Polaroid power: A guide to choosing the best instant camera in 2024

When you take a picture using a Polaroid camera, the camera opens the shutter and lets the light hit the film, forming a negative image. The chemicals on the film, when exposed to sunlight, will develop into a beautiful picture. Depending on the light intensity, it could take a couple of seconds to a few minutes for the image to develop. If you have been looking around for a perfect instant camera, look for the following features to find one that suits your needs:

Smart or non-smart instant camera

A retro instant camera from the 90s (Image credit: Pixabay/wisconsinpictures)

While most instant cameras are simple devices that instantly print a picture, there are also plenty of instant cameras with smart features, which enable additional capabilities, including the ability to share photos to your smartphone, and cameras with displays that support quick edits. Some cameras even allow users to store digital photos on the device.

Of course, a smart instant camera will cost a bit more than a regular version, which just prints out photos and does not offer any sort of preview or customisation of the pictures.

Another important aspect to consider while buying an instant camera is the film format. Most instant cameras offer mini-sized photos. However, some cameras offer wide or square-shaped photos. Mini-sized photos will be vertical in format, wide photos will be horizontal, and square-shaped photos will have equal length and breadth.

Do note that some budget instant cameras do not include any film, which has to be bought separately. Hence, always choose one that comes with at least some films, ensuring that you can start taking pictures as soon as you get it.

Just like smartphones, some instant cameras come with a rechargeable battery, while some require AAA/AA batteries. If you intend to use the camera a few times a year, then get one with a replaceable battery. Similarly, if you tend to use it daily, then we suggest a camera with a rechargeable battery. If you don’t want to own an additional camera, you can also look at instant printers, which are pocketable devices that can be paired with your smartphone to instantly print a picture.

Based on these parameters, here are some of the best instant cameras that one can buy in 2024:

Bunch of photos captured using instant cameras (Image credit: Pixabay/freestocks-photos)

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12

Priced at Rs 7,999, this is easily one of the most affordable instant cameras in the market, which comes with a 10-shot film. The Instax Mini 12 is available in multiple colour options, and it offers complete control over the picture, allowing users to adjust things like shutter speed, ISO, and flash intensity to capture the perfect photo at all times. It has a physical viewfinder and is suited for close-up shots with a distance of 30 to 50 cm.

Instax Pal

This is one of the most compact digital cameras that connects to an external device to print polaroids. The camera currently retails for Rs 10,999 and is available in five different colours, which can pair with the Instax Link Series Smartphone Printer. You can easily carry the Instax Pal in your pocket or you can even use it like a keychain. It has a rechargeable battery with a USB-C port, which makes it easy to charge. The printer is sold separately.

Instax Mini Evo

This is a Polaroid camera with a digital display and looks like a classic 90s camera with a dual-tone finish. The camera currently costs Rs 19,999 and users can preview the picture before they choose to print it. If you are in the market for a smart instant camera, the Instax Mini Evo is the one to consider.

Polaroid Now I-Type

This is a classic-looking instant camera that looks very trendy and premium but it is also on the larger side compared to the other options on this list. Right now, the camera is available on Amazon for Rs 17,400 and it is compatible with both i-Type and 600 film. Overall, this camera combines the past with the future and offers the best of both worlds.

Kodak Mini 3 Retro

If you are not looking into a camera but just want a printer that connects to your smartphone and offers similar functionality, then a product like the Kodak Mini 3 Retro makes a lot of sense, which currently retails for Rs 12,000 and even includes 68 photo sheets. This device can be paired to an Android or an iPhone by downloading the Kodak photo printer app, which lets users print already existing phones from their smartphones.