Collection: Instant Film Cameras

How to choose an instant camera in India

An instant camera prints a photo within seconds of pressing the shutter. The print size and the film you will keep buying matter more than the camera body.

Decide the print format first

• Instax Mini: credit card sized prints. The film is the easiest to find and the cheapest per shot, so most first buyers start here. Cameras include the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 and the Instax Mini 99.
• Instax Wide: prints about twice the width of Mini. Better for group photos and landscapes. The Instax WIDE 400 and WIDE Evo use this film.
• Polaroid: square prints with the classic Polaroid look. The Polaroid Go Generation 2 uses the smaller Go film, so buy that film type.
• Kodak Mini Shot: the Mini Shot 2 Retro and Mini Shot 3 Retro are 2-in-1 cameras that also print photos from your phone. They print from a paper and ink cartridge rather than instant film. The Mini Shot 3 makes 3x3 inch prints.

Film for one system does not fit another. Check the film type on the box before buying refills from the film range.

Analogue or hybrid

A pure analogue instant camera prints every shot you take. That is part of the fun, but a bad frame still costs you a sheet. Hybrid cameras such as the Instax mini EVO have a screen and a digital sensor. You pick which shots to print, and some can print from your phone. Choose analogue for the surprise and the feel. Choose hybrid if you want less waste and more control.

Budget in plain terms

Entry models such as the Instax Mini 13 are simple and colourful, with few settings. Step up for manual controls, lens effects or a hybrid screen. Wide and Polaroid formats cost more per print than Mini, so think about how often you will shoot, not only the price of the camera.

Tips for better prints

• Keep film away from heat and direct sun. Indian summers can spoil film left in a car or bag.
• Shoot in good light, and stay within the flash range indoors.
• Keep spare batteries, since most models run on AA cells or a built-in rechargeable battery.

Other fun options

If you want the film look without instant prints, a single use camera like the Fujifilm QuickSnap is an easy start. For a small digital camera that fits a pocket, see point and shoot cameras.