polaroid camera with lcd screen manufacturer

Say goodbye to messy inks, toners, and ribbons, and say hello to zero hassle with the Snap Touch Instant Print Camera by Polaroid. This digital little wonder integrates a smart touchscreen LCD display, Bluetooth connectivity, specially designed smartphone app, and other features sure to satisfy tech-savvy photographers. The 3.5" viewfinder helps you take stunning photos, high definition video, and even self-portraits with an integrated selfie mirror. Other helpful settings include auto-timer, Photobooth, and burst mode. Best of all, Zink Zero technology lets you snap and print on the spot with Polaroid"s unique adhesive-backed 3"x5" paper. Just pick your favorite camera color, charge the powerful lithium ion battery, and get clicking!

Polaroid, Polaroid & Pixel, Polaroid Classic Border Logo, Polaroid Color Spectrum, Polaroid CUBE, Polaroid ZIP, Polaroid Snap, Polaroid Mint and Polaroid POP are trademarks of PLR IP Holdings, LLC, used under license. PLR IPHoldings, LLC does not manufacture these products or provide any Manufacturer’s Warranty or Support. ZINK, ZERO INK and the ZINK logo are trademarks of ZINK Holdings, LLC. IOS is a trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. USA. microSD is a trademark of SD-3C, LLC.

Polaroid’s shiny new camera with a built-in Nink printer, the Snap Touch, is available on pre-sale today, although if my experiences with it at Photokina are anything to go by, it’s probably not worth your hard-earned cash. Run the other way, and buy yourself an Instax Mini 70 instead, for the same price.

The Snap Touch is basically a Polaroid Snap digital camera surgically combined with the company’s Polaroid Zip printer, with a 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD display on the back. In theory, it’s a fantastic idea for a little camera. In practice… wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.

I wanted to love the camera, I really did, but trying to get a good feel for what the Snap Touch is capable of turned out to be an exercise in frustration.

The camera’s 13 megapixel sensor is ridiculously over spec for the little printer. Without getting too geeky here; 13 megapixels printed on a 3×2-inch print means that the camera has 1,500 dots per inch (dpi) to play with. For comparison, super high resolution magazines are typically printed at 300 dpi. I’ve seen photos shot on an iPhone 6 (8 megapixels) printed in 3×2 at 300 dpi that look unbelievably gorgeous. On paper, this should be a winning combo. In print… It wasn’t.

“I’m sorry the photo isn’t so good,” Holger Post, the boss-man at Polaroid’s German PR company told me, after I finally managed to convince him to pose with me for a selfie. “But it’s just because the lights here are terrible. They are flickering so much.”

Curious, I thought, especially given that presumably the company chose the lights on the booth, but to be fair, the lighting could have been better. I had a solution, however: Print a photo directly from my iPhone. The Snap Touch comes with a Bluetooth connection, enabling users to use it as a printer for photos taken elsewhere. Quite ingenious, really.

Which I thought was curious; I had read the company’s press release, which reads “Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity and integration with the Polaroid Print App, users are no longer limited to just printing photos captured by the camera itself. Using Bluetooth and the app, users can now pair the Polaroid Snap Touch with other devices such as smartphones and tablets to transform the device into an instant photoprinter. The app, available free for iOS and Android (…)”

So I tried to download it, and failed due to Amazing Wi-Fi Fail. Fair enough, that’s not Polaroid’s fault. So I went back to my hotel and downloaded the app, dug out some photos I wanted to print, and headed back to the Polaroid stand at Photokina.

That’s not completely unusual; the camera is only available on pre-order and Polaroid’s engineers still have a few weeks to get their t’s crossed and their i’s dotted.

But I still really wanted to try out the printer with a photo that wasn’t taken on the camera itself — I wanted to test the printer, after all. So I asked Stephanie if she could please print a photo from her phone. She agreed, and took a selfie of us with her Samsung S7. The photo suffered from bad lighting, of course, but on the phone’s screen, at least, it looked well-exposed, crisp, and as good as you can expect from a trade-show selfie.

After a number of attempts to actually connect to the camera using Bluetooth, she succeeded. But the app crashed. When she tried again, she was able to print off our self portrait.

I should add at this point that if I hadn’t been hell-bent on getting this print, I’d have given up a long time ago. I’ve seen some bad Bluetooth implementations in my life, and this is up there with the worst. It’s possible that Polaroid will sort that out by the time the camera ships, but it’s irrelevant: the photo quality was still woeful.

It’s not all bad, but for every good thing I can think of to say about the camera, something comes along to ruin it. It’s nice that the camera has a 3.5-inch touch screen (although the resolution and quality of the screen is significantly sub-par to every other screen I’ve used in the past year). It’s nice that the camera has Bluetooth (although it’s flaky, the Android app crashes, and there’s no iPhone support). It’s cool that the camera has a built-in printer (although it’s woefully bad). It’s nifty that the prints are also stickers so you can stick your face in interesting places. And I suppose it comes in nice colors, so there’s that.

But ultimately, no amount of sticky-backed pictures and colorful borders can save the Snap Touch from its own flaws. You already have a better camera than this thing on your phone, so you shouldn’t buy it for the camera. The printer it is, then, but that isn’t good enough either.

Polaroid isn’t meant to be a bastion of image quality. That’s a good thing; the lo-fi look is undeniably part of Polaroid’s charm. Unfortunately, the famous Polaroid look is comprehensively stripped away by the company’s Zero Ink (ZINK) printer: even beautifully exposed high-resolution images from a current-generation Samsung smartphone are reduced to garbage that looks like it belongs in the 1990s.

Hell, even the company’s own PR company is basically phoning it in on this one. If I’m being charitable, the PRs were unaware of the camera’s selling points and unable to demo its functionalities to eager journalists. If I’m not being charitable, it’s entirely possible that they knew that the Snap Touch is utter garbage and did everything in their power to prevent me from seeing it.

The Polaroid Snap Touch is available for pre-order today, with a delivery date some time in October. Instead of separating yourself from $180 worth of your hard-earned cash, however, do yourself a favor and buy an Instax Mini 70 camera. The prints are about the same size, but if you’re going to go for the lo-fi novelty of an instant-print camera, you may as well embrace the real Polaroid look.

Ultimately, it’s ironic that a camera carrying the Polaroid brand is unable to deliver Polaroid charm. Until the company is able to deliver a camera that can, find other ways to get your instant photo kicks.

Even with the ability to take excellent photos with our phones and instantly share them across the world, there’s something magical about the old-school instant camera. With just a click of a button, you can capture a moment in a photo that you can see and touch almost immediately. Images captured by an instant camera aren’t as pristine or perfect as modern digital cameras, but their soft images and imperfections are often a big part of the allure.

Yet not all instant cameras are the same, and some of them are better suited for different needs and budgets. That’s why we tested some of the most popular instant cameras on the market from brands like Fujifilm, Polaroid, and Kodak.

All of the models featured in our best instant camera guide here are enjoyable to use, but each offers a different set of features at a different price point. As a result, some are more appropriate for a child or the budding photographer, while others are more advanced and provide added creative control (for a price). When it comes down to it, though, we consider print quality, ease of use, and affordability to be the hallmarks of a quality shooter. That’s why we picked Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 as the best instant camera for most people, as it ticks all three boxes wonderfully.

If you’re looking for more creative control or features like filters, however, the Instax Mini Evo is our choice, one that boasts great image quality and allows you to choose which photos you’d like to print. Other instant cameras, like Polaroid’s Now Plus and Kodak’s Mini Retro 3, also offer a variety of advanced creative modes for those who desire more.

PS: Black Friday is here, which means we’re seeing great discounts on instant cameras. Be sure to check out our main early Black Friday deals post where we’ll keep you updated.

Each instant camera requires a different kind of film, which means that the actual sticker price of the camera isn’t the true price. This is something you should take into account before making a purchase, as the cost of film can quickly add up. Depending on the brand, you may have to pay anywhere between $0.50-$2 per shot.

Most instant camera brands also sell films of varying quality in a range of styles. Some are decorated with colorful frames and patterns, while others are black and white. They also vary in shape and size, from small rectangular prints you can stick in your wallet to square-shaped ones. You can also buy wider prints, however, and some brands even sell film with an adhesive backing that allows you to use the resulting images as stickers.

If all you’re looking to do is just click a button and get a decent print for a reasonable price, we recommend Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11. It’s a basic instant camera that’s easy to set up and use, which makes this a good choice for kids or those new to photography. It took us less than five minutes to insert the included AA batteries and film (not included), quickly read the instructions, take a photo, and print. The image took about 20 seconds to begin showing up and less than a minute to fully appear.

For an instant camera, image quality is better than most of the other cameras I tested, producing relatively true-to-life photos. Most of the cameras I tested struggled to capture low-light conditions well, and this one is no exception, but the camera’s built-in flash does help. On the flip side, however, the flash — which you can’t disable — can be overpowering in some instances, resulting in a few overexposed images.

True to its name, the Mini 11 is one of the smallest instant cameras I tested and very light at around 10 ounces, which made it easy to carry it around and maintain a steady grip while taking pictures. It uses a plastic build like many others and comes in a variety of fun colors ranging from pink to blue to white. The included selfie feature — which is really just a small mirror mounted on the front of the camera — is simple but effective, even if the flash was still overpowering and didn’t capture my features or skin color particularly well.

The Mini 11 has a number of other niceties as well. I appreciated the larger-than-average viewfinder and the fact the camera comes with a small counter that displays the remaining number of shots, which is a feature many of the other instant cameras I tested lacked. It’s easy to lose track of how many photos you’ve taken, especially while out for drinks with friends or sightseeing during a vacation. Yet, given each print costs about $1, it’s important to be mindful of how many shots you’ve got left.

All in all, the Instax Mini 11 is a basic camera that caters to all ages and experience levels and gets the job done — and done relatively well. It doesn’t feature Bluetooth or pair with a companion app that allows you to edit photos, nor does it offer advanced features like filters, lens options, or portrait modes. But if you’re looking for an instant camera that offers a great, traditional analog experience, this is it.

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 is the best instant camera for most people. While it lacks more advanced features, the simple instant camera takes good-quality shots quickly and easily and offers a built-in selfie mode.

Fujifilm’s newest instant camera, the Instax Mini Evo, is my colleague Becca Farcase’s favorite — and it’s mine as well. A hybrid camera that bears a resemblance to Fujifilm’s more expensive Fujifilm X100 line of cameras, it looks good and boasts vintage dials and buttons so stylish that they even caught the attention of passersby as I walked around Los Angeles taking photos.

It’s easy to balk at its $199 price tag, but this camera offers a level of flexibility that could save you money in the long run if you plan on using it a lot. That’s because the Instax Mini Evo includes a full-color LCD screen that lets you see and select which images you want to print before doing so, which can help you avoid wasting film on unwanted shots. The added flexibility gave me more room for creative experimentation, too, as I wasn’t worried about running out of film. I also loved using the Instax Mini Evo app to print photos from my smartphone. Plus, unlike the Instax Mini 11, it’s not battery-powered. While it’s a shame the Evo uses a Micro USB port for charging, the fact it’s rechargeable means you don’t need to keep wasting money on buying new batteries.

The Instax Mini Evo comes with a large LCD screen that doubles as a viewfinder and allows you to choose which photos to print. Becca Farsace / The Verge

Like Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11, the camera took less than five minutes to set up and uses Instax Mini film. However, you can actually turn off the flash on the Mini Evo, which helped me take far better photos, as did the large three-inch LCD screen you can use as a viewfinder. You can also use the menu to adjust how bright you want the film to look when it’s printed out. That was helpful given neither the Evo nor the Mini 11 is particularly great at capturing dark environments, though it didn’t solve the problem completely either.

Of course, it’s not a perfect device, and there are some downsides to consider outside the price. For instance, although you can add some filters and make a few edits using Fujifilm’s companion app, it just isn’t as feature-rich as some of the apps available for the other digital and hybrid instant cameras I tested. The Evo’s extensive menu system also wasn’t particularly easy to navigate, and it took me some time to figure out how to turn the flash on and off. Plus, if you rely on internal storage solely, you can only take 45 images before the device is full. Still, all of these are minor issues, and I was very happy overall with how portable the stylish camera is, as well as how easy it is to take good photos quickly.

Fujifilm’s stylish Instax Mini Evo is the best premium instant camera. With it, you can choose which photos to print, while also boasting good image quality.

Whereas the Instax Mini Evo’s companion app is more functional, Kodak’s hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro is all about fun. The camera’s accompanying mobile app allows you to apply frames, stickers, filters, and a plethora of customization options to photos, making the camera great for scrapbooking. There’s even a beauty feature within the app to conceal blemishes, as well as a set of Snapchat-like filters you can use to add, say, dog ears, making this a fun instant camera to use as a mini photo booth of sorts at parties.

Like the Instax Mini Evo, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro comes with an LCD screen (albeit a much smaller one) you can use to decide whether or not you want to print a shot. It also supports Bluetooth, and you can use the Kodak Photo Printer app to upload photos to social media or to print decent, relatively crisp photos from your smartphone. Unlike the Mini Evo, however, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro retails for around $150 and includes a pack of a film (it’s also often on sale for a lot less). It also uses cheaper film; you can pick up a 60-sheet cartridge for about $19.99 at the moment, which equates to roughly $0.33 a shot. The fact the film is cheaper arguably encourages play and creative experimentation.

However, there are notable drawbacks to the Kodak Mini Shot 3. For one, the camera prints larger, 3 x 3-inch square photos on Kodak’s film — which feels lower-quality and more flimsy than Fujifilm’s and Polaroid’s. Also, although you can add colorful borders within the app, they’re modern-looking as opposed to retro, which might be a turnoff for some.

Perhaps my biggest issue with the Kodak Mini Shot 3, however, was that it doesn’t print photos taken with the camera itself anywhere as crisp nor as clearly as it does pictures shot with a smartphone. Photo quality wasn’t consistently as good as the Mini Evo’s or Mini 11’s nor, for the most part, as clear and sharp. The photos also sometimes had an excessive pink tint that interfered with quality. It doesn’t store images the way the Mini Evo does, either, which means you can’t decide whether or not you’d like to print them later.

Design-wise, the Mini Shot 3 is noticeably heavier and not as stylish as the Mini Evo. Having said that, there is the option to buy a white and black model that, at least on paper, looks nicer. Also, while I eventually got the hang of the camera and found it easy to use, it took a little longer for me to set up out of the box, as there were more instructions to follow than with Fujifilm’s cameras. The instant camera doesn’t run on disposable batteries and wasn’t fully charged when it arrived, which means I was also only able to use it for a few minutes before charging. Yet after recharging it with the included Micro-USB cable, it lasted most of the day afterward.

Nonetheless, if you don’t mind compromising on photo quality and want a relatively affordable hybrid camera that comes with a bunch of fun app features, the Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is a good choice.

Kodak’s hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro instant camera comes with a fun companion app you can use to add frames, stickers, filters, conceal blemishes, and more. As long as you don’t mind the so-so image quality, this is a good digital instant camera for parties.

The Polaroid Now Plus is a good combination of old school and modern but was way too big for me to hold with just one hand. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

If you’re looking for an instant camera that offers the most old-fashioned, instant-film experience, the Polaroid Now Plus is the camera for you. Compared to the other instant cameras on this list, the Polaroid Now Plus most closely resembles vintage instant cameras like the Polaroid 600 with its classic, retro-inspired design. Meanwhile, its square I-Type film prints and iconic Polaroid-style frame give photos a more authentically vintage look.

Yet, at the same time, the Polaroid Now Plus also comes with the convenience and usefulness of more modern features, like the ability to recharge with the included a Micro USB charging cable. It also offers Bluetooth support and a companion app boasting several creative modes that allow for greater photographic control. These include a remote shutter, a self-timer, and a “Polaroid Lab” where you can adjust the exposure and various color settings. The app also features a handful of shooting modes — including a manual option and one for capturing multiple exposures — while the camera includes a set of five colored lenses you can snap onto the front. These were enjoyable to play with and allow for more artistic expression.

If there’s one thing the Polaroid Now Plus isn’t known for, it’s portability. Given how heavy, large, and awkwardly sized it is, it’s not the kind of instant camera you can easily slip into your purse or carry around. Plus, it takes up to 15 minutes for prints to develop, and you have to make sure it’s not exposed to light while developing. That’s quite an inconvenience if you’re out with friends, say, at the beach on a sunny day.

The Polaroid Now Plus is too big and awkwardly sized to easily fit into a bag, but I did like that it has a small counter on the back underneath the power button. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

If you’re looking for an instant camera that can easily print a good, clear photo without much effort on your part, this is not the camera for you. Of all the cameras on this list, the Polaroid Now Plus struggles with low-light environments the most, making it extremely difficult to capture a good shot in darker conditions. Images are not as clear in comparison to Instax film, and both contrast and color saturation levels tend to be quite low. While this gave my pictures more of a vintage, dreamy look that felt artistic — and you can use the Polaroid Lab to slightly adjust saturation and exposure settings — that could prove to be a lot of work and frustrating for some.

For the most part, I barely could see images I took indoors, and I found I was only able to get the clearest shots when the light was directly behind me during the day — more specifically, in the morning. Given the Polaroid Now Plus lacks an LCD screen for selecting photos, it’s easy to waste film, which can prove expensive. After all, you only get eight I-Type sheets for $16.99, and that’s in addition to forking out $149.99 for the camera. Luckily, the Polaroid Now Plus has a small counter on the back so you can keep track of your shots.

Truth be told, however, you could argue that many of these shortcomings are typical of a retro, Polaroid-inspired instant camera and thus part of the experience. If that’s what you’re looking for, and you don’t mind the price, the Polaroid Now Plus is the perfect camera for you.

For retro fans, Polaroid Now Plus is a great instant camera that prints vintage-style photos. It also offers a variety of creative modes, making this a solid choice for artistic photography as well.

Whereas the Polaroid Now Plus is huge, the Polaroid Go is tiny. When I first held it, I couldn’t help but find it adorable. It easily fits into the palm of my hand — which is saying a lot given I’m petite and a little over five feet tall. In fact, it’s so small there were times I forgot I was even carrying it in my purse, making this easily the most portable instant camera on our list. It even produces the tiniest prints of all the instant cameras I tested, which could be nice if you’re trying to save some space and want something even smaller than Instax Mini prints.

Weighing just over a pound, the Polaroid Go is also the lightest instant camera I’ve ever held, and you can easily use it with one hand. That’s actually pretty convenient, given I sometimes struggled to take pictures with the heavier Polaroid Now Plus and, to a lesser extent, some of the other instant cameras I tested. In fact, if the images produced looked more true-to-life and didn’t require you to hide them from light for about 15 minutes while developing, I’d be tempted to call this the best instant camera for travel or small children.

The Polaroid Go is one of the most affordable Polaroid cameras currently on the market, with film that costs just a little more than Fujifilm’s Instax Mini shots (or about $19.99 for a 16-sheet double pack). Thankfully, the low price doesn’t come at the expense of image quality. While the Go struggles with capturing low-light environments like the bulk of the cameras on our list, it’s not to the same extent as the Polaroid Now Plus. Surprisingly, it was easier to capture clearer photos indoors, which meant I didn’t waste as much film. Contrast and color saturation levels are still low, but in a way that still exudes the vintage, almost dreamy look of the photos the Now Plus prints.

The Polaroid Go produced tiny, slightly clearer photos than the Polaroid Now Plus, although still struggled to capture low-light environments. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Unlike the Polaroid Now Plus, however, it lacks creative modes and more advanced features, although double-pressing the flash button does give you double-exposure shots. There’s also no Bluetooth support and thus no fancy app that will allow you to add extra effects – although, thankfully, it is rechargeable and includes a Micro USB charging cable. In addition, as mentioned, the prints are even smaller than the Instax Mini, which could be a drawback for those who prefer larger, more traditional Polaroid photos. While it produces similar vintage-style shots, design-wise, it doesn’t look anything like old-school Polaroid cameras either, which could also take away from the retro experience some desire.

That said, none of the older Polaroid cameras came with an app either. All in all, the Go’s simplicity makes it a suitable candidate for those seeking a camera that provides a more traditional instant film experience – one they can take advantage of just about anywhere.

The Instax Square SQ6 feels solid and durable, and it stands apart for its exceptional image quality and ease of use. The cost of its 3.4-by-2.4-inch prints have gone up to a still reasonable 90¢ each recently, and while their 2.4-by-2.4-inch image area is about half an inch smaller in each dimension than classic Polaroids, the SQ6’s results look just as good, if not better. The Instax film reproduces a wider range of tones and more pleasing-looking colors than any other option currently available—including Polaroid’s revived instant film cartridges. The SQ6’s exceptionally sharp lens further improves quality, even compared with other Instax cameras, and its exposure-compensation controls and multiple-exposure mode give you options if you want to get creative.

The Instax Mini Evo is the best attempt at a hybrid instant-and-digital camera we’ve seen so far. It offers all the analog charm of an instant camera but with digital control over which images to print onto Instax Mini film using a small LCD screen. At about 70¢ per image, that’s a thrifty restraint to ensure you’ll only print your favorites. A smartphone app unlocks features that the tech savvy will have fun fiddling with, including remote shooting and printing images from a smartphone library.

If all you need is a fun toy for taking easy snapshots, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is perfect. Its compact body feels durable, with controls that are intuitive enough for you to pass this camera off to a family member, and its 3.4-by-2.1-inch prints (with a 2.4-by-1.9-inch image area) cost only about 60¢ per print, so it won’t break the bank. But its photos aren’t as sharp or saturated as those of our main pick, it doesn’t offer as much creative control, and its batteries last for only about 100 shots, whereas our top pick promises 300 shots per set of batteries.

The Wide 300 produces larger, wider prints at a lower price than the Instax Square SQ6 and runs on AA batteries, but the camera is quite a bit larger than most modern instant cameras and gives you fewer options.

For larger, wider-angle prints, we like the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300. Ideal for landscape and group shots, it produces 3.4-by-4.3-inch photographs (with a 2.4-by-3.9-inch image area and classic white borders) that are closer in dimensions to old-school Polaroids. Those images cost about 90¢ each, which is about the same price as the Instax Square SQ6. With only one button for exposure compensation and another for flash output, you can just point and shoot, but it’s considerably bulkier than our top pick, and you get fewer creative options.

Knowing the drive and tenacity of Lady Gaga, we expect that any day now we"ll she"ll be the president of PLR IP Holdings within the week. Until that fateful day when Polaroid becomes the Haus of Gaga, it looks like the company will be keeping busy by continuing to slap its name on consumer electronics. Probably the coolest of the lot is the PIC 1000, the future-retro Polaroid OneStep film camera developed in part at the urging of The Impossible Project. Just like its namesake, this guy uses Polaroid Color 600 Instant Film. This bad boy will be available at national retailers in 2010. If digital instant shooters are more your speed, The company"s newest Zink-enabled camera, the obviously named Instant Digital Camera, boasts 12 megapixels and 3 x 4-inch prints. And rounding things out, the company has a slapped its name to a handful of LCD TVs from 42 to 65 inches in size. You"re psyched, right? Hit the PR after the break for all the shocking details.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PLR IP Holdings, LLC, owners of the Polaroid brand, today launched a new product line-up at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), including new instant digital products, the long-awaited return of classic Polaroid instant film and a modern version of the OneStep instant film camera, plus new flat panel televisions and more. Polaroid will demonstrate the new products at CES booth #13614, located in Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Additional in-booth activities will include an appearance by Lady Gaga, who was recently named creative director for a specialty line of Polaroid products, an exclusive exhibition of classic fine art photography from the famous Polaroid Collection, and live celebrity portrait sessions by renowned contemporary Polaroid photographer, Maurizio Galimberti.

"Everyone loves digital cameras, and we all love the spontaneity of instant prints. Polaroid is bringing its own brand of instant together with digital, with a strong dose of the fun, simplicity and value that Polaroid is known for," said Scott W. Hardy, president of PLR IP Holdings, LLC. "Polaroid"s new lineup of instant digital cameras, classic instant film cameras, instant mobile printers, online photo sharing service, flat panel TV"s, and much more gives people everything they need to easily capture, create, print, share and enjoy their instant photos and digital images anyway they want."

Supported by a strategic relationship with Summit Global Group, a longtime Polaroid partner, and The Impossible Project, the manufacturer of classic film for Polaroid film cameras, Polaroid will offer a completely redesigned, modern version of the Polaroid OneStep camera, the PIC 1000. The PIC 1000 will be available in a range of fun colors and use classic Polaroid Color 600 Instant Film to produce the brand"s classic white border instant pictures. The Polaroid Color 600 Instant Film will work with both classic and new Polaroid cameras and will be offered in packs of 10 pictures. The new classic PIC 1000 camera and instant color film will be available at national retailers in 2010.

In partnership with ZINK Imaging, at CES, Polaroid also launched a suite of new digital printing products leveraging ZINK Imaging"s ZINK® Zero Ink® Printing Technology. ZINK Imaging"s revolutionary platform produces full-color images without ink cartridges, ribbons, or toner using ZINK Paper®, an advanced composite material with embedded dye crystals. This ink-free printing recreates the Polaroid instant photo experience from digital cameras or mobile devices using in-camera or outboard printers.

The newest addition to the Polaroid family of ZINK-enabled camera products is the Polaroid 3"x4" Instant Digital Camera, a 12 mega pixel digital camera with a built-in ZINK Printer that produces 3"x4" ZINK photos instantly. The Polaroid 3"x4" Instant Camera produces larger prints than the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera, yet is still small enough to take on the go. It is also built on the next generation of the ZINK Technology which features several quality and performance improvements. With the Polaroid 3"x4" Instant Digital Camera, people can snap, print and share images immediately without having to connect to a computer. People can view and crop images on the camera before they print and select from a range of borders, from borderless to the classic Polaroid frame.

For those who want to print on the go, the Polaroid 3"x4" Instant Mobile Printer will allow people to do just that in under a minute. The ZINK-enabled mobile photo printer features lightweight, sleek designs for use at home, the office, at school or on the road. Polaroid ZINK-enabled digital photo printers, including the Polaroid PoGo 2"x3" Instant Mobile Printer and new Polaroid 3"x4" Instant Mobile Printer produce full-color photos printed directly from digital cameras via PictBridge, providing a convenient solution for sharing digital images instantly.

* Polaroid"s 42" FHD LCD TV with LED features super-thin design with LED backlight, integrated Blu-ray player full HD at 1080p, 120Hz refresh rate and very low power consumption.

Currently available, the Polaroid Studio (www.polaroidstudio.com) is the new photo and video sharing service that offers the most extensive features for creating unique, highly customizable online photo albums and keepsakes. The Polaroid Studio makes the digital photo experience easy and fun as people can securely upload and store their photos and videos online and share their instant memories in a way that captures their distinctive personality.

People can upload their memories via the web, downloadable software, email, and even their cell phones, with limitless personalization for creating customized online albums. In addition, the Polaroid Studio gives users limitless ways to share their memories by creating beautiful hard bound photo books, framed pictures, unique photo gifts and professional photo lab quality prints. Through a variety of easy-to-use tools such as customizable email invites, the Polaroid Studio helps people get the most out of their photo-sharing experience.

To help celebrate the brand"s long history in imaging, Polaroid will hold an exclusive exhibition of classic Polaroid photographs, featuring selected works from The Polaroid Collection of Photography. The full Collection features more than 1,200 works by artists who used Polaroid cameras and film because of their unique aesthetic potential. CES attendees will have a chance to view selected works from the Collection by Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, William Wegman and many others at Polaroid"s booth throughout the event. Sotheby"s will offer the full Collection at auction in June 2010.

Lady Gaga was recently named creative director for a specialty line of Polaroid imaging products, and will make a special appearance at the Polaroid booth Thursday, January 7 at 10:45 a.m. to talk about her new creative and business relationship with the Polaroid brand.

Attendees to the Polaroid booth will also be able to experience live portrait sessions by renowned contemporary fine art photographer Maurizio Galimberti. Galimberti is known for his compelling Polaroid mosaics, which he creates by assembling hundreds of instant photographs of the same subject into uniquely intriguing images. Galimberti will work with celebrities including Rohan Marley and Josie Maran on in-booth portrait sessions throughout the event. In addition to shooting and assembling portraits, Maurizio will photograph various people and locations in and around CES and incorporate them into original artworks in the Polaroid booth throughout the event.

"Apart from their broad appeal to amateurs all over the world, Polaroid images have such a unique personality of their own that fine artists like Maurizio Galimberti, Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol and others featured in the Polaroid Collection of Photography have made them a central part of their own work," said Jon Pollock, CMO, PLR IP Holdings, LLC. "Polaroid is very proud of this legacy, and we"re working now to give people many more ways to express themselves and experience their world visually, with the fun, simplicity and value that the Polaroid brand stands for."

Polaroid is partnering this year with the HOPE IS A GAME-CHANGER PROJECT, an initiative founded by philanthropists Bobby Sager and Sting, that delivers indestructible soccer balls - and hope - to kids in some of the most difficult places around the world. The Polaroid booth at CES will feature a collection of powerful images by Sager, who is also an avid photographer, and whose recent book THE POWER OF THE INVISIBLE SUN features children from war-torn areas around the world who despite their circumstances share the undeniable undercurrent of resiliency and hope. Inspired by a child soldier and his beaten soccer ball featured in the book, Sager decided to launch the HOPE IS A GAME-CHANGER PROJECT with Sting (who had featured the same photographs worldwide during his 2008 Police reunion tour and renowned song Invisible Sun) using all of his proceeds.

"The HOPE IS A GAME-CHANGER PROJECT is on an incredible mission and already has connected people all over the world in a truly impactful way," said Jamie Salter, co-CEO, PLR IP Holdings, LLC. "Polaroid is proud to partner with Sting and Bobby Sager and will continue to invest in their efforts to increase awareness about this inspirational project."

