Best Polaroid Cameras In 2023: A Detailed Review
After trying your hands on DSLR cameras, now want to try your skills on Polaroid cameras? Here’s the top-picked of the year’s best polaroid cameras.
Since the inception of polaroid cameras, photographers embody the magic of film print for a long time! In fact, it’s popular nowadays.
The best polaroid cameras are mentioned with features, pros and cons including our verdict, to help you to get the best instant camera peacefully.
Before You Read
Polaroid cameras or Instant cameras are shoot-and-print cameras that takes pictures and develop the print with in a seconds. It uses self-developing film to create a chemically developed print.
10 Best Polaroid Cameras (Easy To Use & Pocket-Friendly)
Polaroid cameras works simply and they are easy to use, and can be range from inexpensive to expensive. We have picked the best polaroid cameras for everyone!
KODAK Mini Shot 3 Retro
KODAK Mini Shot 3 Retro
Starting at
$140.99
- Film size: 76.2 mm x 76.2 mm
- Film type: 4PASS All-in-One Cartridge
- Minimum shooting distance: NA
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: lithium-ion battery (rechargeable via USB)
- Dimensions: 132 mm x 30 mm x 104 mm
- Weight: 850g
Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is our top pick and is truly the best polaroid camera without a doubt. The design is ergonomic and spec alignments are perfectly detonated.
Uses a lithium-ion battery which can be rechargeable via USB and gives you a total of 95 minutes of shooting experience when fully charged.
Kodak uses its primitive film print technology “4PASS” that ensures better print quality which means the best camera for photography as well.
The film print is water-resistant, dust-repeller, UV-resistant, and fingerprint-proof.
Overall, it is the best instant camera as it performs best in everything including film development, spec performance, and print quality.
➜ Read full review on Kodak mini shot 3 retro
Reasons To Buy
-
Superior photo quality
-
Support of Augmented Reality apps
- Good battery performance
Reasons To Avoid
-
No internal storage
- Heavily built
Our verdict: Innovative design and irresistible tech specs, the kodak mini shot 3 retro is an all-rounder polaroid camera to this date. A perfect instant printer and digital camera combo, with superior charm.
Instax Square SQ6
Instax Square SQ6
Starting at
$129.95
- Film size: 62 mm x 62 mm
- Film type: Fujifilm instax square film
- Minimum shooting distance: 30cm
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: CR2 lithium batteries
- Dimensions: 118.7 mm x 128.1 mm x 58.1 mm
- Weight: 393g
Another from Fujifilm, Instax Square SQ6 (which is now discontinued in most countries) is the second best polaroid camera that we can recommend as per ease of use and image quality production.
The camera is solid and feels durable. Also, it comes with dozens of features, meaning you would get more creative features than Instax wide 300.
It has an LED display, electronically-controlled self-timer of 10 seconds max, auto exposure for sharpshooting, and fast shutter response from 1.6 sec – 1/400 sec.
➜ Read full review on Instax square sq6
Reasons To Buy
-
Auto exposure control
-
Fast shoot and print
- LED display
Reasons To Avoid
-
No auto focus
Our verdict: We liked the design and picture-quality at a glance. Additionally, it shoots faster and prints faster but sometimes it delivers blurry photos (but that happens once in a hundred).
Polaroid Go
Polaroid Go
Starting at
$89.60
- Film size: 66.6 mm x 53.9 mm
- Film type: Polaroid Go instant film
- Minimum shooting distance: NA
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: lithium-ion battery (rechargeable via USB)
- Dimensions: 105 mm x 83.9 mm x 61.5 mm
- Weight: 242g
Pocket-sized and compact design, it’s been our favourite and best polaroid camera so far.
With a dimension of 5.9 x 3.3 x 2.4 inches, it can be taken anywhere in your pocket and is truly small.
Being the world’s smallest instant camera, it comes with needful features like a self-timer, selfie mode, and flash.
Despite the Fujifilm Polaroid camera, you won’t get an LED display or LCD panel but you get autofocus that lets you take pictures on the go without a delay.
➜ Read full review on Polaroid Go camera
Reasons To Buy
-
Compact and cute design
-
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Support Polaroid Go film
Reasons To Avoid
-
Struggles with bright sunlight
- Film print is costlier
Our verdict: We have never seen a small instant camera like Polaroid Go. It is ridiculously cute and convertible. Also, it is great at taking pictures.
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2
Starting at
$149.99
- Film size: 88.9 mm x 106.68 mm
- Film type: Polaroid i-Type and 600
- Minimum shooting distance: NA
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: lithium-ion battery (rechargeable via USB)
- Dimensions: 105.2 mm x 112.2 mm x 95.5 mm
- Weight: 451.5g
We think that Polaroid Now+ is better than Polaroid Go as it gives you larger film print, excellent image quality, and app connectivity to control and be more creative.
Supports polaroid 600 and the i-Type film gives you versatility in shooting and printing.
Through the app, you can try more creative functions namely double exposure, portrait mode, light painting, and much more.
We have also tested the Polaroid Now+ five bonus lens filter kit (Starburst, Red Vignette, Orange, Yellow and Blue) that comes with the camera.
