Instant Camera: The Best and Tips on How to Choose One

There instant camera we still love it a lot, despite smartphones, social media and all the digitalization that has also changed our way of seeing photography. Of course it has the charm of vintagebut if we look closely, maybe we like it for another reason too: shortens the timesimmediately satisfies our need to impress the memories on paper and it does so with simplicity, finally giving us some prints to hang in our bedroom, use as bookmarks and give as gifts.

And now that it’s time to leave, we want to take an instant camera with us more than ever. compactcute, retro enough to make us dream, but also simple to use to the point of allowing us to disconnect even from the notions that we had to acquire that time when we became passionate about mirrorless. And if wandering around the best e-shops we got confused and stumbled upon many models quite similar to each other, don’t panic. Here’s ours mini guide to the snapshots and best models to take on holiday this year.

How to choose the perfect instant camera for you

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Let’s start with some good news: the instant camera market is definitely a growing one. less insidious compared to others in the photography industry and this is mainly due to the fact that it is mostly simple devices to use and accessible to everyone. It is difficult to go wrong when choosing quality brands, but to avoid regrets, it is important to pay attention to some key factors.

Style

Anyone looking for vintage snapshots will want to make sure their camera supports films with frames of different kinds, but also with particular colors. In this sense Polaroid It is obviously one of the best equipped houses, but those who are experts in photography will also love the proposals of Lomography.

The dimensions

Each instant camera uses a specific type of film with which it obtains photos of a defined format. Before purchasing one machine rather than another, it is therefore essential to do this type of check to be sure to get the result desired.

Analog or digital?

Almost all the instant cameras in the first price range are analogue, but just add a few euros to be able to access digital models that obviously offer a photo preview in addition to usually guaranteeing a focus better. Obviously it is an experience less vintagebut it might save you from wasting film.

The best models to take on holiday

Instant Camera: The Best and Tips on How to Choose One
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Mini Shot 3 Back

Kodak
Mini Shot 3 Back

Perhaps the most interesting model on the market in terms of ratio quality priceespecially if evaluated in the long term. By choosing this camera, in fact, you take home a good instant camera that is easy to use and has good quality, which requires some of the cheaper photo papers on the market. Among other things, it connects to the smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to also print the images taken from the phonePrints are 50 x 76 mm.


Instax Mini 12

Fujifilm
Instax mini 12

The most interesting feature of this machine is undoubtedly the movement mechanical with which you turn it on and adjust the focus. By turning it once you activate the camera, while with a second turn you get closer to the subject. There is also a mirror to frame yourself precisely when taking pictures. selfieInstant films measure 50 x 100 mm.


Go

Polaroid
Go Generation 2

This is one of the models of greater success among the latest releases thanks to the extreme compactness and to the price super affordable which makes it a very valid alternative choice compared to the Polaroid Now model, which is more demanding in terms of size and price. It has the double exposurebut it does not have autofocus, the only flaw of this model. It has a self-timer function and a nice mirror for selfies. Here the films have a format of 54 x 66 mm.


Printomatic

Kodak
Printomatic Instant Camera

The price is definitely mini if ​​we consider that this instant camera has a nice 5 megapixel sensor and a 1:2 wide angle lensThe flash is automatic, the design is extremely compact especially in the thickness (only 2.5 cm) which makes it really pocket-sized and suitable to be carried even in the smallest bags. The prints produced are 50 x 75 mm.


Pop

Polaroid
Pop Instant Camera

It has a design ultra modern that breaks the line with all the vintage references and focuses instead on functionality, but also recognisability. Pop, like its name, also in the price, it is liked for the 3.97 inch touch screen which allows you to work well on editing to apply stickers, cut out or draw. The operation is simple and essential, the prints instead measure 80 x 100 mm.


Zoemini S2

Canon
Zoemini S2 Instant Camera

With this model you leave the first price range to enter a medium cost justified mainly by the Micro SD card which allows you to store shots even when the paper for printing has run out. This function therefore transforms it into a sort of hybrid between an instant and a digital camera which otherwise stands out for its 8 megapixel sensor and for the mega mirror for selfies surrounding the lens. Prints are 50 x 75mm.


Instax Wide 300

Fujifilm
Instax Wide

This instant camera is beloved by those looking for instant prints. maxi format on 62 x 99 mm film, but also by enthusiasts of the portraits thanks to the function that allows you to focus on close ups up to 40 cm from the subject. The automatic flash works very well even in low light situations. low lightwhile the tripod mount also makes it perfect for panoramic use.


Instant Automat South Beach

Lomography
Instant Automat South Beach

Not recommended for novice photographers, this Lomo can instead give great satisfaction to those who are already quite experienced. Fully automatic, it allows you to adjust the brightness photos and is equipped with two shooting modes, simple zone focus, automatic flash and compensation button of the exposure. The package also includes an additional wide-angle lens, a Close-Up lens and the classic Fisheye lens. The films measure 50 x 100 mm.

Source: Vanity Fair

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