Instant cameras have been around for a while. In 1948, Edwin Land invented the first Polaroid camera. Compared to other cameras, this camera didn’t need to use film that needs to be developed for users to get their photos. Ever since then, Polaroid cameras have held a special place in the hearts of both professional and casual photographers.

But throughout the decades, the Polaroid camera has gotten a lot of upgrades here and there. These cameras have evolved with a lot of advanced features that make it easier for users to take photos. Aside from that, the settings of these cameras have also improved so now they produce very high-quality photos. 

Are you planning to get a Polaroid camera but don’t know what to look for? Perhaps you need product recommendations? Then this article is for you!

We will be talking about the 7 best instant cameras that you can find on Amazon. Aside from that, we will also be discussing the things you need to consider when buying an instant camera. This way, you’ll know how to identify your needs and preferences. Ultimately, it’s going to help you choose the best instant camera for you.

Let’s take a look!

7+ Best Instant Cameras in 2022

1. Polaroid Now+ — The best instant camera in 2022 overall (Editor’s Choice)
2. Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 — The best budget instant camera
3. Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 — The best value instant camera
4. Polaroid OneStep+ — The best instant camera with a retro design
5. Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 — Best rechargeable instant camera
6. Polaroid Go — The best pocket-sized instant camera
7. Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay — The best compact instant camera

What is the Best Instant Camera in 2022?

Wherever you go, you can find instant cameras that while they may be convenient, won’t be able to produce the type of results you might be looking for. In our minds, the Polaroid Now+ is the best instant camera in 2022 that can produce incredible results. If you’re interested in some of our other top choices, check out our comparison table below.

How to Choose the Best Instant Camera

Today, there are tons of options for instant cameras in the market. All of them are very good at what they do. So how do you differentiate each one from the other? What are the factors that you should consider in finding the best instant camera? Let’s talk more about that below.

Film Size

There are various models of instant cameras on the market today. Each of these cameras has its film size. This factor will be based purely on personal preference. Some people prefer classic-looking Polaroid films while others prefer the wider version of it. It doesn’t make a big difference in the overall outcome of your photos.

Here are the common film sizes of instant cameras.

• Polaroid: this is 4.2” x 3.5” and it’s the classic Polaroid film that a lot of us are familiar with. It’s great for capturing portraits and memories because the size is just perfect for arranging them together like a neat puzzle. 
• Square: This film size is 4.0″ x 4.1″ and, as the name implies, looks like a square. It’s important to know though that the photo inside isn’t a square. It’s still a rectangle. An example of a camera that has this film size is the Polaroid Spectra Pro.
• Wide: It has a size of 3.4″ x 4.2″ which is the biggest among instant camera films. It’s great if you’re shooting photos of groups of people or nice scenery.
• Mini: It has a size of 3.4″ x 2.1″ which is similar to your debit card size. It’s a very handy film size, one that’ll fit snugly in your wallet. It’s great for images of precious memories that you want to keep with you all the time.

Film Price

The price of the film depends on the brand of the camera. Some are more affordable than others so it’s important to keep in mind the price of the films when you’re picking out an instant camera. For example, a Color i-Type Film Five Pack costs around $69.99 and a Value Pack of Instax Mini costs around $44.99.

In the long run, if the film is pretty expensive, it might demotivate you from using your instant camera.

Photo Style

Instant camera brands have a very distinct style when it comes to the images they produce. For example, Polaroid cameras tend to have a vintage feel to their images. It makes the photos look like they were taken back in the late 1990s to the early 2000s. 

As for Fujifilm, their photos tend to have a more retro vibe to them. It has that classic vignette style that a lot of users have come to know and love.

When you’re picking out an instant camera, remember to keep these styles in mind. Again, this depends on personal preference. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to style. 

Photo Quality

This is a pretty interesting factor to consider. This is because when you look up instant cameras, they don’t exactly advertise the megapixels of their cameras. So how do you find out if the camera you like produces high-quality photos? You look for reviews and sample photos.

Look up sample photos of the camera you’re interested in. You can check out the review section if you’re browsing for cameras online. You can also check out Instagram for sample photos of the camera you’re eyeing. 

Battery Life

Batteries should be an important factor that you should consider in choosing a camera. Not all instant cameras have rechargeable batteries and not all of them can last long. Most of them use double A batteries and since these are disposable batteries, it’s very important to consider if you’re comfortable with them.

To give you a reference to the life batteries of some instant cameras, here are a few examples. The Instax Mini 40 Instant Camera works with 2 double A batteries and is capable of 100 shots before the batteries run out. On the other hand, the Polaroid OneStep+ has a rechargeable battery. A full charge of this camera can last about 15 to 20 packs of film. 