They are amazing and cool, additionally, won’t affect the image quality either.
➜ Read full review on Polaroid Now+ instant camera
Reasons To Buy
-
Bluetooth connectivity
-
Bonus five lens filters
- Full size Polaroid film
Reasons To Avoid
-
No selfie mirror
- Prints work out expensive
Our Verdict: The camera performs well and it’s good for large instant prints. Mobile connectivity is an added function which facilitates comfort and need.
Instax Mini 40
Instax Mini 40
Starting at
$99.00
- Film size: 62 mm x 46 mm
- Film type: Instax mini instant film
- Minimum shooting distance: 30cm
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: AA-size alkaline batteries
- Dimensions: 104 mm × 121 mm × 65 mm
- Weight: 330g
Instax mini 40 is a point-and-shoot instant camera that lets you take pictures and print faster.
It produces sharp, clear reproduction, vivid colours, and real tones – ultimately easy to use and the perfect polaroid camera for anyone.
The design is compact and the arrangements are comfy. You would not get thwarted by the spec alignments because everything is just in place and working cool.
However, the only annoying characteristic we felt was that flash can not be deactivated. Also, the selfie mirror is decent but again not that great.
➜ Read full review on Instax mini 40
Reasons To Buy
-
Automatic Exposure
-
Simply point and shoot
- High-quality film output
Reasons To Avoid
-
Flash can’t be deactivated
Our verdict: Pretty fast and easy to use. Ergonomic design that provides positive experience while using. No haptic spec, meaning kids can also use it.
Instax Mini 12
Instax Mini 12
Starting at
$79.95
- Film size: 86mm x 54mm
- Film type: Instax mini instant film
- Minimum shooting distance: 30cm
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: AA-size alkaline batteries
- Dimensions: 104 mm x 66.6 mm x 122 mm
- Weight: 306g
Instax Mini 12 certainly wins the odds. This means, it profoundly performs better than its predecessor Mini 40 in most genres.
It takes pretty pictures from both the rear and front. It also produces a high-quality and real skin tone look.
So, if you are a selfie lover and take most group selfies, it could be a fantastic instant camera for you.
It reads light effectively, produces vivid and sharp print, and dual-lens benefit you to take pictures creatively.
Available in multiple colours, it’s also best to gift your friends or kids.
➜ Read full review on Instax mini 12
Reasons To Buy
-
Very affordable
-
Built-in selfie mirror
- Intelligent flash control
Reasons To Avoid
-
Not ergonomically designed
Our verdict: The design is exhilarating but the spec alignment is not so great. However, we loved the output it produced. Great for selfies and polaroid picture taking.
Polaroid Now Generation 2
Polaroid Now Generation 2
Starting at
$149.99
- Film size: 88.9 mm x 106.68 mm
- Film type: Polaroid i-Type and 600 film
- Minimum shooting distance: 60cm
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: lithium-ion battery (rechargeable via USB)
- Dimensions: 150.2 mm x 112.2 mm x 94 mm
- Weight: 456g
Embodying vintage style and iconic shape, the Polaroid now is a new-decade camera built for modern people who love to do polaroid photography.
The Now Gen 2 instant camera is the first in its product legacy that incorporates an autofocus feature.
It utilises a dual-lens autofocus system when exposed to the subject and helps photographers to shoot non-shaky photos every time.
The image quality is exceptional and colour reproduction is fantastic. You would get the same print on a film as you see in real life.
Overall, it is the best polaroid camera.
➜ Read full review on Polaroid now
Reasons To Buy
-
Autofocus 2-lens system
-
Human-friendly flash dispersion
- Polaroid i-Type and 600 film
Reasons To Avoid
-
Cannot edit the photo prior to printing
Our verdict: Polaroid Now and Now+ share similar features and produces excellent print quality. Both are good option to bring home.
Instax Wide 300
Instax Wide 300
Starting at
$82.75
- Film size: 86 x 108mm
- Film type: Fujifilm instax WIDE film
- Minimum shooting distance: 40cm
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: AA battery
- Dimensions: 167.8mm x 94.7mm x 120.9mm
- Weight: 612g
Instax Wide 300 produces wider-angle prints, making it notable for people who love to take landscape pictures or group shorts.
As it uses Fujifilm Instax wide film which is the biggest film print of the Instax family, it produces 3.4-by-4.3-inch photographs.
In this polaroid camera, you get optical viewfinder support that helps take a picture with real colour and scene.
Getting additional features such as a zoom ring, LCD display, brightness control, and flash – makes it the best polaroid camera for landscape shooting.
➜ Read full review on Instax wide 300
Reasons To Buy
-
Larger print
-
Excellent film quality
- Easy to use
Reasons To Avoid
-
Fewer creative options
- Tiny viewfinder
Our verdict: We like the Fujifilm Instax wide 300 because it produces high-quality and wider film print, but the camera is a little bulky and gives you fewer creative options.
