The best instant cameras - ranking 2021

Using Polaroids in 2021, when almost every smartphone has a solid camera? As it turns out, the popularity of instant cameras is still high, which is why there are over a dozen different models available on the market. Which one to choose? We look and compare. The best instant cameras.

Instant cameras - other names are instant cameras or instant cameras - experienced the peak of popularity in the world in the 1970s. However, even now, in the days of Instagram and social networks, many people just like this style of photography and younger generations are starting to discover it. There is not as much choice here as in the case of smartphones, where several large brands are fighting for the lead on the market, not to mention traditional cameras. The instant cameras market consists of practically three companies: Instax, Polaroid and Lomography.

Instant camera - how to buy?

When you want to buy an instant camera, there are several factors you need to pay attention to.

First of all - how advanced is it going to be? Do you prefer to just take your camera out and flip it and leave all adjustments to its settings to its mechanisms, or do you want to influence every aspect of the photo you take? Instant cameras can be very different in this respect - Polaroid OneStep 2 offers virtually no adjustment possibilities, and the Lomo Instant Mini allows you to set many parameters of the shot. In addition, some brands - such as Lomography - offer cameras with interchangeable lenses, which greatly increases their versatility and application possibilities. If you like to have everything under control, an alternative to instant cameras can be a regular - or even a smartphone - paired with a portable printer.

Second - do you only want a camera that prints photos right away, or do you prefer when you can select them and also save permanently? There are instant cameras that support memory cards and allow you to manually select the photos you want to print (such as Instax Mini LiPlay). Another interesting option is the ability to wirelessly send photos to a computer or smartphone. The advantage of cameras that allow you to select photos for printing is that they save paper, which sometimes costs a lot. On the other hand, if you are buying a camera to print your photos instantly, you may want to just have them printed and that's it.

Third - the type of printing paper. In this aspect, the market is completely dominated by the Instax brand, for which Fujifilm is responsible. The three types of paper are: Mini (for portrait photos and smaller), Wide (for large photos and landscapes) and Square (medium photos and - as the name suggests - square). The camera usually supports only one type of paper (the notable exception is Lomo'Instant Square), so you need to determine what size and format of photos you want to take with such a device. It's worth noting here that Lomography and Leica both use Instax photo paper, and Leica also produces their own. Likewise Polaroid - the brand uses its own i-Type paper which is the Instax Wide equivalent, however the photos are more square than rectangular.

Fourth - cost. It is related not only to the price of the camera itself, but also to the aforementioned paper. Think how often you will take photos, then check how much paper you need and how much you will pay for it - then you will have the cost of using the selected device. Interestingly, some instant cameras - such as Polaroid Snap or Kodak Smile - do not use paper, but use the Zink technology, ink-free paper. They are usually cheaper.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11

The Instax Mini 11 is a instant camera from Fujifilm. What features can make you buy it?

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is available in several colors - including blue, pink and purple. We are dealing here with a simple and inexpensive device that is perfect for taking pictures in various situations. A mechanism has been used here, which automatically selects the best parameters of the taken photography for lighting, etc. Thanks to this solution, all photos should be perfect. There is also a built-in flash, thanks to which you can take them at night or when it is dark around. Of course, the user has the option of manually adjusting all parameters.

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The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 camera has an interesting method of taking selfie photos. You need to pull out the front edge of the lens so that a neat, built-in selfie lens and a mirror appear, so you can see how it will fall in the photo. Printed photos are the size of a credit card - so they fit perfectly in your wallet. Average film development time is 90 seconds.

Canon Zoemini S

Canon Zoemini S is an instant camera with many advantages. What? We check.

Canon Zoemini S is an instant camera with an 8 MPix lens. Prints 2x3 "or 2x2" photos in as little as 50 seconds. Thanks to the self-adhesive back of the Zink paper, you can stick photos on any surface. The maximum print resolution is 314 x 600 dpi, which allows you to enjoy high quality photos. It is worth adding that the aforementioned Zink is a self-adhesive paper resistant to water, tearing and smudging.

Zoemini S weighs just 188g, and the device holds up to 10 Zink sheets and one SMARTSHEET sheet. In addition, this instant camera supports micro SD memory cards up to 256 GB. So you can save as many as you want, and then transfer them from the gallery to the card and print. Canon Zoemini S is equipped with a built-in Bluetooth 4.0 module. Thanks to this, you can connect any mobile devices to the Canon Zoemini S printer - the Canon Mini Print application is required, available in editions for Android and iOS. In addition, thanks to the application, you can remotely control the camera using a smartphone, and add filters, distortions, drawings and text to photos.

Polaroid Now

Polaroid Now is the latest instant camera from a company that is synonymous with such devices. What exactly does it offer?

