now personally own quite a few of these – I put my money where my mouth is, so you can trust my recommendations!
Best budget
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want great photos and great value: All Instax cameras boast (broadly) the same image quality, but the smaller size of Mini prints makes them the most affordable.
✅ You love color choices: Instax Minis come in five bright colors, so they're brilliant for expressing yourself – and perfect for gifting, if you know someone's favorite color!
❌ You already own a Mini 11: Not a huge amount has been changed since last year's model, so it's not worth the upgrade if you've already got an 11.
❌ You want a serious-looking camera: The candy colors and cutesy design aren't for everyone. For something a bit more grown-up, look to the Mini 40 or 90.
The Instax Mini is the most popular instant camera on the market – and the latest model is the Mini 12, with its irresistably cute soap-bubble redesign and new pastel colors.
Those cosmetic changes really form the main differences from its predecessor, as technologically it only offers a few minor improvements on the Instax Mini 11.
These take the form of a more sophisticated lens deployment and retraction mechanism, along with a degree of parallax correction to make it easier to accurately frame your shots. It's a shame that the flash still can't be disabled, though.
The Mini 12 is definitely the one you should go for but, since the older version is only going to go down in price, I think the 11 is still worth considering. Check out our Instax Mini 12 vs 11 comparison to see if a few pennies saved is worth missing out on the new features.
Read our full Instax Mini 12 review for more details
Best Polaroid
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want truly vintage-looking photos: Instax prints are cleaner and crisper, but Polaroid photos have that dreamy retro quality that's straight out of an old family photo album. This is the real "vintage look"!
✅ You love extra features: Want to do more than just point and snap? Pair this with your phone to unlock extra shooting modes, use the lens filters for cool in-camera effects, and there's even a mount for tripod use.
❌ You want modern image quality: If unpredictable colors, sharpness and haze aren't your jam, I recommend going for an Instax camera – which produces superior sharpness, contrast and general consistency.
❌ You just want to shoot, not mess with settings: All the extra features are cool, but only if you use them! If you've no interest in things like double exposures or light trails, then go for the regular Polaroid Now (elsewhere on this guide).
If you're after full-size instant photos that possess quality and that elusive "vintage look", the Polaroid Now+ is the obvious choice.
My personal favorite instant camera, it combines the same image quality and shooting experience of the base Polaroid Now with the modern-day features of the now-discontinued OneStep+, giving you the best of both worlds.
It has several creative modes such as light painting, aperture priority, double exposure, portrait mode and many more, which are all available through the phone app (which pairs via Bluetooth).
There are also several physical lens filters that create natty in-camera effects, which isn't something that any other instant camera is currently bundled with (the red vignette filter is the pick of the bunch, in my opinion).
It even has a tripod mount, which again isn't present on many other instant cameras, so you can proper selfies and group shots using the self-timer, and really take advantage of the long exposure modes on offer.
Between its physical and phone-based extras, this is the most feature-rich instant camera on the market – which makes it the most fun to get creative with.
Best Instax
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want to get creative: The Mini 99 features colored LEDs inside to simulate light leaks and other creative effects. It sounds cheesy, but it works brilliantly!
✅ You hate replacing batteries: This is the only analog Instax camera that comes with a rechargeable battery – so no more waste or scrambling around when you run dry!
❌ You're on a budget: This is the priciest Instax analog option, coming in about $100 / £75 / AU$100 more than other Instax Mini cameras.
❌ You want to take selfies: A lot of instant cameras offer an alternative to your phone, by including a selfie mirror – but sadly, there's no mirror on the Mini 99.
There's a whole lot to love about the Mini 99, which in a lot of ways replaces the beloved Mini 90 – but it adds an amazingly creative feature that's a first for instant cameras: colored LEDs to create in-camera effects.
Inside the camera are four LEDs that can flash colored light during the exposure process. This creates effects like Faded Green, Warm Tone and, my personal (and everyone's) favorite, Light Leak. This sounds like it could be a horrible and tacky gimmick, but the results are brilliant!
There are plenty of other functions, such as a double exposure mode and different shooting options such as Indoor and Sports mode (but obviously this isn't a sports camera!). Most exciting for many, myself included, is the ability to turn the flash off altogether – ideal when shooting outdoors.
This is also the only analog Instax with a rechargeable battery, which lasts about ten packs of film depending on how much you use the flash and creative effects. So if you're concerned about waste, this is a big plus – but obviously AA batteries would be easier to replace if the camera runs out of juice at a party.
I love that there's an LCD display strip on the back, so I can see what setting I'm on, but strangely there is no selfie mirror here – which is extra weird, given that there's an included grip accessory that doubles as a tripod mount.
Read our full Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 review for more details
Best for wide photos
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want the biggest prints possible: Instax Wide film produces the largest images of any instant camera system. Perfect for those "prestige pics" you want as big as possible.
✅ You shoot landscapes or group shots: To capture the majesty of a mountain, or to fit the entire wedding party into the frame, Instax Wide is twice the width of Instax Mini film.
