5 Best Instant Cameras in the UK

With smartphone cameras getting so good of late, a dedicated camera might be redundant on a vacation. Especially, when you factor in the added weight. However, one type of camera that can be worth carrying on a trip is an instant camera. Instead of storing just a digital copy, an instant or Polaroid camera can print a physical copy of an image as soon as you capture it. If you love collecting photos, we’ve made a list of the best instant cameras you can buy.

One of the coolest features of an instant camera is the ability to print images as soon as you click them. With the onset of digital cameras, most people don’t print physical copies of photos anymore since it’s a hassle. An instant camera makes it simple and convenient to print photos as soon as you take them. With so many options in the market, it might get confusing to choose the best Polaroid camera for your needs. That’s where the list below comes to your rescue. But before we get to the products –

• Wish to capture content when traveling? Consider getting a dedicated travel camera that’s lightweight and portable.
• Share your day-to-day activities with the world using a budget vlogging camera.
• If you wish to display your pictures without printing them, a digital photo frame is the way to go.

1. YKSLEMON Kids Instant Camera

One of the specialties of the YKSLEMON instant camera is that it has an SD card slot. So, along with printing the photos you just took, the camera can also save pictures to be viewed later. This isn’t available on all instant cameras so it’s nice to see the feature, especially at this price point.

The brand provides three rolls of printing paper that can print up to 75 photos. As per reviews, the image quality is decent when it’s bright and sunny. However, the camera suffers in low-light scenarios. This is expected from pretty much any camera at this price point — let alone one that even has a built-in printer. Nonetheless, it’s a good starting point for kids if you want a cheap Polaroid camera.

2. Instax Mini 12

While there are better cameras from Instax in terms of image quality and features (one at the end of this list), the Mini 12 is small, lightweight, and affordable. This makes it a great fit for traveling. All these make the Instax Mini 12 an excellent Christmas gift that’s sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Within five seconds of clicking, the Instax Mini 12 prints out a credit card-sized photo with good image quality. However, as with most instant cameras, the Mini 12 also doesn’t fare too well at night as per reviews. Thankfully, there’s a flash that’s handy when taking photos in the dark. Moreover, Instax has also included a tiny mirror on the camera that lets you frame yourself when clicking selfies.

Available in a wide variety of fun color options, the Instax Mini 12 is a nice gift — both to yourself and a loved one. It’s the best instant print camera on a budget.

3. Polaroid Now Gen 2

It’s not just about the vintage design. The Polaroid Now Gen 2 clicks some lovely photos with the classic retro look as per reviews. Thanks to the autofocus and timer features, one can even click selfies with the Polaroid Now. And once you click a picture, it takes just a few seconds for the camera to spit out the image.

Polaroid bundles a pack of 16 films with the camera which is slightly limiting. Moreover, the film is expensive so if you’re headed on a trip, you might have to splurge on picking up some additional film to ensure you’re not left stranded without the ability to print. According to users, the picture quality is surely the highlight of the Polaroid Now camera. But, its larger-than-usual form factor can be a pain when traveling.

4. Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro

The ability to print any photo you took in the past is a nice addition since you’re getting a two-in-one product with the Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro. In fact, it’s cheaper than some standalone photo printers that have just a single functionality. We’re glad Kodak has included this feature since the Mini Shot 3 Retro’s built-in camera leaves a lot to be desired according to reviews.

While it’s compact and easy to carry, the photos it clicks lack details and are often noisy. Only when there’s ample light is the camera usable. Owing to this, it’s ideal if you rely on your smartphone to click the required photo and print it using the Kodak camera. This way, you get good image quality and a physical copy. The quality of the print is good, thankfully. Kodak also bundles 60 films to start which is useful.

5. Instax Square SQ6

Apart from the aspect ratio, the SQ6 also has more shooting modes. Along with the selfie mode that makes use of the mirror on the camera, you also get dedicated modes for landscapes, macros, and dark situations. The photos clicked via the Instax Square SQ6 are of good quality and have a vintage vibe to them.

Notably, the SQ6 is close to double the price of the Instax Mini 12. While there isn’t much to tell the two apart in terms of image quality, the feature set and mainly, the image size should be your determining factor. If you want larger photos or you want to fit more people in the frame on a group trip, the Instax SQ6 might make more sense. Or else, save up and get the Mini 12.

Bring Your Pictures to Life

Back in the day, the process of getting a film developed to print photos and then add them to an album involved a lot of fun. However, with digital cameras, the concept of printing photos has diminished. If you want to relive some special memories with physical copies of your photos, any of the best instant cameras from the list above will come in handy.