Best instant camera: the best digital and analog options

We all love our phones, right? But they haven't half changed our relationship with photography.

Some of you might remember rifling through physical photo albums, pictures of you as a kid. Perhaps even your parents. An instant camera can bring back some of that nostalgic charm — photos as physical objects rather than something to leave in your phone's storage to never look at again.

Today's best instant cameras typically either use Instax paper or Zink. The first offers the classic instant camera experience, where the picture gradually appears after the camera spits the thing about. Charm for days. Zink is more like a printer experience, but where the ink is inside the paper itself, negating the need for troublesome ink cartridges.

Zink cameras produce prints with smaller borders and often greater colour pop than Instax. But if you're here for that pure retro feel, Instax is the way to go.

So how do you know which one is best? It largely depends on what you’re willing to spend, and whether you want the nostalgic feeling of film, or just something a bit more fun.

Upvote the instant camera you would choose, and add any you think were wrongly left off this list.

Best instant cameras

at amzn.toThe Instax Square SQ1 uses (yes, you guessed it) square film. And though the camera is smaller than the Wide 300, the film is still 1.3 times bigger than the Instax Mini's prints.It comes in a variety of colours, including the pictured Terracotta Orange. It has a selfie mirror for use in selfie mode and has a selfie flash, too. This is one of the best-looking instant cameras on the list.

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at amzn.toThe film used in the Fujilfilm Instax Wide is twice the size of that used in the Instax Mini. You can w wider field of view, making it ideal for use at parties and other big gatherings.The tripod socket is also handy for group photos. Its close-up lens allows can focus on subjects as close as 40cm, and the flash and brightness controls allow you to adapt to different light conditions.

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at amzn.toThe Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 led the revival of the instant camera. It comes in an array of colours from Icy Blue to Flamingo, which adds to the fun.This Instax doesn’t take itself too seriously, and leans into the simplicity of instant photography. It uses AA batteries rather than a rechargeable and has a constant firing flash. Just press the shutter and the photo emerges from the top.

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at AmazonAs the name suggests, the FujiFilm Neo Classic has a more grown-up, classic design than the Instax Mini 9. It also has a variety of modes including landscape, party and double exposure.
They can be controlled either by the buttons on the back of the camera, or by the dial on the lens. Unlike many instant cameras, the Neo Classic has a socket mount. You can attach a tripod for stability.

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at amzn.toCanon Zoemini S2 is definitely one for those who like their selfies and shots to be a touch more glamourous. This is thanks to the built-in ring light and selfie mirror which will help guide you to better instant snaps.
The print-out paper has a peel-and-stick back so your photos can be turned into stickers, which is great fun. The focus is fixed, so this camera isn't much use for close-ups. However, unlike many instant cameras this one does have a microSD card. There is app functionality too, so you can personalise your picks with emojis and the like before printing them

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at amzn.toYou’ll struggle to find an easier camera to use thanks to the new ‘Automatic Exposure’ mode. This really is just a point-and-shoot and the camera will do all the hard work to adjust to the lighting, accordingly. It's 20% smaller than its predecessor, the Mini 9, but still uses two AA batteries (rather than rechargeable). great option for anyone looking for their first camera. The mini film also fits in your wallet, which is a nice touch.

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at amzn.toIf you had an instant camera growing up it probably looked like this, but less sleek and more bulky. The Polaroid Now Instant Camera i-Type has an autofocus 2-lens system, built-in double exposure and a decent flash. There's a handy digital counter so you know how many photos you have left to take and this also doubles as a battery meter. In short, though, this one is good enough to buy on looks alone and will give you that perfect 'Stranger Things' vibe.

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at amzn.toKodak Step Touch Instant Camera may well have an LED screen (and thus the potential to upset some instant camera purists) but its ability to print straight from the camera ensures it's a bona fide instant as far as we're concerned.Available in black and white body designs, this model is aimed at photography fans that want a modern twist to their instant camera experience, complete with east-to-use capture settings.

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at Amazon

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at bristolcameras.co.uk
It has a ~35mm lens and wide-format film to let you fit more people, sights or dogs into the frame.It uses Fujifilm Instax Film, available on Amazon. This camera has a more adult, sophisticated feel and keeps its distance from the bright, pastel palettes of some of the other models available.

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