Instant cameras are fun gadgets that allow you to capture and print photos on the fly.
When you read the words “instant camera”, you might instinctively picture an old-school Polaroid 660, or even an XS-70. However, there are a wide variety of instant cameras on the market these days, with many of them taking on unique shapes and sizes to suit every style.
Whether it’s a Polaroid, Instax, Kodak, or Lomography camera you’re looking to buy, we’ve tested it and compiled our top picks in this detailed guide. We look at a range of criteria when reviewing any instant camera, including design, image quality and battery life.
Of course, there are certain questions you need to ask yourself before diving into the world of instant cameras. Firstly, do you want an analogue or a hybrid camera?
Analogue is the more traditional format, presenting a straightforward shoot-and-print experience with a simple viewfinder and no display. Hybrid cameras, meanwhile, take select qualities from digital cameras, using them to enhance the instant photography experience. This can be a display, a mobile app, or simply the ability to pick and choose which shots make it to print.
If you’re looking for a simple and spontaneous way to shoot and print photos, analogue is for you. Those wanting to explore digital features, decorate their shots with stickers and avoid wasting film might want to consider a hybrid model.
Some brands even make compact printers that allow you to print photos captured or downloaded to your phone.
Another factor you should consider is the size of the images you want to print. Most Instax cameras, for example, are compatible with either Mini, Square, or Wide film, with each producing a different shape and size image.
Keep reading to discover our favourite instant cameras or head over to our other best lists to discover more great cameras. These include the best cameras, best mirrorless cameras, best DSLRs, and best action cameras.
Best instant cameras at a glance
How we test
Learn more about how we test cameras We test every camera we review thoroughly. We use set tests to compare features properly and we use it as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
Best hybrid instant camera
Pros
It looks fantasticPlenty of effects to add an extra flair to shotsEasy to useDigital smarts save on wasted shots
Cons
Screen is difficult to see in bright conditionsSome odd quirks with the UI and appSlow to charge
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo is Fujifilm’s best hybrid instant camera and the only one in this list to be awarded 4.5/5 stars.
The Mini Evo has a vintage aesthetic reminiscent of the Fujifilm X100V compact camera with its black faux leather finish and silver details and the plastic construction keeps it lightweight. There’s a 3-inch LCD screen for previewing photos and controls include a lens that turns to switch on the camera, two shutter buttons, flash, a preset dial and a physical lever to print your snaps.
The hybrid design means you don’t need to waste paper and ink printing out every shot you take and the camera can hold 45 images (or more with a microSD card), while still delivering on the charm of an instant camera.
We found the image quality of the Mini Evo to be comparable to other Instax cameras with punchy colours and a decent amount of detail, but skin tones can come out quite pale and the camera struggles with focus in less-than-ideal lighting situations.
There’s also an array of filters to choose from, including vivid, pale and monochrome, as well as lens effects like vignetting, soft focus and blur.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
Fujifilm Instax SQ1
Best looking instant camera
Pros
Really nice design and colour optionsSuper easy to useGreat pictures that are a good sizeWell made for selfies
Cons
Lack of features might annoy someDoesn’t have a rechargeable batteryLarge
The Fujifilm Instax SQ1 is a stylish instant camera ideal for printing larger images and capturing selfies.
The SQ1 has an attractive but rather chunky design in a choice of three vibrant colours and a large lens taking up the majority of the space on the front of the camera. Everything important, such as the textured grip, the shutter button and the small viewfinder, sits on one side of the camera making it a little less ideal for left-handed people. However, we found the camera to be durable and comfortable to shoot with.
Unlike Fujifilm’s Mini cameras, the SQ1 uses Instax’ 62mm x 62mm Square film and there’s no display to preview your images here, giving it a slightly more spontaneous feel than the hybrid Mini Evo. However, there’s also no USB port, meaning you’ll need to change the CR-2 battery when the camera runs out of charge. We found this to be the case after around 100 shots.
Shooting with this camera is simple, with no fiddly settings here and only two shooting modes: regular and a selfie mode that uses a small mirror to help you line up your shot.
As far as image quality goes, the auto-exposure does a good job at getting light from dark scenes, as does the flash. Colours are soft and natural, but photos aren’t the sharpest. We found the fixed-focus lens to be great for portraits but hit and miss for landscapes, blurring objects further in the distance.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Fujifilm Instax SQ1
Instax Mini 12
Best instant camera for beginners
Pros
Fun, bubbly design Small, wallet-sized prints Mirror for framing selfies App delivers glare-free scans
Cons
Struggles to focus in low-light Chunky size
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 has a cute design and simple controls that make it an easy choice for anyone looking to pick up their first instant camera.
The Instax Mini 12 has the familiar bright and bubbly design the Mini line is known for, making it as cute of an accessory as it is a camera.
Fujifilm has done away with the power button found on the Instax Mini 9 and the Mini 11 and instead chosen to wrap the power button into the twisting mechanism already present on the lens. This means you can twist once to power up the camera and twice to enter the Close-Up (or selfie) mode.
This and the shutter button are the only controls you’ll need to know to get started with the Instax Mini 12 as the exposure and flash are fully automatic and there’s a mirror to help frame selfies. This is fantastic for beginners or anyone gifted the camera and unsure of how to get started.
The Instax Mini 12 is compatible with Instax Mini film, making it ideal for printing out small, credit card-sized photos that work out at around 75p a shot. That being said, if you’re anxious about wasting film, you might be better off opting for a hybrid camera, like the Instax Mini Evo, or an instant printer, such as the Instax Square Link.
