Friday, April 23, 2021

These instant cameras will bring back that nostalgic photo print feeling

We've spent a lot of time testing and reviewing the best digital camera this year. And as much as we love high-end photography tools, we also dig the old-school instant camera. Today's best instant cameras are small in size and big on picture quality. So, what's the best instant camera your money can buy? These are the models we recommend.

Colorful, affordable, and reliable

Staff Favorite

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera

Small, colorful, lightweight, and easy to use, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is a solid option if you're looking for an instant film camera with style. This little device runs on two AA batteries and is compatible with Fujifilm Instax Mini film. There's a one-touch selfie mode, built-in macro mode, and an automatically adjusting shutter that gives you a perfect photo every time.

$69 at Amazon $70 at Best Buy $70 at Target

Polaroid printing perfection

Polaroid Originals Now I-Type

This fresh take on a classic looks like something your grandparents used, but it has a ton of new bells and whistles under the hood. The Polaroid Originals Now I-Type comes in 10 fun colors, has a fast autofocus system, and prints come out in sharp, vivid color with lots of detail. All-new this year, this boxy instant camera comes equipped with dual lenses, a digital photo counter, and a flash system that works even in the dark.

$100 at Amazon $100 at Best Buy $100 at Kohl's

Take photos and video

Kodak Step Touch

The upgraded Kodak Snap Touch has 13MPs, a 10X optical zoom, a pop-up flash, an auto-timer, and a selfie mirror. It can also record 1080p HD video. How's that for a tricked-out instant camera? Photos print on the inkless and inexpensive Zink paper, and this model is small enough to fit in your back pocket.

$130 at Amazon $166 at Walmart

A hybrid for perfectionists

Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay Hybrid Instant Camera

The elegant-looking Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay captures photos and sounds. The onboard LCD gives you the chance to preview photos and add filters before printing. Printing time is only 12-seconds, so you can take back-to-back pictures and never miss a moment.

$152 at Amazon $160 at Best Buy $160 at B&H

Print and shoot in an instant

Polaroid OneStep+

It's an analog instant film camera with a twist. This colorful update on your parents' film camera charges via USB and uses Polaroid 600 or i-Type film. With a self-timer inside and automatic shutter speeds, you can point and shoot self-portraits or family photos in seconds.

$140 at Amazon $140 at Moment $140 at Target

Wider than your average film

Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera (Black)

Most modern film comes in the smaller, rectangular format, but the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera takes printed photos to a whole new level! This instant camera allows for light and dark control to help you take the perfect picture and prints out on 3.38-by-4.24-inch film. You can also buy color and monochrome film.

$85 at Amazon $85 at B&H

Film meets square

Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 - Instant Film Camera - Aqua Blue

You might not be a square, but the film from the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 Instant Film Camera sure is. This innovative camera uses a square style film and auto-exposure control for a truly fantastic photography experience. The camera has a selfie mirror and also comes with three color flash filters: orange, purple, and green.

$70 at Amazon $80 at Adorama $85 at Walmart

Go Sleek

Kodak Printomatic

A slim, fun 10-megapixel point-and-shoot camera from a company that knows cameras. This offering from Kodak has a fixed f/2 lens for wide-angle and close-up shots. High-quality color and black and white photos slide out of the camera's side for on-the-go shooting and printing. The updated design is sleek and available in six colors. You can even grab a specialized camera case for the Printomatic.

$50 at Amazon $70 at Staples $50 at B&H

Print from your smartphone

Fujifilm Instax Mini Link Kit

There are times when it's inconvenient to carry an extra camera, and that's when you want the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link. This smart unit made it onto our list of the best iPhone photography printers this year for its ease of use and small size. Connect your iPhone via Bluetooth, and you can instantly print up to 100 photos at a time. This kit comes with the Mini Link printer, 20 sheets of printer paper, stickers, and a cleaning cloth.

$170 at Amazon

The perfect square

Kodak Mini Shot 3

If you want a genuinely retro-looking camera, we love the Kodak Mini Shot 3. This cool square camera prints out 3x3-inch photos in layers of ribbon, all with a laminated finish. You can even use it to print photos from your smartphone over Bluetooth. If you want something unique, this is the best instant camera for you.

$120 at Amazon

If you want our recommendation

Your new iPhone takes remarkable photos, but sometimes you want something a little different. There's no replacement for film cameras. We love the price point, quality, and bright colors the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera provides. It gives you the best of all worlds when it comes to instant printing.

The Polaroid Originals Now I-Type is the best instant camera for the whole family. It has blazing fast autofocus, can take double exposure shots, and is available in 10 colors.

If money is your driving factor, you'll save a few bucks and still get a top-notch instant camera with the Kodak Printomatic. It's a point-and-shoot model with a 5MP sensor and a wide-angle f/2 lens. It's pocketable, and prints fast to boot.


0 comments:

Post a Comment