Looking for a camera which gives instant photos? You can't go wrong with these three!
(Image credit: James Artaius)
Cameras which give instant photos have become increasingly popular. In fact, the latest Polaroids and Instax cameras are arguably more popular now than in the heyday of instant cameras, when the technology was brand new!
There's simply nothing like having a camera which gives instant photos. Firstly, there's the quality of the photograph itself; the photochemical exposure process used by the best instant cameras results in uniquely retro looking images – colors are saturated, contrasts are crushed, whites and greys are overexposed… it's like having an Instagram filter on every shot!
Still, for my money, this is the one you want to go for. "The Polaroid Now+ is our new favorite member of the Polaroid family," I said in my Polaroid Now+ review. "For full-size instant photographs, with enviable sharpness and unique vintage character, it can't be beaten – and, with creative tools including lens filters and full manual control, it's far more than just a point-and-shoot camera.
"Some features rely on you controlling things with your smartphone, which makes the process a little less instant, but the results are more than worth the small additional effort. This is the instant camera you'll want at your next party."
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However, the Instax Mini LiPlay does things differently: it's an Instax camera, with the magical photochemical exposure process, but it also doubles as a portable printer – which prints your phone photos onto actual Instax photographs!
This little box of tricks is a camera with built-in printer, or the other way around if you prefer," we said in our Instax Mini LiPlay review. "Either way, you can snap a shot and have a finished print in your hand around 10 seconds later.
"Well, it’s not exactly finished, because you need to wait a couple of minutes more for the magic to happen, as the photographic chemistry does its thing, but you get the extra fun of watching your print develop in your hand."
Canon Zoemini S2
(Image credit: Canon)
As mentioned earlier, there are a number of hybrid digital instant cameras that print digitally, rather than photochemically. There are a number of standouts, such as the Kodak Step and Polaroid Pop, but Canon's latest instant camera has taken my heart.
"The Canon Zoemini S2 is a delightful little device, and importantly it's packed with personality. The design of the camera looks straight out of a Pixar film; a sleek slab of color with a big giant selfie mirror on the front… It's even more svelte than the tiny Polaroid Go, which means I can slip it in my pocket 'just in case' I want to use it – a fancy that invariably takes me.
"The fact that the Zoemini doubles as a printer means that I can snap a shot, then print out multiple copies to give to everyone at the table. And if the 8MP camera doesn't quite match the quality of my iPhone 13 Mini, no problem – I can just print out the shot from my phone instead."
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
