Instant cameras built for kids allow kids to both take and print their photos – but the print refills either tend to be pricey or are black-and-white thermal type. But the new Photo Creator Instant Color Camera from Canal Toys is a kid-focused camera where prints cost less than 50 cents / 20p per photo.
Built for ages 6 and up, the Photo Creator Instant Color is a digital camera with a built-in photo printer. Hybrid digital-instant kid cameras tend either to use pricey Zink paper with embedded ink, real instant film, or thermal receipt paper that only prints in monochrome.
The Photo Creator Instant Color instead uses a built-in printer that requires both a pack of photo paper and an ink cartridge, but the refill packs tend to sit cost-wise under the cost of Zink and instant film refills. A pack of 100 print refills cost about $48 / £20, coming out to about 50 cents / 20p per photo. The camera itself ships with 100 prints already in the box.
The camera uses a built-in 2.4-inch screen that allows kids to add filters, frames, and stickers before printing those photos.
The company did not share specs on the camera’s resolution, but the camera can shoot both stills and videos. A built-in flash aids low-light and indoor shots.
The camera has some built-in memory, which can be expanded by buying a separate microSD card.
The camera uses a rechargeable Li-ion battery.
While there are plenty of hybrid digital instant cameras available, including some built for kids, the new camera’s key selling point is the price for photo refills while still getting full-color prints. Instax Mini prints tend to cost about 88 cents / 85p. Refills for Zink-based printers are a bit more competitive, costing around 50 cents / 60p for each photo.
The new Photo Creator Instant Color camera is available now, starting at about $130 / £90 / AU$153 for the camera with enough ink and paper for printing 100 photos in the box.
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