The Best Instant Cameras for 2024

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Looking for an instant camera? You're not alone. Instant film is as popular today as it has ever been. Fujifilm and Polaroid are still making Instax and I-Type films, along with the cameras to match. PCMag has been testing instant cameras for a decade, so we know all the major manufacturers and formats. Our favorites include the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 and Mini 12, but we also recommend models for Square and Wide film and a couple of Polaroid options. Check out all of our top picks below, followed by everything you need to know about today's instant cameras.

What Are the Different Instant Film Formats?

Understanding the various instant film formats is an important first step before making a purchase. Let's start with the most popular option, Fujifilm's Instax Mini. This film is about the size of a credit card when you take its border into account, and the image area measures 2.4 by 1.8 inches (HW).

Film is available in color or monochrome and is compatible with cameras from many different brands, such as Fujifilm, Lomography, Mint, and Nons. Our favorite entry-level model, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12, sells for about $80 and is available in many colors. If you're a more serious shutterbug, consider the Lomo'Instant Automat Glass, which has a wider-angle lens (better for selfies) and supports multiple exposure images. Our overall favorite is the Mini 99. It uses the same lens as the basic Mini 12 but includes internal LED lights to add color-filtered effects to pictures and offers a level of manual exposure control.

Color Instax Mini film is pretty affordable. Prices vary a bit across retailers, but you should expect to spend around $0.70 per photo. Black-and-white film is a little pricier, at around $0.80 per image. And if you want film with colorful borders or other special finishes, the costs can double. Buying in bulk is one way to save money in the long run.

If you prefer a bigger image, you can opt for the Instax Wide format, which is also available in color or monochrome. The image size is about double that of Mini—basically two mini shots side-by-side (2.4 by 3.9 inches). The Wide film costs a bit more than the Mini, so expect to spend around $0.95 per frame for color or $1.50 for black-and-white. Camera choices are more limited. The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 is the basic option, Lomography offers the Lomo'Instant Wide and Wide Glass, and Mint has a high-end entry, the $900 InstantKon RF70.

For some photographers, instant film is synonymous with Polaroid, meaning a square format is necessary. In that case, you want Fujifilm's Instax Square film. It's available in both color (about $1.00 per frame) and black-and-white ($1.50 per frame), just like the Mini and Wide films. The Square format is the most recent of Fuji's offerings and has taken off in a way Wide never did. Camera support is broad, with options ranging from the basic Fuji SQ1 to the Nons SL660 SLR. And, if you already own an old Hasselblad V camera, the Nons Instant Back is a good add-on; Instax Square film is practically the same size as the Hasselblad's 6x6cm format.

You're also likely to come across Zink cameras when you shop for an instant. Zink is a thermal print format so its tonality and color fidelity aren't on the same level as Instax and Polaroid materials, all of which use photochemical film to create images. While Zink prints generally don't look as good as real film, the format wins out on cost at about $0.50 per print. Compatible cameras are pretty cheap, too. The Kodak Printomatic currently costs around $50, for instance.

Can You Still Use Polaroid Cameras?

But what if you've got an honest-to-goodness Polaroid camera? The company has been reborn in the 21st century—it's gone through some name changes over the years, from the Impossible Project to Polaroid Originals, but today it's just called Polaroid. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

You can still get color or black-and-white film for an SX-70 or 600 series camera. It's expensive, though, at around $20 for a pack of eight shots. If you don't already have a vintage instant camera and like the idea of repurposing old tech, you can look to a shop like Mint Camera or Retrospekt to get a refurbished SX-70, 600 SLR, or another classic. We took a Retrospekt-restored SX-70 for a test drive—check out our story if you're thinking about going the true vintage route.

Polaroid film is bigger than Instax, but the quality of its color stock just isn't as good. Colors shift in cold temperatures, overall saturation isn't as deep, and you must take care to shield it from light as it develops. The black-and-white film is much better, though—it's less temperamental and shows excellent contrast. Both have a larger image area than Instax Square, so the more impactful image might make it worth the hassle.

Polaroid also makes new cameras, the Now+ and I-2 being the latest. They work with I-Type film ($17 per pack of eight shots) and support Bluetooth connectivity for app-based remote control. A Polaroid is a worthwhile option for artistic photographers who are willing to spend a bit more than on Instax.

You can go smaller, too. The tiny Polaroid Go Generation 2 uses tiny 1.8-inch square film, available in color only, priced at $20 for a double pack (16 exposures). The Go is definitely cute, but we think it's worth using classic Polaroid or Fujifilm Instax Square film because of their bigger image sizes.

How to Convert Digital Pictures to Instant Prints

If you've got an itch to shoot film again and don't want to have to find a local lab to develop your shots, instant film is a good alternative. It delivers results that almost match digital in their immediacy.

If you have a favorite image that you shot with a digital camera and want to preserve it on instant film, you're in luck. You can print any photo from your smartphone onto Instax Mini film using the Instax Mini Link, onto Instax Wide with the Link Wide, or onto the square format with the Polaroid Lab.

On the other hand, you can also digitize your instant prints. For tips, check out our guide to preserving your photos.