- Fujifilm Instax SQ6 Review, best instant camera for travel?
- Instant cameras compared, travel photographer’s view
- Never Travel Without An Instant Camera! (Instant cameras review)
How to choose an instant camera? This post will help you. Here, I list the most popular modern models and focus on their key differences. If you read this through, you will understand what are the cameras on the market and choose the instant camera that suits you. (If you don’t know if you need such a camera – read the previous chapter)
In the post, I provide affiliate links for purchasing the cameras. If you buy an item using these links – it doesn’t cost you extra, but it gives me a small % from the sale. It helps with running this blog.
In our days, the most commonly used instant cameras are Fujifilm Instax followed by Polaroid Originals. There are also models by Lomography and Leica.
Table of Contents
Fujifilm Instax Mini series (analog)
These are the least expensive cameras on the market. They all use similar Instax Mini film. All cameras have a full-frame equivalent focal length of 35mm.
Film size 62x48mm
Good
- Cheapest cameras and film
- Size of a business card; fits into a wallet
- Films with different frames, including cartoonish
- Black and white option available
Bad
- Small, had to see details
All cameras set the shutter speed automatically, based on the amount of light. In my opinion, these cameras are primarily designed to work with flash. If flash is off, there is a risk to underexpose/overexpose.
All cameras have a minor issue – the viewfinder is away from the center. The picture in the viewfinder is slightly be shited, which makes it hard to shoot close-ups.
Here are the key differences between the Instax Mini cameras:
| Mini 9 | Mini 25 | Mini 70 | Mini 90 | |
| Flash can be off | No | No | No* | Yes |
| Focus (m) | 0.6-inf** | o.5-inf** | 0.3-06 0.6-3 3-inf | 0.3-06 0.6-3 3-inf |
| Shutter speed (s) | 1/60 | 1/3 – 1/400 | 1/2 – 1/400 | 1.8 – 1/400 |
| Tripod mount | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Selfie mirror | Yes | Yes | Yes | No*** |
| Timer | No | No | 10 Sec | 10 Sec |
| Bulb mode | No | No | No | Yes |
| Double exposure | No | No | No | Yes |
* Flash can be switched off if you shoot 3 meters to infinity
** There is a close-up lens
*** There is a walkaround for lack of selfie mirror
Instax mini 9
(Price: 40 Eur+)The simplest camera from the series. It misses many features but still has enough to get basic things done. Sometimes frames are not exposed correctly (Is it due to 1/60 shutter speed?)
Instax mini 25
(Price: 55 Eur+) The last model, slightly improved. Sometimes you can find deals when it costs less than Mini 9.
Instax mini 70
(Price: 80 Eur+) A lot of new features, compared to the previous model and improved design.
Instax mini 90
(Price: 100 Eur +) First of all, outstanding classic design! In my opinion, the best Instax Mini model. Adds Bulb mode, double exposure, and mode for fast-moving subjects. There is no selfie mirror though…
On paper, it is packed with features, but it isn’t clear how well they work.
Fujifilm Instax Square series
Squares are my favorite! The film is around 2 times cheaper than Polaroid but around 50% more expensive than Fujifilm Mini.
Film size 62x62mm
Good
- Good size of a print
- Reminds of old Polaroids
- Medium priced cameras
Bad
- No Black and White film
- Limited frame colors (if you care…)
BUY INSTAX SQUARE FILM ON EBAY
Here, Fujifilm offers some of its most innovative instant cameras. (but to be honest, I am not a big fan of those).
Fujifilm SQ6
(Price 100 Eur+) My personal favorite! It has a superb classic design! The camera looks like an old Instagram logo. Similar to the Instax Mini, the viewfinder is not centered, so there is a minor issue when you shoot close-ups.
- Focus: Macro Mode (0.3 m – 0.5 m, Normal Mode (0.5 m – 2 m), Landscape Mode (2 m to infinity)
- Shutter 1.6 – 1/400 s.
- 10 seconds timer
- Double exposure
- Flash may be turned off
- Tripod mount
- Selfie mirror
- Focal length: 32mm full-frame equivalent
- No bulb mode
- Selfie mirror
Fujifilm SQ10
(Price: 160 Eur+) This is a completely different beast. It isn’t an analog camera, it is a digital camera + printer.
In my opinion, it isn’t really instant photography anymore. In the same way, you can take a picture with your phone and use a portable printer. Image quality maybe even better. The fact that you can print as many similar photos as you like reduces their value.
Nevertheless, this model would for sure help you to avoid failed shots. And if you would like to have similar prints for many people – it is easy to do.
Compared to SQ6:
- Minimalist modern design
- 1/4 inch sensor, 1920×1920
- Focal length 28.5 mm full-frame equivalent
- LCD monitor on the back
- Takes microSD
- Auto-focus
- Digital zoom on prints
- In-camera filters
- Bulb mode: 10 seconds
- No selfie mirror
- Shutter: 1/29500 sec. to 1/2 sec
Another thing, that others may find important – there is no phone connection.
Fujifilm SQ20
180 Eur + (saw deals, when it is cheaper than SQ10). In this camera, they stepped even further. You can shoot a video and choose the best frame.
Compared to SQ10
- 1/5 inch sensor, 1920×1920
- Shutter: 1/7500 sec. to 1/2 sec
- 4x digital zoom
- Video recording up to 15 sec
- Selfie mirror
A detailed comparison between SQ10 and SQ20
Fujifilm Instax Wide
(Price 110 Eur+) Large horizontal prints are made with Instax Wide 300, it takes Instax Wide film. It is super big, I was considering this camera, but there is no way I carry it around.
Film size 62x99mm
Good:
- Large prints
- Medium price for a film
- Black and White film available
Bad:
- The camera is gigantic!
- Only white frame color for the film (if you care…)
Instax Wide 300 features:
- Shutter speeds 1/64 sec – 1/200 sec
- Flash cannot be turned off
- Focusing: Normal Mode (0.9m – 3m) Landscape Mode (3m to infinity)
- Accompanied with a close-up lens (0.4m-0.9m) with a selfie mirror
- Tripod mount
BUY INSTAX WIDE 300 CAMERA ON EBAY
I took all the key information on Fuji website. There are more technical data available there.
Polaroid Originals
These ones look similar to the Polaroids of the past! Also, they give you the largest square prints, but the horizontal side is smaller than Instax Wide.
Film size 79x77mm
Good
- Large square film
- Retro feel
- Affordable camera
- Black and white film
Bad
- Film is expensive
- Some prefer colors of Fuji (I like both)
BUY POLAROID ORIGINALS I-TYPE FILM (Suitable for modern cameras listed below)
Polaroid Originals OneStep2
(Price 95 Eur+) I had some hands-on experience with it and… it is pretty large. Fuji cameras tend to be “flat”, this one is more of a shape of a box.
- Focal length: 40mm full-frame equivalent
- Flash can be turned off
- No macro mode
- Fixed focus (0.6 to infinity)
- Tripod mount
- Timer
- No bulb
BUY POLAROID ORIGINALS ONESTEP2 ON EBAY
Polaroid Originals OneStep+
(Price 125 Eur+) A step forward compared to the last model. The only instant camera to have manual controls.
Compared to OneStep2:
- Min. focus distance 30mm
- Portrait mode, blurred background
- The shutter can be activated from a smartphone
- Works with Polaroid app
- Double exposure
- Light painting
- Manual mode
- Shutter by noise trigger
BUY POLAROID ORIGINALS ONESTEP PLUS ON EBAY
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