7+ Best Instant Cameras on Amazon in 2022

1. Polaroid Now+ (Editor’s Choice)

The best instant camera in 2022 overall

Exposure control: Manual, Automatic | Product dimensions: 5.91 x 4.42 x 3.76 inches | Film format: Instant

The Polaroid Now+ is one of the best instant cameras on the market today. It’s what most users visualize when they hear “Polaroid camera”. It’s the perfect mix of a vintage-style camera and the ease and convenience of technology.

This camera comes with an app that makes it easier for you to bring your creative vision to life. You can download the app by searching for the Polaroid app in Google Play or the Apple App Store. This app has a lot of creative tools that can help you take very creative photos. 

For example, aperture priority helps you play with depth of field. This helps you create photos that have a sharp focus on your subject and a dreamy background. 

Another noteworthy feature is the double exposure. You take 2 photos and overlap them with each other. This opens countless possibilities for creative shots. Downloading the app helps you discover all these features and more!

Aside from all these, the Polaroid Now+ also boasts the following features: 

• Micro USB-powered rechargeable batteries
• Auto-focus dual lens system
• Accurate flash
• Bluetooth connected app

To top it all off, this kit also comes with 5 lens filters. Admittedly, it’s a bit pricey for an instant camera, but with the loads of features that it comes with, what more can you ask for?

Pros	Cons
➕ Great image quality	➖ Expensive
➕ Full-size prints	➖ No selfie mirror
➕ Great features

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

2. Fujifilm Instax Mini 11

The best budget instant camera

Exposure control: Automatic | Product dimensions: 5 x 9 x 7 inches | Film format: Instant 

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is also another classic Polaroid camera that a lot of people are familiar with. 

It has a built-in selfie mirror to help users take better selfies. It’s a little mirror on the side of the lens that you can use to frame yourself and your friends when you’re taking a selfie. 

To complement the selfie mirror, this camera also has a selfie mode. You just need to pull the lens a little to activate this mode. It might seem scary to pull the lens out the first time but don’t worry because it’s meant to do that. You’ll see a little “SELFIE ON” tag on the upper side of the lens to indicate that you’ve successfully pulled out the lens.  

This little feature also doubles as a Macro mode. It makes it easier for the user to do close-up shots of different kinds of subjects. It’s a great feature if you’re a user who likes putting creative twists on your photos.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 also has an automatic exposure feature. The camera can take into account the lighting of the room you’re in. It then adjusts the shutter speed accordingly so your photos are exposed properly. 

It’s important to note that because of this feature, you have to keep the camera very still when you’re shooting in a dark room. This prevents your photos from coming out as blurry since the shutter speed has to be slower when there is little light. 

To help with this, the camera comes with a dedicated flash. A downside to this flash though is that you can’t deactivate it so it can be quite annoying at times.

Pros	Cons
➕ User-friendly	➖ No option to deactivate the flash
➕ Automatic Exposure

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

3. Fujifilm Instax Mini 40

The best value instant camera

Exposure control: Automatic | Product dimensions: 2.56 x 4.09 x 4.76 inches | Film Format: Instant 

The Instax Mini 40 is this beautifully crafted instant camera with a faux-leather casing with silver accents. It also has a metal Instax branding on the front.

This camera has a very interesting mechanic to turn it on. You’ll need to press a little button at the base to extend the lens and have it turned on. 

What makes this camera perfect for any beginner is that it only has 2 buttons. One button is for the shutter and the other is for the power. Once you take the shot, the photo will automatically come out at the top of the camera. 

It also has a selfie mirror right next to the camera lens. This makes it easier for users to visualize themselves while taking a selfie. 

Like the previously discussed instant camera, the Instax Mini 40 also has an automatic exposure feature. This makes sure that your photos are properly exposed, not too bright, and not too dark. To help with this, the camera also comes with a powerful flash. It’s important to note though that this flash also cannot be turned off.  

Pros	Cons
➕ Great design	➖ No options to deactivate the flash
➕ Easy to use and handle

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

4. Polaroid OneStep+

The best instant camera with a retro design

Exposure control: Manual | Product dimensions: 5.9 x 3.8 x 4.37 inches | Film format: Instant 

The Polaroid OneStep+ is another beautifully crafted instant film camera from Polaroid. It has a black coating with the color of the rainbows flowing from the lens. On the front, you’ll be able to see the following:

• 2 lenses (the standard lens and the portrait lens)
• Flash 
• Light and dark switch  
• Shutter 
• Bluetooth connect button
• The slot where the photo comes out

An awesome feature of this camera is that it has a Bluetooth-connected app. You can find the Polaroid app on Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. In this app, you have tons of features that make it easier for you to create creative shots with your instant camera. This includes features like double exposure and light painting. 

The app offers a Manual mode if you’re a little more knowledgeable about how cameras work. Here, you’ll be able to set the shutter speed and the aperture. You’ll also get to turn the flash on and off here. 