We found photos shot with the Instax Mini 12 to be sharp with detail. There’s a good amount of contrast in the images and colours are on the cooler side, delivering the slightly faded look you’d expect from instant film.
The camera can struggle to focus in low-light situations – especially in the Close-Up mode – and we had difficultly centring shots at times despite the new Parallax Correction feature designed to prevent this.
However, the Instax Mini 12 is a fantastic instant camera for anyone looking to get into instant photography for the first time.
Reviewer: Hannah Davies
Full Review: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
Lomo’Instant Automat
Best instant camera for creativity
Pros
Easy to useCan create multiple exposures
Cons
Small and expensive filmLack of manual control option
The Lomo’Instant Automat is an instant camera with a vintage style for those looking for a non-Instax option great for taking on the go.
The camera is automated, making it easy to get to grips with for beginners. However, the focus is manual, allowing you to choose between close for portraits, mid-range for group shots and infinity for landscapes. You can also turn the flash on and off and experiment with exposure by adding and removing exposure compensation or turning to the Bulb mode for long exposure images.
The standard lens have an equivalent focal length of 35mm but you can also invest in converter lenses for added functionality.
The small viewfinder is used to frame images, though we found it wasn’t always the most accurate and doesn’t adjust when you change lens adapters, meaning you’ll only see a rough approximate of what you’re shooting. There’s also the option to take selfies, with the shutter release button doubling as a mirror.
We found that images shot on the Automat were mixed but that’s part of the charm of shooting with an instant camera. The camera produces colourful results in bright conditions and surprisingly natural ones with the flash on in darker settings, though we did see the odd light leak or lens flare
Though this camera is built by Lomography, it uses the Instax format of film, making it readily available when you need to stock up. It’s also powered by two CR2 batteries with no USB charging on board. There’s also no display on the back, meaning you can’t preview your images before they print.
Reviewer: Amy Davies
Full review: Lomo’Instant Automat
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40
A different take on the SQ1
Pros
Classic black and silver design Easy to operate Bright, stylised shots
Cons
Close-ups can be blurryInstax film isn’t cheap
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 is Fujifilm’s latest square format instant camera and a great alternative to the Instax SQ1 for anyone looking for something with a more classic appearance.
Internally, the SQ40 is largely identical to the SQ1. Both cameras have large but lightweight designs and are incredibly simple to operate, making them ideal for anyone new to instant photography.
The image quality on the SQ40 is great too. We found the camera picked up a decent amount of detail and contrast during our time reviewing it. Meanwhile, the automatic exposure and flash provide enough light to brighten up the subject regardless of the time of day.
The results were blurry at times – especially when snapping pics from a shorter distance – but small imperfections like fuzzy text and blown-out lights can also add character to an instant photo so we didn’t find this to be a dealbreaker.
Because the biggest differences between the SQ40 and the SQ1 lay in the physical design, the SQ40 is less an upgrade and more of an alternative option for anyone who wants a square format camera but prefers the black faux leather finish and silver details already found on the Instax Mini 40 and Instax Mini Evo, as opposed to the brightly coloured design of the SQ1.
Like the SQ1, the SQ40 accepts Fujifilm’s Instax Square film, which measures 62 x 62mm or 86 x 72mm including the borders. The company sells this film in packs of 20 with 10 shots available from each of the two cartridges in the box. This should work out at around 85p a shot, though anyone hesitant about wasting film may want to check out the Instax Square Link before making a final decision on either of the Square models.
Reviewer: Hannah Davies
Full Review: Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40
FAQs
Which of the above cameras come with a display? Of the above, only the Instax Mini Evo has a screen. This makes it a hybrid instant camera, as it combines digital features with the ability to print your cameras on the go Why do some of the cameras have mirrors on the front? Some instant camera feature mirrors on the front to help you frame selfies as this can be tricky when you can’t look through the viewfinder. What type of film should I use? This depends on the camera you buy. The Instax SQ1 uses large square film, while the Mini Evo, Mini 12 and Lomo’Instant Automat supports smaller rectangular film. We’d recommend always checking your specific camera to make sure you pick up the correct make and size of film.
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UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
Manufacturer
IP rating
Battery
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Release Date
Zoom
Autofocus
Burst shooting (electronic shutter)
Viewfinder
Screen
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Number of Memory card slots
USB charging
Lens mount
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
£174.99
$199.99
€199.99
Fujifilm
No
–
87 x 122.9 x 36 MM
285 G
B09N8STHQS
2022
Yes
Yes
Yes
–
Yes
Yes
Yes
1
Yes
–
Fujifilm Instax SQ1
£119
–
–
Fujifilm
No
–
130.7 x 57.5 x 118.6 MM
390 G
B08H89FP2P
2020
–
–
–
Yes
–
–
–
–
–
–
Instax Mini 12
£79.99
$79.95
–
Fujifilm
No
2850 mAh
104 x 66.6 x 122 INCHES
306 G
B0BV6JGPTG
2023
–
–
–
Yes
–
–
–
0
–
–
Lomo’Instant Automat
£129
–
–
Lomography
No
–
118.9 x 93.6 x 60 MM
–
B01MY785P6
2016
–
–
–
Yes
–
–
–
–
–
Yes
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40
£134.99
$149.95
–
Fujifilm
No
1700 mAh
134.2 x 60.5 x 120.2 MM
453 G
B0C5JPYF86
2023
–
–
–
Yes
–
–
–
0
–
–
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