Best Instant Cameras 2022

Who has not wanted at some point a instant camera, TRUE? The magic of instantly having that (unrepeatable) photograph on paper that we have just viewed through the viewfinder seems insurmountable to me.

If you are interested in buying an instant photo camera, you are in front of the most complete guide that you will be able to find in Spanish on this type of camera.

In the next few minutes I am going to explain to you how instant cameras work, in what price range they move and, in addition, I am going to reveal to you what, in our opinion, are the best instant cameras that you can buy right now.

Inside this guide on instant cameras you will find:

INSIDE THIS ARTICLE… šŸ“–

What are instant cameras?

The instant cameras they are those that allow you to create what is known as ā€œdirect positiveā€ immediately. That is, seconds after taking your photo, you get a hard copy on photographic paper.

This is because your instant camera’s own roll is both photo paper and a developing lab all in one.

How do instant cameras work?

As I already told you in the previous point, the instant cameras They allow you to get a paper copy instantly, but how exactly does an instant camera work?

Follow me and I’ll tell you the secret šŸ˜‰ .

Thinking of conventional film 35mm cameras, you will remember that film inside it housed a “negative”.

If you have ever had the luck or the curiosity to enter the analog world, you will know that it was called negative because the images were printed precisely like that, in negative with respect to the final photograph.

For positive that negative, it had to be done through a photographic enlarger and then subjecting the photosensitive paper to a series of chemicals to develop the image.

In the world of instant cameras, Fortunately, this process of positive It is done directly inside the camera, since the reels of these cameras are provided with their own developing system.

Instant cameras have nothing more or less than a small portable laboratory.

It is the film itself that carries all the chemicals needed to develop and fix the image. These are activated the moment you press the button and the camera ejects the paper through the slot.

In summary, an instant photo camera basically works in 4 steps:

  • Step 1: Photosensitive paper is exposed to light by pressing the shutter and captures the image.
  • Step 2: Before leaving, it passes through some rollers that spread the chemicals (located in the wide part of the characteristic white margin) on the photosensitive paper.
  • Step 3: The camera ejects the paper from the opening.
  • Step 4: Voila! Just a few seconds after pressing the shutter you have your photo on paper. Not bad for technology from almost 70 years ago, right?

But not all reels have the same system. Today, some cameras like the Kodak Printomatic and many smartphone printers They use Zink technology.

This type of paper is made up of multiple heat-sensitive layers (yellow, cyan, and magenta) that activate during printing, producing vivid color photos without the need for ink or toner.

Instant Camera Price Range

The price range in which instant cameras move, today, goes from ā‚¬60; like the Kodak Printomatikthe Fujifilm Instax mini 9 or, for very little more, the Fujifilm Instax mini 11.

The cap would be around ā‚¬200, the price at which, for example, the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo will be released shortly, which you can see in the ā€œFujifilm instant camerasā€ section (you will find it further down in this guide).

We could say, therefore, that an average price of an instant camera today is between ā‚¬100-150.

In this range you will find most cameras like the Fujifilm Instax SQ, the instax mini 90the Kodak mini Shot3 and, in general, almost all the cameras that we will talk about in this article.

The price, as always, will depend a lot on the functionalities that the camera has since, as you will see, there are completely analog cameras to instant cameras with a screen or bluetooth.

What is the best instant camera?

The best instant photo camera depends on many factors, some of which are intrinsic to the camera itself, but we must not forget the other great protagonist of these cameras: photographic paper.

Before buying an analog camera, establish your priorities and take a good look at aspects such as:

  1. The price of the reels
  2. the price of the camera
  3. Battery type (do you want battery or rechargeable battery?)
  4. Creative features (double exposure, filtersā€¦)
  5. photo size
  6. Bluetooth connectivity
  7. size of the camera itself
  8. Whether or not it has digital display
  9. Universality of paper (is it easy to find?)
  10. Available Accessories

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polaroid instant camera

Polaroid was the first company to commercialize instant cameras and, although they stopped manufacturing them as such more than 10 years ago, they have managed to return to the nostalgic market of the analog world as evidenced by their latest instant camera models.

We are going to see them all with their main features, pros and cons and some presentation videos. Are you ready? Let’s go there.

