Instant Photography for Beginners: Top Camera Picks & Where to Buy

Welcome to the final post in my Instant Photography for Beginners series! I know it’s been a while since my last post, so, if you need a refresher, or if you are just now stumbling across my site and have not yet read parts I-III of this series, I encourage you to start at the beginning! Otherwise, let’s get into my top picks and my favorite places to purchase instant cameras.

**For the sake of brevity, I will not be breaking down each camera’s features as I talk about them, since I have already done this in Part II of this series.

Top Picks:

1) Polaroid 600-series

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows my work that I would choose 600-series Polaroid cameras as my #1 suggestion. I have lumped the entire 600 lineup into one category because they all work similarly to one another with a few slight differences between models.

I love these cameras because they are a) easy to find, b) easy to use, and c) easy to get film for. They are also relatively inexpensive due to their abundance in the instant camera market, which makes them a relatively budget-friendly vintage option. To add to all of this, they come in a LOT of different colors, patterns, and character editions (like the Barbie camera pictured above), so you get the opportunity to choose a camera that fits your style and personality.

If it is not clear enough already, the 600-series gets my top pick for best vintage camera.

2) Polaroid Now i-Type

This spot almost went to the Polaroid OneStep 2, but, for a price difference of $10 US ($89 for the OneStep 2 vs $99 for the Now), the Polaroid Now packs in a few more features that make for a better experience while still being beginner-friendly.

This is the newest camera in the Polaroid lineup, and, for those who are looking for a somewhat vintage experience with a few modern conveniences (gotta love a rechargeable battery!), this camera is the perfect option. Not only are the cameras themselves fairly priced, but the film for these cameras is less expensive than the film for 600 or SX-70 models (around $16 per pack instead of $19 per pack) due to the film cartridge not housing a battery. Another cool thing about this camera is that, because it is an i-Type, Polaroid is constantly releasing limited-edition film packs for this camera (you can currently purchase Peanuts and Star Wars: The Mandalorian packs, for example), and you can use 600 film in them too, if there are limited-edition frames you wish to shoot with.

All-in-all, I think this camera is a brilliant option, and gets my top pick for best-all-around due to the features and pricing.

3) Fujifilm Instax SQ6

If you are looking for a classic square-framed image and are a fan of Fujifilm, this is the camera for you. Not only are these cameras beautiful to look at, but, for $100 US (and often less, since they are regularly put on sale!), they pack a real punch in terms of features while still being easy to use. The film for these cameras is also considerably less expensive than the film for Polaroid cameras, which makes them the most budget-friendly camera option for those who still want a square frame.

In conclusion, the SQ6 gets my top pick for best modern square-format camera.

4) Fujifilm Instax Mini 11

As far as ease-of-use goes, the Fujifilm Instax Mini cameras take the top-spot. If you are someone who wants to simply pick up a camera and go without having to fiddle around with too many features and you enjoy the credit-card sized image the Instax Mini produces, I would definitely say give this camera a try. They come in an array of colors, too, which makes them fun to use in addition to being easy.

In addition to being my top-pick for most fun to use, this is also my pick for most kid-friendly, not only because they are easy to use and inexpensive to purchase, but also because they are lightweight and have a curvy shape that fits well into smaller hands.

5) Polaroid OneStep+ i-Type

Finishing off with Polaroid, my final recommendation for an instant camera for beginners is the OneStep+. This camera gives you all of the features of the Polaroid Now, but with added Bluetooth Connectivity so that you get even more creative control by pairing the camera with the Polaroid Originals app.

In my opinion, this camera is great for those who are already into digital photography and want to get into instant photography, as it brings in a lot of what digital cameras have to offer while still giving you the vintage vibe that Polaroid puts off.

This camera gets my pick for best segue from digital to instant.

Where to Buy:

In this section, I will be sticking to websites, as it is the most universal option. However, I do have a special mention at the end that is great for those who like to treasure hunt, so keep reading for that!

Polaroid: For Polaroid cameras, it makes total sense to go straight to the source when looking for a camera. They have a great selection of cameras that you can trust to be in perfect working condition, as well as a selection of accessories and film to go with your new camera. They also have a rewards program, which works by converting the dollars you spend on their site into points that can be redeemed for coupons once you have collected enough — if you are buying a lot of film from their site, these points really do add up!
Retrospekt: Retrospekt is a super cool shop — they refurbish old cameras (and GameBoys, too!) and sell them at fair prices. They, too, have accessories for your new camera, and they have a few types of instant film for sale as well. You can even ship used cameras to them to have them refurbished, which is a major plus if you have either found or inherited a used camera that doesn’t quite work. Plus, they offer free shipping on all orders!
B&H: B&H was THE go-to site for me to shop for film on during my college years, and I still love to purchase from them because they tend to have a good selection and great prices. They will even have discontinued camera models and editions from time-to-time, especially Fujifilm Instax cameras, and they will also have kits available on occasion as well, so I definitely recommend checking them out!
Best Buy: If you are looking for an Instax Mini or a Polaroid i-Type, Best Buy is a great place to go. I know I said I would be sticking to websites in this section, but Best Buy really gives the best of both worlds in that you can either order online or go into the store and find one of the aforementioned cameras.
Etsy: Etsy is on of my favorite websites to shop on, and, due to the wide array of sellers who sell on Etsy, it is easy to find and instant camera at a decent price. If you look hard enough, you can sometimes find a seller who has a unique or rare find. If you are shopping on Etsy, pay attention to whether or not the seller states that the camera is tested and in working condition, otherwise you may find yourself having to find someone to repair it.

Honorable mention: Vintage/Thrift shops! I am a HUGE fan of going vintage/thrift shopping, and I will often stumble across various Polaroid cameras when I am out and about. I am pretty good at being able to tell when a camera will or won’t work, and, if it does not, I know of a couple of places (Retrospekt being one of them) where I can send them off to be repaired if necessary. I got my Polaroid OneStep 600 from a vintage shop for $10 in PERFECT condition, so I would never rule second-hand shops out as an option if you enjoy treasure-hunting.

Another option is, of course, Amazon, and the only reason I did not mention them is because they are such an obvious option and because, quite honestly, I am not the biggest fan of Amazon and would rather look elsewhere first (this is a rant for another day).

As always, I encourage you to do your own research when it comes to buying cameras, as you may find that you have more in-person options where you live, or different websites you like to purchase from if you are outside of the United States.

Conclusion:

Thank you all so much for sticking with this series! I know this post took a while to get out (I’ve had a lot of life events happen in the past month), so, if you came back to read this, I appreciate your patience!

This was such a fun and ambitious project to undertake — I certainly underestimated the amount of time and research it would take to break down the world of instant-cameras in a way that would make sense for beginners, but I am overall pleased with how the series turned out.

If you have any suggestions for what my next post or series should be on, let me know in the comments below or by sending me a message, either through my contact me page or via Instagram.

Thanks again for reading, and I will talk to you again soon!