Instax Mini LiPlay
Instax Mini LiPlay
Starting at
$159.95
- Film size: 86 x 54mm
- Film type: Fujifilm instax mini
- Minimum shooting distance: 10cm
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: Lithium-ion battery (built-in, cannot be removed)
- Dimensions: 82.5 mm x 122.9 mm x 36.7 mm
- Weight: 225g
Out of most of the Fujifilm Instax series instant cameras, the Instax mini LiPlay is the most advanced Polaroid camera developed by the company.
Standard features such as a selfie mirror, shutter button, film ejection, strap hook, USB port, and power/reset button are available along with advanced features such as LCD monitor, microphone, speaker, and cross key.
The surprising element of this camera is that it records sounds. Meaning, more than just print, you also get sound function.
It has ⅕-in CMOS with a primary sensor that takes brilliant-quality pictures in the daytime.
You could expect to get 100 prints (estimated) when the battery is fully charged at 318 dpi.
➜ Read full review on Instax mini liplay
Reasons To Buy
-
LCD monitor
-
Lightweight
- Sound function
Reasons To Avoid
-
High cost per print
Our Verdict: A new era polaroid camera that performed more than imagination. The support of sound function, frames and filters makes it champion in the field of instant camera (market).
NONS SL660
NONS SL660
Starting at
$599.00
- Film size: 72 x 86mm
- Film type: Fujifilm instax square film
- Minimum shooting distance: NA
- Film feeding out: Automatic
- Battery: Lithium-ion battery (rechargeable via USB)
- Dimensions: 134 mm x 91 mm x 131 mm
- Weight: 850g
SL660 is an analogue instant camera that shoots and prints brilliantly. We noticed that this camera comes with interchangeable lens functionality as well.
Meaning, fully compatible with EF lenses, and various vintage lenses.
We were also impressed with its film print quality, which genuinely prints out real colour-grade images after a few seconds of the shot.
It uses Fujifilm Instax square film which is widely available in the market to this date.
Unlike other best Polaroid cameras, it offers manual controls to take the best shot possible.
You can control shutter speed and aperture along with external flash and exposure details.
We think it’s best suitable for those who shoot ProRes photos and are intermediate professionals.
As there are learning curves involved, it is hard for beginners to grasp skills.
➜ Read full review on Nons sl660
Reasons To Buy
-
Interchangeable-lens
-
Made of metal
- Support Fujifilm Instax Square Film
Reasons To Avoid
-
High cost per print
- Not for beginners
Our verdict: The experience with SL660 is incredible as it brings DSLR-style photos in polaroid photography. It has great build quality and offers immersive controls for shooting.
?
How To Choose The Perfect Polaroid Camera?
Though the polaroid camera works differently from other types of cameras such as SLR cameras. Certainly, there are a few factors to keep in mind to choose the perfect camera that suits your photography needs.
- Check what kind of features you will get in your polaroid camera. Features like autofocus, dual lens, and self-timer are critical to present.
- Consider film development time (a duration taken by the camera to print a captured image on the film) the lesser it would be the faster the print will be.
In conclusion, you can go with Fujifilm polaroid cameras because they offer a coax of features, fast and high-quality film print, and come with an electronic self-timer.
Which Instant Camera Is Reliable and Best To Buy?
We analysed dozens of cameras and the best of them are shown here. We have experienced that each polaroid camera is distinct from the others. So, testing for reliability isn’t difficult for us.
Unarguably, FujiFilm-created polaroid cameras are best. They keep prices reasonable, deliver exceptional film quality, and people trust.
Summary: Best Polaroid Cameras
| IMAGE | PRODUCT NAME | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
KODAK Mini Shot 3 Retro |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Instax Square SQ6 |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Polaroid Go |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Instax Mini 40 |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Instax Mini 12 |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Polaroid Now Generation 2 |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Instax Wide 300 |
|
Buy Now |
 |
Instax Mini LiPlay |
|
Buy Now |
 |
NONS SL660 |
|
Buy Now |
Thanks for looking at the best polaroid cameras.
Consider FujiFilm polaroid cameras as they build on top-of their tech innovation and the best way to capture a moment of your life.
Kodak mini shot 3 retro is also the best polaroid camera for kids and adults. As it offer top-notch print quality and good color production, you can consider it for all events and adventure.
Recent Updates
| August 8, 2023 | Reviewed the accuracy of the article. |
| August 8, 2023 | Added each cameras “full review” link. |
| August 8, 2023 | Added more frequently asked questions. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an instant camera?
An Instant camera lets you print the image captured by the system after a few seconds of being shot. In alternate terms, a kind of camera that takes a picture and prints it after a few seconds.
What are the pros and cons of a polaroid camera?
The main advantage of having a polaroid camera is that you can get a print of your image in a few seconds. On the contrary, the main disadvantage is that you need to buy photographic film paper from time to time.
How does a polaroid camera work?
In a polaroid camera, the photo-development phenomenon is based on negative and positive sheets. After the shutter press, the lights reflect, after which the two sheets are brought into the process by being pulled b/w a pair of pressure rollers.
Do Polaroid pictures fade?
Yes, a picture taken from a polaroid type camera could fade or become damaged over time. But the Kodak mini shot 3 retro gives 100 years of life cycle on print film.
What is the best instant camera?
The best instant camera as per our view and verdict is Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro because it adopts the 4-PASS film-making process.
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