  • Polaroid One Step2
  • Polaroid OneStep+
  • Polaroid Now+
  • Polaroid Snap
  • Polaroid Go

Polaroid Instant Camera: One Step 2

Polaroid One Step2

The Polaroid One Step2 It is a very classic air model. It has a fixed lens and three modes to adjust the exposure, as well as a built-in flash. It has very good (and numerous) opinions on Amazon where you will find it at a price of ā‚¬129.99.

PROS:

  • Design
  • Good user reviews
  • Self-timer function
  • built-in flash
  • Original Polaroid size paper

CONS:

  • price of reels
  • Development time 10-15 min

In this video you can see One Step 2 in action:

Polaroid Instant Camera: One Step+

Polaroid OneStep +

This Polaroid version of the OneStep+, allows double exposure and has flash, self-timer, full manual control through a Bluetooth App, standard lens, manual mode, the possibility of painting with light, portrait mode, etc. You will find it at a price of N/A

PROS:

  • classic design
  • Allows double exposures
  • Good reviews on Amazon
  • Connectivity with Polaroid App
  • self-timer function
  • Manual control
  • built-in flash

CONS:

  • price of reels
  • Development time 10-15 min

You can see what the Polaroid One Step+ is like in the following video:

Polaroid Instant Camera: Polaroid Now+

Polaroid Now+

The Polaroid Now+ includes 5 filters that you can place in front of the lens to increase the creativity of your photos. It currently costs ā‚¬149.00.

PROS:

  • Includes 5 filters to unleash your creativity
  • auto focus
  • built-in flash
  • self-timer function
  • More creative possibilities through the Polaroid App
  • tripod mount
  • Available in 3 colors

CONS:

  • somewhat high price
  • Development time 10-15 min

In this video you can see the Polaroid Now+ (with Spanish subtitles):

Polaroid instant camera: Polaroid Snap

Polaroid Snap

Polaroid Snaps: This instant camera features 10MP, flash, Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot to save your images and print them later, among other features.

You have it on Amazon for about N/A.

PROS:

  • 10MP
  • microSD card slot
  • compact design
  • timer
  • Photos with adhesive finish
  • ZINK ZERO INK printing technology
  • Option to include or not the Polaroid border

CONS:

  • photo size

Polaroid Instant Camera: Polaroid Go

Polaroid Go

PolaroidGo: It is the smallest of the Polaroid family. Weighing 242g, this camera fits in one hand. It has built-in flash and self-timer. At the moment it is only available in white.

It is on Amazon for about ā‚¬96.99.

PROS:

  • Camera of small weight and size
  • nice design
  • Allows double exposures
  • reflective mirror for selfies
  • self timer
  • built-in flash

CONS:

  • small images
  • Development time 10-15 min

Here you can see it in action (with Spanish subtitles):

Are you wondering what to do with the reel or cartridge after it’s gone? Polaroid tells you in this video.

Fujifilm instant camera

Fujifilm instant cameras They have managed to carve out a very important niche in this new analog world and are probably one of the best known and best-selling on the market.

Its colorful designs and rounded shapes have already become a benchmark in this world of instant cameras.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the following Fujifilm instant cameras with their pros and cons and main features:

  • Fujifilm Instax mini 11
  • Fujifilm Instax Wide 300
  • Fujifilm Instax mini 90 Neo Classic
  • Fujifilm Instax SQ1
  • Fujifilm Instax mini 40
  • Fujifilm Instax mini LiPlay
  • Fujifilm Instax mini Evo

Fujifilm instant camera: instax mini 11

Fujifilm Instax mini 11

FUJIFILM Instax mini 11: This instant camera with lens and selfie mirror, flash and 293 g of weight, works with AA batteries, is completely analog and prints 62mmx46mm size photos. I leave you the complete specifications here.

You find it on Amazon for about ā‚¬83.94.

PROS:

  • Available in 5 colors
  • selfie mode
  • selfie mirror
  • Customizable glow-in-the-dark buttons
  • built-in flash
  • Value for money
  • Very good reviews on Amazon
  • price of reels

CONS:

  • photo size
  • Needs a lot of light to get good results

In the following video you can see how the Instax mini 11 works:

Fujifilm instant camera: InstaxWide 300

Fujifilm Instax Wide 300

Fujifilm Instax Wide 300: It is one of the analog instant cameras that prints larger prints. We have it reviewed in detail here.

Available on Amazon for around ā‚¬115.00.

PROS:

  • photo size
  • built-in flash
  • 2 exposure options
  • electronic trigger
  • Allows you to focus 40cm from the subject
  • tripod stand
  • zoom

Here you can see it in action: