Digital has killed analogue photography right Well, that may the case in most areas, but analogue is fighting back.Whether its nostalgia creeping back or the unique aesthetic they provide, instant cameras and their distinct prints are seeing a renaissance - even with the dominance of the smartphone, you cant beat having a print in your hand.So, whether youre looking for a fun instant camera to bring out at parties, or wanting to get a bit more creative with your photography, then youll want one of these cracking cameras below.1.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9Lens: 60mm | Focusing: Macro, Normal and Landscape | Flash: Built-in | Self-timer: YesSimple to useFun selfie mirrorLimited controlQuality could be betterIf you're looking for a cheap and easy to use instant camera, you're not going to go that wrong with the Instax Mini 9 from Fujifilm.
It may lack the more sophisticated controls that pricier models enjoy, but that's half its charm.
With little input required to produce decent credit card-sized instant prints, anyone in can use it.
Great fun at parties, the little mirror on the front of the camera means it's easy to get an instant selfie.2.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 70Cheap and cheerful, but great funLens: 60mm | Focusing: Macro, Normal and Landscape | Flash: Built-in | Self-timer: YesReally easy to useSelfie modeCan obscure flashLimited controlA little more advanced than the Instax Mini 9, the Instax Mini 70 offers a few more features, but is still a cost-effective way to get into instant photography.
The only thing you need to be careful ofis that you dont obscure the flash withyour finger when youre taking shots vertically.
Everything else is taken care of focusing, exposure and flash are all fully automatic.
The inability to control theflash manually can be a bit of an annoyance youd need the more expensive Instax Mini 90 for that but you do get a selfie mode and even a tiny selfie mirror on the front.
We really liked the Instax Mini 70 as a simple party accessory.3.
Polaroid OneStep 2A big dollop of retro charmLens: 106mm | Focusing: Macro, Normal and Landscape | Flash: Built-in | Self-timer: YesRetro designEasy to useControls could be laid out betterFilm is pretty priceyWith the famous brand now under the ownership of the group of instant film enthusiasts who stepped in to continue producing Polaroid film once the brand collapsed, the OneStep 2 is the first camera in this new era.
Embracing a retro design inspired by the original OneStep from the 1970's, the new camera is just as easy to use.
Producing large, square instant prints (it uses Polaroid I-Type film), it does mean you'll be paying quite a bit more per print compared to its Instax rivals.
If you're happy to pay for that luxury, then you'll love the OneStep 2.4.
Leica SofortLeica making an instant camera Yup, you heard it rightLens: 60mm | Focusing: Macro, Normal and Landscape | Flash: Built-in | Self-timer: YesPremium feelLot of controlSimilar to Fuji's instax mini 90Pricey optionIts chunky and solid, and although its made of plastic, its good plastic.
It comes in a choice of mint, orange and white, and takes regular Fujifilm Instax Mini film packs, although Leica supplies its own film packs too, which produce a warm white frame around each picture.
You compose shots using the small direct-vision viewfinder in the top left corner on the back of the camera.
Its not very big, but its usable enough.
For an instant camera, the Sofort offers a lot of control, with Macro, Bulb, Self timer, Party People, Sport Action, Double Exposure and Selfie modes in addition to fully automatic operation.
You can also turn the flash on and off.
The Sofort is expensive compared to the Fujifilm Instax Mini 70, despite using the same size of film.5.
Fujifilm Instax Wide 300Large camera that delivers large photosLens: 95mm | Focusing: Normal and Landscape | Flash: Built-in | Self-timer: NoEasy to hold and useLarge printsBulky designTiny viewfinderBig hardly covers it.
The Instax Wide 300 is the size of an old-fashioned medium-format rangefinder camera, even a small folding field camera.
Its because it uses instax wide film packs rather than the regular instax mini.
The Instax 300 wide might look big andclumsy but its light, and the generous grip makes it easy to hold and use.
You power up with a spring-loaded switch around the shutter release, which extends the 95mm lens.
The instax wide format is much larger than a digital sensor, so this equates to a moderate wide-angle lens.
For a big camera, though, the Instax Wide 300 has a tiny viewfinder.
It takes practice even to get your eye lined up with the eyepiece.
Otherwise, its simple to use and delivers very good results.
Where the regular instax mini format produces small photo tokens, these are more like proper photographs.6.
Impossible I-1Curious mix of old-school chemistry and new-fangled technical wizardryLens: N/A | Focusing: 5 focusing modes | Flash: Built-in (ringflash) | Self-timer: YesHandy ring flashCreative shootingBulky to carryLoses power quicklyResembling a cross between a plastic pyramid and a spaceship from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Impossible I-1 features lights around the lens to form a ring flash for softer portrait lighting, while it even comes with a free I-1 app for your smartphone.
You can use this as aremote trigger, a noise trigger and aself-timer.
The app also allows double exposures, light painting, and aperture and shutter speed adjustment and it works as a photo scanner too.
This makes the I-1 an excellent tool for experiments ininstant photography, but too cumbersome for informal party shots.
The shape doesnt help this is a bulky camera to carry around.
The battery in our sample lost its power far too quickly as well: the battery was flat practically every time we went to use the camera.6.
Polaroid SX-70Retro fun that's an experience to useLens: N/A | Focusing: 5 focusing modes | Flash: Sold separately | Self-timer: YesClassic stylingProper viewfinderFilm is expensiveLong development timesAmazing to look at even now, the Polaroid SX-70 (refurbished and sold bythe Impossible Project) is a real blast from thepast.
Even unfolding it for use is anadventure, with the top of the camera opening out on a set of bellows.
Its an ingenious system because you even get through-the lens viewing and focusing via a pop-up eyepiece on the rear of the viewfinder housing and a split-image rangefinder.
Its a bit dark, but it is at least a proper viewfinder.
You adjust the focus with one dial on thefront of the camera and the exposure compensation with another the new Impossible Project film has a different sensitivity to the original emulsion.
The camera is great, but the film is expensive for experimenting with (each pack has abattery built in) and the 30-minute development time is so long that this camera is actually far from instant.
You also need to make sure you get the proper SX-70 film, which has a lower sensitivity than the others4 films to choose from1.
Instax MiniThe most common instant film format, producing pictures measuring just 62 x 46mm.2.
Instax WideTwice the size of instax mini and twice the price, but photos measure a meatier 99 x 62mm.3.
Polaroid I-TypeDesigned for use in the Impossible I-1and OneStep 2, I-Type film packs dont have batteries built in.4.
Polaroid 600Film designed for Polaroid 600-type cameras.
It can also be used in the Impossible I-1 and OneStep 2.xfG7M2yMk5EptYcmXTrfUF.jpg#