❌ You want color choices: Unlike the Mini line, which comes in multiple fun hues, the Wide 400 only comes in this "faded bar of soap" color – which not everyone likes!
❌ You want something small: The Instax Wide 400 is a tank of a camera! Big and bulky, it's about the size of a medium format camera – you'll definitely need a big bag!
The Wide 400 is the daddy of the Instax family. It's powered by four AA batteries rather than the usual two, making this chunky camera bigger than some of my medium format cameras!
That said, replaceable AAs will make the camera last longer than one with an integrated battery that stops holding its charge after a few years. And it's able to deliver much larger prints using the Instax Wide film packs, making it much better for group shots and landscapes.
In addition to the tripod mount, there's also a brilliantly simple height adjustment system built into the strap: essentially two small plastic "wedges" that you can put under the camera to prop up its viewing angle, negating the need for a tripod (though there is a mount for one). And, at last, the Wide 400 introduces a self-timer!
There aren't any other features, though, and this isn't a camera to take selfies with, between its bulky design, the lack of mirror, and a close focus distance (40cm) that's a bit longer than most people's arms.
I still love it, though. It's got the most powerful flash on this list (thanks to all those batteries) and it produces the largest photos with great image quality. So if you want sheer scale with no frills, this is your best bet. If I don't have to pack light, this is the instant camera I bring with me.
Read our full Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 review for more details
Best pocket-sized
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a truly pocketable camera: Most cameras, even the Instax Mini, play fast and loose with "fits in your pocket". But the Polaroid Go truly is pocket-sized!
✅ You love the size more than the quality: Instax Mini prints have better conventional image quality, but they're not as small as the delightfully diddy Polaroid Go photos.
❌ "Image quality" is top priority: I love the dreamy feel of Polaroids, but it's not everyone's cup of tea – and the uber-hipster Polaroid look is even more prevalent here.
❌ Price per print is important: Polaroid film is inherently pricier than Instax, and that's the case with the Go. Your pennies go further with packs of Instax Mini film.
I fell in love with this palm-sized camera faster than it took a photo to develop – and so does everyone I show it to! It's the world's smallest analog instant camera, and it produces fittingly tiny instant photos, too.
That's really the main calling card, here. The Polaroid Go is like a tiny burger slider, disappearing into your palm and making you feel like a giant using a miniature camera.
For this reason it's also perfectly proportioned for little hands, making it an ideal camera for kids to shoot with.
That said, of course, there's the price of the film to consider, as Instax Mini film works out cheaper than Polaroid Go film. But then you'll also need to replace AA batteries on a Mini, whereas the Go just is rechargeable via USB.
Despite being so tiny, the Go boasts double exposures – which you won't get on Instax unless you opt for pricier options like the Instax Mini 90 (below). That said, the Minis produce better conventional image quality.
A fun and funky little camera, the Polaroid Go will be the star of your next party. I absolutely love mine – I bring it for the fun factor, accompanied by a Now+ or a Square SQ40 for "keeper" images.
Best for square photos
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want the best quality square shots: Instax image quality is fantastic, with superb sharpness, crisp contrast and consistent colors.
✅ You need straightforward shooting: Some Instax cameras get carried away with modes, menus, features and buttons. This is as simple as it gets: just aim and click!
❌ You want easy-to-find batteries: While AA batteries are easy to find in any corner store, the SQ40 takes CR2s – which can be tricky to find, especially on vacation.
❌ You want advanced features: If you want to get creative with things like double exposures and bulb modes, look to the Polaroid Now+ or the (smaller) Instax Mini 90.
Where Polaroids have that "dreamy" vintage look that's not to everyone's taste, Instaxes have a much more "modern" kind of image quality. So if you're looking for square instant photos that have punchy contrast and crisp sharpness, the SQ40 is the way to go.
It steps away from the cute, brightly-colored design of the older Instax Square SQ1 and adds a sleeker and more sophisticated camera to the Square lineup. (Check out our Instax SQ1 vs SQ40 comparison for more info.)
As you'd expect, it takes pristine photographs whether you're indoors or outdoors – though I'm sad that it lacks many of the features from the discontinued Instax Square SQ6 (such as a self-timer, tripod mount, and double exposures).
So the Polaroid Now+ trumps it if you want advanced and creative tools, but the Instax takes it for conventional image quality.
My main gripe is that it requires tricky-to-find CR2 batteries – which, wastefulness aside, and can be a pain if you don't already have some spares when the camera runs dry!
Read our full Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 review for more details
Film differences
While there are only two different brands of instant camera in this guide, there are six different types of instant film – and they're all very different from each other! You can check out my guide to what type of instant film you need for the full breakdown, but here are the basics.
In the Instax camp, there are three different film formats: Instax Mini, Instax Square and Instax Wide. On the Polaroid side, there's Polaroid Go and standard Polaroid film – the latter of which comes in either 600 (where each film cartridge has a battery, so they will also work on vintage Polaroid cameras) or i-Type (which does not have a battery, so only work on modern Polaroids).