This user-friendly camera has a battery life of 60 days. This is a rechargeable battery and you can use a USB charging cable to charge it. It’s advised that you fully charge the camera first before using it. It takes about 2 hours if you plug it in a socket and around 4 hours if you charge it through a computer’s USB slot. 

Pros	Cons
➕ User-friendly	➖ Average battery life
➕ Multiple shooting modes

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

5. Fujifilm Instax Mini 90

The best rechargeable instant camera

Exposure control: Automatic | Product dimensions: 3.6 x 2.2 x 4.5 inches | Film Format: Instant 

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 has a very retro aesthetic going on. It has a two-tone finish and silver accents on the sides. The leatherette that covers the main body of the camera comes in three colors, black, brown, and red.

Its rechargeable battery is a delight to work with because it charges up quickly and can last a long time. You can go through 5 packs of film and the camera still has lots of battery left. It’s that good!

It has different kinds of exposure mode options. For example, it has a Party Mode and it’s perfect for when you’re shooting in the dark. It uses a longer shutter speed so it lets in enough light and exposes your photo better. 

This results in a bright photo that doesn’t look like it was taken in the dark. You have to stay still in this mode though! If you move, the photo will turn out blurry.

It also has a Kid Mode which uses a faster shutter speed to freeze action. It’s perfect for when you’re taking photos of fast-moving subjects. It’s important to note though that these photos should be taken in places with bright lights. If you do it in the dark, the photo will be too dark. 

Pros	Cons
➕ Rechargeable battery	➖ Small viewfinder
➕ Easy to use

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

6. Polaroid Go

The best pocket-sized instant camera

Exposure control: Automatic | Product dimensions: 4.13 x 3.3 x 2.42 inches | Film Format: Instant 

The Polaroid Go Instant Mini is the perfect instant camera for photographers who are always traveling. This adorable little instant camera is only 4.13 inches long, 3.3 inches wide and 2.4 inches tall. That size fits most palms!

Its design is just as adorable as its size. It’s made of hard durable plastic with rainbows seemingly entering the lens. It’s available in three colors, black, white and red. Its rechargeable battery can easily be charged through a USB cable. 

It’s important to note though that it has a fixed 34mm lens with a shutter speed of 1/300 and an aperture of f12 to f52. For some photographers, this can be quite limiting, but for casual users, this is good enough. The lens is also plastic and isn’t the best lens on the market but it’s decent enough for an instant camera. 

This camera also comes with the features that we have come to know and love from the Polaroid series. It has double exposure, a self-timer, and a selfie mirror. Admittedly, it’s not as flexible as its big brother, the Polaroid Now+ but for its size, it’s a great substitute.

Pros	Cons
➕ Lightweight	➖ Small prints
➕ USB charging

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

7. Fujifilm instax Mini LiPlay

The best compact instant camera

Exposure control: Automatic | Product dimension: 5.79 x 4.06 x 3.39 inches | Film Format Type: Instant 

Imagine fusing a digital camera, an instant camera, and a photo printer, and you get the Fujifilm Instax Mini. This beautifully crafted instant camera is only 5.79 x 4.06 x 3.39 inches so it’s small enough to bring anywhere. 

The Fujifilm Instax Mini comes in three very classy colors which are Elegant black, Stone White, and Blush Gold. The Stone White and Blush gold variations are monochromatic. On the other hand, the Elegant black has Blush gold accents on the shutter button, the audio button, and around the lens.

This camera is more forgiving than other instant cameras because before you print the photo, you can take a look at it first. If you need a little more time to decide if you want to print the photo, you can always store it on an SD card that you can insert into the camera. You can also add filters and frames to make it even more creative. 

Another interesting feature of this camera is that you can attach audio to your photo. Simply press the audio button, record the sound and then choose a print with sound. Your photo will then be printed with a QR code. Upload the audio you want to attach to the photo to the cloud and voila! When people scan your QR code, they’ll be able to hear the audio. 

Finally, another feature worth noting is that you can print photos from your smartphone using the Fujifilm app. Simply select a photo you want to print, frame the photo with the app, then press print. It’s that easy!

It’s important to take note though that this camera doesn’t perform that well in dim light. The editing capabilities in the camera are also limited compared to modern apps dedicated to editing. These aren’t really big issues but it’s worth noting. 

Pros	Cons
➕ Quickly print images	➖ Not effective in dim light
➕ Budget-friendly
➕ Compact design

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

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7+ Best Instant Cameras in 2022

Instant cameras were developed years ago but they’re still classic cameras to have today. With the current development in technology, these cameras now produce high-quality photos. Aside from that, they even come with a wide variety of features that allow users to let their imagination run wild. 

All of the products discussed in this article are all very good at what they do. Some of them specialize in allowing users to creatively express themselves through features while others focus on image quality. 

At the end of the day, the best instant camera will be the one that fits your needs and preferences. So take time to get to know the camera first before you make a purchase!

Good luck and have fun taking photos!