Analog photography has almost disappeared from our lives with the advent of digital cameras, but there is still a small group of users who want to continue taking photos in a more traditional way. Instant cameras are the cheapest and fastest way to get traditional photos. We explain how they work and what are the 5 best instant cameras .
Why buy an instant camera in 2019
Digital still cameras have evolved tremendously in the last 15 years, to the point that analog cameras are almost an extinct species . Digital sensors have more and more resolution and are capable of capturing scenes with better quality and greater precision. The biggest advantage of a digital camera is that you do not need to take to develop the photos, you simply save them on the computer and do whatever you want with them.
However, there are still users who prefer to have their photos on paper, and who appreciate the higher quality that analog photography can offer. Instantaneous cameras , which are based on analog photography technology to print photos very quickly , have recently become fashionable .
Analog instant cameras work in a very simple way. The photos are taken on small cards that have a layer of special material . Pressing the shutter button on the camera opens the mechanism that allows light to reach this photosensitive surface. In a few seconds your photo will print, although you will have to wait a minute or two for the image to be visible.
Print cartridge in an instant camera
These cameras are ideal for birthday parties, weddings, trips to the beach and other types of celebrations with guests. You can take a photo and give it to him as a souvenir in a few minutes.
After this brief introduction, we go on to see the 5 best instant cameras that you can buy in this year 2019.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 instant camera has some details typical of higher-end cameras. This model has a macro lens that will be ideal for taking photos at a very short distance, for example, for photographing an insect with a great level of detail. It also has a small adjustment wheel for the brightness level. This special lens allows you to take photos as little as 35 cm away.
With this Fujifilm wants to show that using an instant camera does not have to mean less image quality . However, it also has a downside. The size of the photos slightly exceeds that of a credit card, perfect for carrying them in your wallet, but it can be very small for other uses.
The printing system takes the photographic paper automatically , so you just have to put the cartridge in and you can forget about it until it runs out completely and you have to replace it with a new one.
The build quality of the camera is excellent , the Japanese brand always uses the best materials to create its products and in this case it is no exception. The simplicity of use has also been taken care of, with a single button, no one will complain that it is a difficult camera to use.
Its price is 63 euros, a great value for money.
Polaroid POLSP01W
Polaroid has always been one of the best at making instant cameras. The manufacturer has equipped this model with an advanced 10 megapixel digital sensor , a resolution more than enough to take high quality photos. Its system offers several capture modes including bank and black, retro, vintage, sepia and others.
The camera is powered by a rechargeable battery, and photos are printed using Polaroid's Zink printing system , which requires no toner or ink cartridges to work. Photos are approximately 5 x 7.6 cm in size.
The weight of the camera barely reaches 213 grams, making it ideal to take it to all kinds of events in a very comfortable and practical way. It also has a memory card slot for up to 32 GB , so you can save your photos digitally.
It has a price of 114 euros, very good if we consider that it is an instant and digital camera at the same time.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 70
We continue with another camera from the Japanese Fujifilm. It is a mid-range analog camera with quite advanced features, something that seems to be common in most of this manufacturer's products.
It has a selfie mode that is responsible for adjusting the brightness and focal length to improve self-portraits. Its selfie mirror located next to the lens will also help you take high-quality self-portraits.
Another remarkable feature is that it has two batteries , which allows it to operate for longer than many of the cameras of this style that you will find on the market. It is certainly an option to take into account. It can be yours for only 107 euros.
Kodak Mini Shot
Kodak was for years one of the undisputed kings of analog photography, until the arrival of digital cameras ended the hegemony of this manufacturer that has not finished knowing how to adapt to digital.
This Kodak Mini Shot digital camera would pass perfectly for a traditional compact still camera. Its 10 megapixel sensor offers very good image quality and definition, with all the extra advantages associated with instant cameras. The refill cartridges allow you to print up to 20 7.6 x 5 cm photos, quite a sizeable size for this type of camera.
The manufacturer has mounted a 1.7-inch rear viewfinder that helps to select images before printing. It can also be connected to the mobile via bluetooth , ideal for transferring photos and sharing them.
It has an approximate selling price of 109 euros.
Fujifilm Instax Wide 300
We finished with the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300, the instant camera with the largest photo size. His prints reach 10.8 x 8.6 cm , being perfect to appreciate all kinds of details.
It works with 4 AA batteries or with batteries as you prefer. It has quite advanced features like an advanced optical viewfinder, a focus adjustment system, a high-power electronic flash, and an Instax Wide ultra-fast development system.
A great instant camera for just 100 euros.