Polaroid Now is an instant camera equipped with autofocus and a double exposure function that allows you to achieve an amazing effect of interpenetrating frames. Therefore, apart from unique prints, it also guarantees a portion of unforgettable creative fun. The very design of the device draws attention - it combines the appearance of iconic devices with a vintage casing and modern solutions that facilitate taking pictures. Its design uses new soft lines to move away from the angular casings known from the past and allow users to comfortably hold the camera and comfortably take and view photos. It is a camera with flash, which allows you to take pictures at night and in dark environments.

Polaroid Now is powered by a rechargeable battery, which is supplemented by a USB connection. You can use up to 15 packages of film on a single charge, which makes this camera perfect for any travel or adventure. The camera is equipped with a lens that automatically switches between landscape and portrait formats to take an even better shot every time.

Instax Square SQ6

Instax Square SQ6 is a camera created by a well-known brand on the market. What are its possibilities?

Instax Square SQ6 is an instant camera that allows you to take both regular photos and selfies. For this purpose, a mirror is placed on the front, which allows you to check how the photo will fall out, and the self-timer - after pressing it, it takes a photo after exactly 10 seconds. This is the manufacturer's first model that supports the fully analog "square" format - the photos have a white frame. When taking normal photos, you can choose from several operation modes: auto exposure, macro, landscape, dark and light. A double exposure deserves a separate discussion - it allows you to overlap two frames and thus create a collage. The quality of photos in all modes leaves nothing to be desired - sharpness and colors are perfect. The film development time is approx. 90 seconds.

Instax Square SQ6 is equipped with a built-in automatic flash. You can turn it on or off for the desired effect. The three color flash filters (orange, purple, and green) included with this camera allow you to take pictures in an artistic atmosphere.

Instax Mini LiPlay

Instax Mini LiPlay is a modern instant camera. What are its main advantages?

Instax Mini LiPlay is an instant camera packed with features that put it above the competition. It is also a printer that allows you to print photos straight from your smartphone (you need a dedicated application for this), with which it connects wirelessly thanks to the use of Bluetooth. It can also record sounds and save them in the form of QR codes (maximum length of a single recording - 10 seconds before and after taking a photo). After scanning the code, the instax page opens with the photo and the recorded sound.

We are dealing here with a camera that is very easy to use - on the back it has a 2.7-inch, bright and high-contrast LCD screen. Operation is carried out using as many as 14 buttons, and the trigger itself is convenient to use. When the picture is taken, the autofocus selects the focus point itself, and it does it very efficiently. It is worth adding here that LiPlay does not print the photo immediately after it is taken - photos can be printed separately by selecting them in the camera menu, thanks to which the film will not be used for unsuccessful shots. One photo prints 12 seconds, and the battery should last up to 100 photos.

Polaroid OneStep 2

Polaroid OneStep 2 is an instant camera, referring to the classic. How does it work in practice?

Polaroid OneStep 2 is an instant camera whose design was designed to resemble models from the 1970s. It is an analog camera, weighs 460 grams, has dimensions of 150 x 110 x 95 mm. The built-in lens (plastic) has a focal length of 106mm, but the photo size (8x8cm) means it is the equivalent of a traditional lens with a focal length of around 40mm. It has a built-in flash, and a practical accessory is a self-timer that allows you to take selfie photos. the operation is very simple and intuitive - so no one will have problems with its operation. OneStep 2 uses i-Type and 600 instant photography papers. Developing time for one photo is about 10-15 minutes, so we won't call it "instant" work.

Polaroid OneStep 2 uses a 1100 mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, one full charge should be enough for 60 days of use. charging takes place via the USB port. Unlike the competition, there is no wireless connectivity here, which is why it is the model that will appeal to fans of retro climates. The quality itself ...

Polaroid Snap

Polaroid Snap is touted as the world's smallest digital instant camera. What are its best features?

Polaroid Snap is a compact instant camera. Its weight is 431 g with dimensions of 168 x 158 x 48 mm. It is made entirely of average quality plastic, so be careful not to scratch the casing, and the device may break if it falls from a height. What is rare in such cameras - we have a thread on the bottom that allows you to mount the device on a tripod. This model uses a 10Mpix matrix with a LED flash. Photos can be taken in several modes, including sepia and black and white, it is possible to add photo booth effects (a series of four photos) or classic polaroid frames. but all parameters are determined automatically. Polaroid Snap can print 5x7.5 cm photos right away, it also has a memory card slot up to 32 GB, so you can save them for later transfer to a computer. The save operation is performed even without paper - for what is big, and the next one should be counted for the selfie self-timer.

Polaroid Snap uses a special paper similar to a photo. It costs a bit - a package of 30 is PLN 80 - but it gives great results.