Instant Photography - What are the best options for Christmas 2023

If you are thinking of getting an instant camera or instant printer this Christmas, here is a round up of the key features and the available options.

The craze for instant photography has taken off again over the last few years and with good reason.  We all take hundreds of photos on our cameras and our phones but they hardly get looked at and even more rarely printed.  With instant cameras and printers you get that beautiful photo in your hand, ready to stick on the fridge to make you smile every time you grab the milk.

Other Features to Consider

Along with the features that come as standard on instant cameras, there are many additional or extra features available:

• Bluetooth - Really important nowadays, when we expect things to happen quickly.  The ability to connect your instant camera or printer to a phone or computer using Bluetooth allows you to instantly print without too much faffing about. 
  
• Flash Units - Really handy for those indoor photos, or on darker days and evenings.  A flash will make your subjects clear, bright and in focus. You may have a built-in flash on your instant camera, or you can buy one separately and use it remotely.
  
• Self-Timers - Maybe you want to be in the photograph too! A self-timer lets you pick a countdown length, hit go, then run around and get in the shot as well. Very fun and bound to make you giggle as you stumble into the photo and fall over mid-shot!
  
• Different Modes - Some instant cameras come with different modes, which can include Selfie Mode, Landscape Mode, Macro Mode and Hi-Key Mode. Not all instant cameras have these modes, so research the model you're interested in to ensure it has the features important to you.

Photo Sizing

Instant cameras can take a variety of film sizes. Your personal preference will dictate which photo size is best for you.

• Mini (62mm x 46mm) - The mini film type is the most common film size and will result in photos that are about the size of a credit card. The Instax Mini 11 and Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Black camera with 10 Shot film are among the cameras that use this film size.
  
• Wide (62mm x 99mm) - The wide film type is great for photographers who want to take more panoramic shots with their instant camera. They're roughly double the width of the mini film while maintaining the same height. However, the cameras are usually larger and heavier as a result of managing this wider film size. The Fujifilm Instax 300 Instant Camera camera uses this film size.
  
• Square (62mm x 62mm) - These photos print out in a perfect square, just like the original polaroid photos. They bring an instant feel of nostalgia, but they can be slightly more difficult to centre and frame for each shot. The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 Glacier Blue camera with Film and the Polaroid Go Instant Camera, White cameras use this film size.
  

On an important note, you have to understand that not all cameras have the compatibility to work with the different types and sizes of photo paper. This means that if you have your heart set on shooting with Square film, you need to make sure that your instant camera can support the Square film size. 

Is there a device that can print instant pictures from a phone?

Yes there are a few options available.  Canon, Polaroid and Fujifilm all make them.  The Canon Selphy SQUARE QX10, Black, Canon Zoemini Rose Gold, Polaroid Hi-Print Mini Photo Printer, White, Fujifilm Instax Share Sp-3 White are all good options. You get the benefit of instant printing without needing to carry around an instant camera.  You can also print anyone's photos - just get them to send them to you!