The best instant cameras
A photo you can hold before the moment's even over. Pick the print size first, and the camera follows.
Instant cameras are one of those presents that get used on the day: at the party, on the beach, at the wedding. Fujifilm's instax cameras dominate, and the real choice is which size of print you want, because each camera only takes its own film.
Film is sold separately and is the running cost, so budget for a few packs. We've picked one camera for each print size, plus a hybrid that lets you check a shot before you print it.
What matters
- Print size: mini is credit-card size, SQUARE is square, WIDE is double width and Polaroid Go is tiny.
- Film is the running cost, and each camera takes only its own film.
- A self-timer and selfie mirror matter more than anything else on a camera like this.
#1 of 5
Best overall
instax mini 12 Instant Camera
£79.99 RRP
Twist the lens to switch on, point, shoot: exposure and flash are automatic, so there's nothing to get wrong at a party. The credit-card prints slip straight into a phone case or a birthday card.
What owners say: Owners love how easy it is and how good it looks, and it's a favourite present for teenagers.
A closer look: Film is sold separately: a pack gives 10 shots, so buy a couple of twin packs with it. Prints take around a minute and a half to appear, and they come out best if you keep film out of hot cars and direct sun. The two AA batteries last about 10 packs.
- Automatic exposure and flash
- Selfie mirror and close-up mode
- Credit-card-size prints
- Runs on 2 AA batteries
Best for: Parties and first-timers
- Film
- instax mini
- Picture size
- 62 × 46mm
- Power
- 2 × AA (about 10 packs)
- Self-timer
- No
- Screen and phone printing
- No
#2 of 5
Best premium
instax mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera
£174.99 RRP
Check the shot on the 3-inch screen and only print the keepers, so a pack of film goes much further. It also prints photos from your phone over Bluetooth, which makes it a tiny photo printer for holiday snaps.
What owners say: Owners love the retro styling and playing with the lens and film effects, and say choosing which shots to print is the big win.
A closer look: Every shot is saved to its memory (about 45 pictures) or a microSD card, so it doubles as a small digital camera. The instax mini Evo app lets you shoot remotely, handy for getting everyone in the group photo. It uses the same instax mini film as the mini 12.
- Screen to check shots before printing
- Prints photos from your phone
- 10 lens × 10 film effects
- Rechargeable, about 100 prints a charge
Best for: Choosing shots before printing
- Film
- instax mini
- Picture size
- 62 × 46mm
- Power
- Rechargeable (about 100 prints)
- Self-timer
- 2 or 10 sec
- Screen and phone printing
- 3-inch screen, prints from phone
#3 of 5
Best square prints
instax SQUARE SQ1 Instant Camera
£119.99 RRP
Square prints, a little bigger than mini, that look great pinned to a wall or stuck in a scrapbook. Twist the lens to switch on, and a further twist puts it in selfie mode.
What owners say: Owners find it fun and simple, and love the square format for scrapbooks and gifts.
A closer look: It takes instax SQUARE film only, not mini, at 10 shots a pack. The CR2 batteries last about 30 packs, so a spare pair in the camera bag covers a whole summer.
- 62mm square prints
- Automatic exposure
- Selfie mode and mirror
- Runs on 2 CR2 batteries
Best for: Scrapbooks and photo walls
- Film
- instax SQUARE
- Picture size
- 62 × 62mm
- Power
- 2 × CR2 (about 30 packs)
- Self-timer
- No
- Screen and phone printing
- No
#4 of 5
Best pocket-size
Polaroid Go Generation 2 Instant Camera
£79.99 RRP
Polaroid calls it the world's smallest analogue instant camera, and at 239g it really does come out with you. Seventy-odd years after Polaroid sold its first instant camera in a Boston department store in 1948, the white-framed prints still look the part.
What owners say: Owners love how small and cute it is and call it a favourite birthday present; the photos are small, as you'd expect.
Heads up: It only takes Polaroid Go film, which is smaller than regular Polaroid film, so check the pack before you buy.
A closer look: Instant film develops best at room temperature: on a cold day, tuck the fresh photo into a pocket while it comes through. Double exposure is fun for layering a face over a view.
- Pocket-size, 239g
- Self-timer and double exposure
- Selfie mirror
- USB-C rechargeable, up to 15 packs
Best for: Carrying everywhere
- Film
- Polaroid Go
- Picture size
- 47 × 46mm
- Power
- USB-C rechargeable (up to 15 packs)
- Self-timer
- Yes, plus double exposure
- Screen and phone printing
- No
#5 of 5
Best for group shots
instax WIDE 400 Instant Camera
£129.99 RRP
Prints twice the width of a mini, so the whole family fits in the frame at a wedding or on holiday. A 4 to 10 second self-timer means whoever's taking it can be in the picture too.
What owners say: Owners love the big prints for family groups and landscapes, and find it simple to use.
Heads up: It's a big camera (616g without film), better for special occasions than for a pocket.
A closer look: The box includes a close-up lens and an accessory for angling the camera, plus a tripod socket underneath, useful for timed group shots. WIDE film comes in 10-shot packs, and the four AAs last about 10 of them.
- Biggest instax prints (62 × 99mm)
- Self-timer, 4 to 10 seconds
- Normal and landscape focus
- Tripod socket
- Runs on 4 AA batteries
Best for: Weddings and big groups
- Film
- instax WIDE
- Picture size
- 62 × 99mm
- Power
- 4 × AA (about 10 packs)
- Self-timer
- 4–10 sec
- Screen and phone printing
- No
How they compare
| Feature | #1instax mini 12 | #2instax mini Evo | #3instax SQUARE SQ1 | #4Polaroid Go Gen 2 | #5instax WIDE 400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best square prints | Best pocket-size | Best for group shots | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.3 |
| Price | £79.99 RRP | £174.99 RRP | £119.99 RRP | £79.99 RRP | £129.99 RRP |
| Film | instax mini | instax mini | instax SQUARE | Polaroid Go | instax WIDE |
| Picture size | 62 × 46mm | 62 × 46mm | 62 × 62mm | 47 × 46mm | 62 × 99mm |
| Power | 2 × AA (about 10 packs) | Rechargeable (about 100 prints) | 2 × CR2 (about 30 packs) | USB-C rechargeable (up to 15 packs) | 4 × AA (about 10 packs) |
| Self-timer | No | 2 or 10 sec | No | Yes, plus double exposure | 4–10 sec |
| Screen and phone printing | No | 3-inch screen, prints from phone | No | No | No |
| Best for | Parties and first-timers | Choosing shots before printing | Scrapbooks and photo walls | Carrying everywhere | Weddings and big groups |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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