Best Instant Cameras

The Lomo Instant Square is a dual-format analog camera that takes both Instax Square and Instax Mini film, which nothing else on the instant market does. Reviewers praised the creative options: multiple exposure modes, bulb (long-exposure) capability, and several focusing choices. Accessories in the box include a splitzer for double exposures and a front filter for close-ups. Some reviewers called out the bulky body and the hassle of tracking down CR2 batteries. Photographers who want creative control over instant film are the audience.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is a hybrid of instant film and digital, and it brings a dedicated selfie camera to the Instax line for the first time. Reviewers noted the redesign, with a larger grip and a better user interface, though some found the power button slow to respond and the button placement awkward. It handles digital capture and smartphone printing, and adds the new instax Sound Album feature for animated videos with sound. Ease of use is the priority, with creative photo modes and audio built around it.

The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 is a compact instant camera shooting the newer Instax Square format, which yields wider square prints with a vintage Polaroid look. PCMag's Jim Fisher described the analog process, where the image surfaces gradually 90 seconds after the shutter fires. Camera Labs' Gordon found it close to the SQ1 model but dressed up more seriously. A built-in flash and viewfinder are included, and it runs Instax Square film at 10 prints per cartridge. Reviewers pointed to the two limits: Square film only, and a price above the alternatives.

The Polaroid OneStep 2 brings back the classic instant camera format with modern parts: a built-in lithium battery that makes film packs cheaper, and a bright built-in flash you can override. Reviewers found the light meter accurate and the camera comfortable to hold, but several were annoyed by the missing viewfinder tube and having to press an eye right up against the viewfinder. The included strap gets called poor quality. Anyone who wants a traditional instant camera experience with a few modern conveniences will like it, while those who want a better viewfinder should look elsewhere.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 looks good and does little new, which reviewers summed up as familiar features in an attractive package. They liked the ease of use and automatic exposure control but criticized the absence of any real advancement and the cheap plastic construction. It works fine for basic instant photography, though reviewers point buyers toward competitors like Lomography and MiNT for better value or features. Aesthetics over innovation is the trade being made here.

The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 is a fully analog instant camera built for the newer Instax Square format, which prints at 2.4 x 2.4 inches. Dan Finnen of Dan Finnen Writing found the frame roomier than Instax Mini but said the camera doesn't do much to work around the format's limits for artistic use. Gordon from Camera Labs liked the simplicity and compact body while stressing that autofocus and flash settings often give inconsistent results. In print size and ergonomics the SQ6 lands between Instax Mini and Wide, without the advanced features digital competitors carry.

Reviewers call the Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat Glass the world's first instant camera with a wide-angle glass lens, a 38mm (21mm equivalent) f/4.5 design using 6 elements in 4 groups. Operation is fully automated with manual overrides for flash, exposure compensation, and multiple exposures, and the box includes creative accessories like colored filters and a Bluetooth shutter release. Critics flagged the large, non-pocketable body and the uncommon CR2 batteries. It shoots Instax Mini film and aims squarely at creative photography, mixing automation with manual control for artistic work.

The Polaroid I-2 sits at the top end of instant cameras, with LiDAR autofocus, full manual controls, and support for multiple Polaroid film types. Dan Bracaglia of DPReview covered it as a mix of modern camera technology and traditional design, with solid build quality and advanced features. YouTube reviewers report a different picture after extended use: film counter malfunctions and jamming. Advanced users who want premium instant photography will get their money's worth, but anyone after something basic or cheap won't.

The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 is a basic, low-cost camera and the only current option for anyone shooting Instax Wide film. Controls take a step back from the 300, though the selfie timer picks up more range. Reviewers call the design bulky and awkward and point out there's no autofocus assistance, but they praise the image quality coming out of the 2:3 format. Simple operation and a low price make it a fit for casual users; anyone wanting advanced features or a camera that travels light should skip it.

The Polaroid Go Generation 2 is the world's smallest instant camera at 105mm × 84mm × 62mm and 273g with film loaded. Analog.Cafe's review covers the 51mm fixed-focus lens with an f9-f42 aperture range and an electronically-controlled shutter. Double-exposure mode, a 9-second delay timer, and a built-in flash with 2m range round it out. Reviewers like the portability and the fun of using it, but note the film costs more than Instax alternatives and the bundled USB-C cable is uncomfortably short. Casual photographers who want something compact and addictive will enjoy it; anyone watching film costs won't.

The Polaroid Now+ Generation 3 pairs nostalgic design with simple operation and app-based creative controls, but the autofocus is unreliable and I-Type film runs expensive and unpredictable. PCMag's Jim Fisher writes that the classic Polaroid look and one-button simplicity hold up, while the basic autofocus misses too often for the price. It charges over USB-C and takes both I-Type and 600 film, the latter bought separately. Casual users who want easy operation should look at the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99, and artsy photographers set on Polaroid film may prefer the $200 Flip model.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo is a hybrid digital instant camera, bringing traditional instant photography together with digital convenience. Reviewer Mark G Adams traces how it went from a fun, experimental device to a practical tool for printing family memories across three years of use. It carries a 28mm f/2.0 lens with dial controls for lens and film effects, a selfie mirror, and smartphone connectivity for remote control and social sharing. Purists who want a fully analog instant camera may not warm to it, but as a printer for digital images it does the job well, with a nostalgic feel attached. Casual users and families who want digital flexibility plus instant prints are the audience.