The first difference between the films are their development times and processes. Instax film develops in around 90 seconds, while Polaroid film takes 10-15 minutes to develop – and on top of that, Polaroid film needs to develop in the dark (such as face-down on a table or in a pocket) while Instax film does not.
The next difference between the various formats is their physical shape and size, which I've broken down in the table below (but I think it's more helpful to see the visual comparison in the image above):.
| Film | Overall size | Image size |
|---|---|---|
| Instax Mini | 54 x 85mm | 46 x 62mm |
| Instax Square | 86 x 72mm | 62 x 62mm |
| Instax Wide | 108 x 85mm | 99 x 62mm |
| Polaroid Go | 53.9 x 66.6mm | 46 x 47mm |
| Polaroid | 88 x 107mm | 79 x 79mm |
Another big difference between the formats is their cost. It is cheaper to buy film packs in bulk, and both Instax and Polaroid tend to sell all their film in double-packs. However, all Instax film cartridges are loaded with ten exposures, while Polaroid cartridges only have eight.
This makes Instax film comparatively cheaper than Polaroid; even Instax Wide, the brand's physically largest film, is only marginally more expensive than Polaroid Go, the smallest instant film stock of any brand.
The below table contains a breakdown of the costs in US dollars (the relative price differences are the same in the UK and Australia):
| Film | Price per pack | Price 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 |
How to choose the best instant camera
How easy is an instant camera to use?
In short, very. You don't need to worry about complicated autofocus modes, setting the right white balance, or balancing the exposure triangle – simply load your film (this can be a little fiddly first time, but should soon become a cinch) and press the shutter button. Cameras don't get much simpler than this! Some instant cameras do offer more advanced creative features, but you don't have to use them – and most instant cameras are intentionally basic to be in-keeping with the retro, no-nonsense instant camera ethos.
What's the print quality like?
Polaroid and Instax film each have very different characteristics, due to their respective and unique photochemical exposure processes. Varyingly you can expect subdued or saturated colors, crushed contrast, blown out highlights, ethereal exposures… all 'features' that would kill the success of a DSLR or mirrorless camera! The results, however, are utterly unique, producing a look that even Lightroom presets and Instagram filters can't replicate. They're ideal image traits if you want a vintage, retro, lo-fi aesthetic.
Do instant cameras have any extra features?
In days past, a traditional Polaroid instant camera might have a flash, but that was about it. Nowadays you can pick up a modern instant camera with multiple photo modes, plus Bluetooth connectivity to pair with a smartphone app. This can open up extra creative control, as well as enabling you to use your phone as a remote shutter release. LCD info screens and built-in rechargeable batteries can also be found in today's instant cameras. Finally, don't rule out hybrid instant cameras – these are essentially digital cameras, but with a tiny in-built printer to turn your digital snaps into analog prints right at the point of capture.
How much will each print cost me?
If there is a downside to instant cameras, it's that each and every shot you take is going to cost you money (remember the days of traditional film photography?). Naturally, the cost of film varies considerably between cameras and depending where you buy it, but as a very rough guide, expect to pay in the region of $0.75-$1.00 per print of Fujifilm Instax film, and between $1 and $2 per print for Polaroid I-Type or Go film.
What is the best printable camera for kids?
The Polaroid Go is the best printable camera for kids, in my opinion, thanks to its simplicity and teeny tiny form factor that's the perfect size for little hands. That said, another option is the new Instax Pal – an even tinier camera which is very much designed for youngsters, though this is not a printable camera (and must be paired with something like the Instax Mini Link 2 to print pictures). Do also check out our separate guide to the best cameras for kids
Is the Instax Mini 11 or 12 better?
This question is relevant for every generation of Instax Mini, which has a pretty regular update cycle. In truth, there's no appreciable difference in image quality among any of the Instax Minis released in the last few years; the lenses and flash units stay virtually identical (as, obviously, does the instant film).
The main differences come in the aesthetics / ergonomics, as well as the additional features on newer models. In this sense, the Instax Mini 12 is better because it possesses parallax correction – making it easier to compose images in close-up mode. But otherwise the Mini 11 produces photographs that are every bit as good.
How we test instant cameras
We don't test instant cameras using the same scientific lab tests we do on the latest mirrorless cameras and lenses – but our evaluation is no less exhaustive! When I get an instant camera, I take it to an actual shooting environment and run a few packs of film through it (since it's possible to get a bad batch of film), seeing how it performs in a variety of lighting and environmental conditions. This is especially important with cameras that use a photochemical exposure process, since results can vary greatly even in only subtly different situations.
I also take any "clever" features into consideration, especially as this relates to ease of use. After all, instant cameras are supposed to take pictures instantly with minimal fuss! Battery life is a key point as well, given that there's a physical mechanism and usually a flash being fired. Image quality is quite subjective – photochemical prints inherently possess a different set of characteristics, though Zink images can be more fairly evaluated in terms of print quality – but ultimately I won't recommend a camera that takes a bad photo!
