Updated: Polaroid discontinued their original Polaroid camera operations back in 2009, however the demand for instant film cameras never went away. Suddenly everyone was clambering to bring back the fun and artsy look of instant film prints. Today several major brands including Polaroid have exciting instant cameras with an updated look. But which Instant film camera is the best? Check out our review of the Best Instant Camera of 2024.
Best Instant Cameras List
#1. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera
The FujiFilm mini 8 is an adorable update on the instant camera. It comes in a wide variety of colors like powder pink , pastel blue, and even a hello kitty shaped version! Our favorite thing about this camera is that it is so easy to use, especially for kids. It also has an automatic exposure adjustment that helps catch the best picture every time. They also updated the viewfinder, and added a high key mode to make pictures brighter with a soft look. This camera requires you to have 2 X AA batteries, and FujiFilm Mini Film to operate.
Overall the FujiFilm is best suited for people who want a cute point and shoot instant camera without extra frills. It’s a great choice for kids because of the fun color choices, and it comes at a fairly low price.
#2. Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera
The FujiFilm Instax Wide 300 has a vintage gray/black coloring, and reminds us of the last generation of disposable film cameras. Our favorite thing about this camera is that it is perfect for group shots that are usually tricky to capture. The wide lens can make your shot twice as wide, and you’ll never have to worry about backing up too far to fit everyone in! This camera features an automatic extending 95mm f14 lens with two focus zones, as well as a optical viewfinder. It also benefits from a few settings that help adjust for dark, normal, light, or macro shots. The cherry on top is the tri-pod socket making it even easier to set up a group portrait. This camera requires 4 X AA batteries, and FujiFilm Instax Wide film to operate.
Overall the FujiFilm Instax Wide 300 is best suited for people who want an upgrade from a basic instant camera to take wider shots. This camera is perfect for someone who wants to photograph things like a group portrait, or an impressive landscape, and who may use a tripod.
#3. Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Instant Film Camera
The FujiFilm Instax Mini 90 camera looks like a vintage film camera. It comes in either silver/black or silver/brown, but the brown certainly gives off more of the vintage vibe. Our favorite thing about this camera is that it produces vintage looking photographs thanks to the bulb and double exposure settings. The Double exposure mode, produce 2 images on 1 film sheet by pressing the shutter twice. Using the Bulb mode, the shutter remains open while the shutter button is depressed (10 seconds maximum) allowing you to capture moving things like a light trail made with sparklers. Like other FujiFilm products, this camera has a light, normal, dark and macro settings. It also automatically detects the shots brightness and adjust flash and shutter speed to optimize the photo. This camera requires FujiFilm Mini film, and comes with a rechargeable battery pack, and charger to power it.
Overall The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 is best suited for people who will be photographing moving objects frequently. The shutter speeds allow the camera to take the best shots of kids, pets, light trails etc. It also allows your photos to have a very vintage look, which everyone loves to see in their instant prints.
#4. Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera with ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technology
The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera presents a new twist on the instant film camera. It comes in an array of bold colors, such as blue, pink, purple, and red. You can also get it in classic colors like black and white. This camera is definitely reminiscent of the original polaroid cameras, but in a fun pocket sized shell. Our favorite thing about this camera is that it takes the picture digitally, so you can have both a printed & digital copies. If you run out of photo paper, you can also just take photos digitally. This camera uses a 32 GB Micro SD card, so you’ll need to purchase one separately to use the digital photos option. It also features a 10-Megapixel sensor which captures crisp images. The Polaroid Snap also allows you to print photos in color, black and white and sepia. This camera comes with a micro USB charger to power it, and it requires Polaroid 2×3 inch Premium ZINK Photo Paper to print photos.
Overall the Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera is best suited for someone who would like to have digital copies of their images separately. It is a great feature since you have the freedom to take pictures after film has run out. Because these images are digital, they don’t have the same vintage appearance as instant film. If you still want that vintage vibe, you can choose the sepia/ black and white prints.
#5. Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Print Digital Camera With LCD Display with Zink Zero Ink Printing Technology
The Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Print Digital Camera with LCD Display is an updated version of the Polaroid Snap. It comes in similar colors , but with an impressive LCD touchscreen display. Our favorite thing about the Snap Touch is LCD display which helps line up the best shot. The Polaroid Snap Touch takes videos, and can zoom in and out. It also has timer, photobooth and burst modes. The Snap touch is bluetooth-enabled, integrating easily with smartphones. This allow you to edit, add filters, borders, digital stickers via the app. The camera comes with a micro USB cord charger to power it, and uses 2âx3â Polaroid Zink Zero Ink Paper to print images. If you want to use the digital features on this camera, keep in mind you’ll have to purchase a micro SD card to store the images. This camera can hold a maximum size SD card of 128GB .
Overall the Polaroid Snap Touch is best suited for people wanting features of a traditional digital camera, and to print images. The Snap Touch sets up great shots with the digital display much easier than with just using a view finder. All the additional settings of the of filters, borders and stickers are also a fun bonus, but may be a more attractive feature to a younger generation.
#6. Polaroid PIC-300 Instant Film Camera
The Polaroid PIC-300 Instant film camera is their basic point and shoot model, but with adorable packaging. The shape is very similar to the old Polaroid cameras, however it comes in bold colors like blue, and red. Our favorite thing about this camera is that it takes business card size photos that are easy to store in your wallet and hand out as gifts. The Polaroid PIC-300 has an automatic flash setting, and four different scene settings to help you capture the perfect shot. This camera requires 4 X AA Batteries to power it, and uses Polaroid PIC 300 instant film.
Overall the Polaroid PIC 300 is best suited for those who want a simple point and shoot with small prints. These cameras are ideal for events or parties where guests will pass it around. It is also fairly inexpensive, so it is ideal for someone who doesn’t need to shell out for more features.
#7. Lomography Lomo Instant White Edition Instant Camera
The Lomography Instant Camera has many options that professional photographers use with film. Our favorite thing about this camera (besides its looks) is that it has an infinite long exposure setting. This allows you to capture things in low light (dawn and dusk) and it feels the most like a vintage film camera. This camera has 3 Shooting Modes so you can either shoot photos with auto-flash on for immediate great results, or take direct control with the creative shooting modes (with flash and without flash). This camera uses 4X AA batteries, and requires Fujifilm Instax Mini Film.
Overall the Lomography Instant Camera is best suited for people with intermediate photography skills. Those who are looking for advanced lens and aperture settings to get great shots would enjoy this camera. Additionally this camera is very versatile because it can shoot beautiful photos in all light settings. ITo be successful with this camera, t’s important that you are familiar with basic photography skills,and the user guide.
Which one is the Best Instant Camera of 2024?
And the winner is.. the Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Print Digital Camera With LCD Display with Zink Zero Ink Printing Technology
We love that this camera has a Touch screen LCD display, making it easy to set up the perfect shot. It is also very easy to print, and share your photos digitally. The Polaroid Snap touch user friendly, and we especially love the teal blue and bright pink color options. Â The fact that it also takes video, and that you can upload pictures to your phone easily makes it the most versatile of all the Instant Print Cameras. The ZINK photo paper has outstanding quality, and we love that you can alter the color tones of the pictures too. All of this from a pocket sized camera with an adorable casing make it the Best Instant Camera of 2024!