Across several generations, people regard Polaroid® as one of the most trusted, well-respected and recognizable names when it comes to instant photography. Polaroid began more than 70 years ago with polarized sunglasses, evolved into instant film, camera and camera accessories, and in recent years has expanded well beyond into flat panel televisions, portable DVD players, digital photo frames, digital HD camcorders, waterproof digital cameras and more. People can expect to see new products from Polaroid that will deliver the fun, instant gratification and value that the brand has long stood for. Polaroid is registered trademark of PLR IP Holdings, LLC. For more information, visit www.polaroid.com.

The best instant cameras are still incredibly popular, even in today"s digital age. We"ll help you choose the best one so that you can start capturing and printing your very own retro photos.

It"s the simplicity of the best instant cameras that makes them so appealing for people of all ages and experience levels. After all, they"re so straightforward that they make some of the best cameras for kids(opens in new tab) as well as the best cameras for beginners(opens in new tab).

And the results are utterly unique; the best instant cameras produce a unique kind of photograph that people spend ages trying to recreate using Instagram filters and Lightroom presets(opens in new tab). Yet there"s nothing that matches the real deal!

Cameras from Polaroid, Instax, and Lomography use a traditional photochemical exposure process that creates striking lo-fi shots with crushed contrast, saturated colors, and ethereal exposures that are unique to instant film.

There are no settings to adjust, no focus points to fiddle with – you simply point the camera at your subject(s), frame your shot, and press the shutter button! For this reason, instant cameras are ideal for families, parties, and weddings, and even enable kids to get creative.

There is also a new breed of digital instant film cameras(opens in new tab), that combine the thrill of instant photography with the convenience of modern-day technology. Canon, Fujifilm, and Kodak have all ventured into this world – and the result is a much smaller, digital camera with an image sensor that captured every sensor and a built-in digital printer.

We"ve divided our guide to the best instant cameras into sections for film and digital. If you pick the former, don’t forget to pick up the right kind of instant film(opens in new tab) to have plenty of ammunition for your shooting! And get the best Instax photo albums to display your finished prints!

Why you can trust Digital Camera WorldOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

If you"re after full-size instant photos that are great quality and possess that elusive "vintage look", the Polaroid Now+ is without the best instant film camera available. It combines the same image quality and base shooting of the Polaroid Now(opens in new tab) and the modern-day features of the OneStep+ so that the user can have the best of both worlds. It has several creative modes you can use such as light painting, aperture priority, double exposure, portrait mode, and many more which are available through the app.

There are also several physical lens filters that create a starburst effect, a red vignette, and blue, yellow, and orange colors for in-camera effects. The biggest downside to instant photography is how expensive the film is but we can promise you, that you"ll have more fun using this than any other kind of film camera. You might end up spending a fair amount on film, but the memories you capture with it will be priceless.

If we’re looking for one instant print camera that does it all – plus we’re satisfied with the credit card-sized print format output from the device itself – then the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo camera has much to recommend it.

Once we’d discovered what all the unmarked buttons do, and got over our initial period of familiarization, it quickly became apparent that, unusually, this isn’t an instant print camera we’ll rapidly become bored of. And that in our book makes it well worth the asking price.

The Polaroid Now is a welcome arrival to the Polaroid product line and a worthy addition to the increasingly crowded instant camera world. For pure point-and-shoot simplicity, the Polaroid Now is hard to beat – and while the Instax Mini 11(opens in new tab) does have it beaten on price, we prefer the full-size square prints that Polaroid delivers.

And much as we love the Instax line, when you"re shooting an old-school instant film there"s nothing quite like the tactility of holding a big, boxy Polaroid. If you don"t need the extra bells and whistles of the OneStep+, the Polaroid Now is sure to wow.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is a chunky, plastic camera that comes in a variety of refreshing pastel colors. It may not hot have the same vintage feel as the Polaroids but it does have its own charm. Whether you"re going on holiday, attending a wedding, or escaping to the countryside for the weekend, the Instax Mini 11 is small enough to keep in your bag at all times.

You can also buy rather trendy, cross-body cases to keep them in so it"s even more accessible. It"s powered by two AA batteries that need to be replaced fairly frequently. Fujifilm has done away with the exposure control dial and instead opted for automatic exposure so you have one less thing to worry about and are less likely to waste shots. The film works out at roughly $1.30/£1 per image though you can often save a little bit by bulk buying in packs of five. They make great gifts for adults or kids if you want an easy-to-use instant film camera.

Instax cameras are knockabout fun with a side of lo-fi cool, and none exemplify this more than the beautiful Instax Mini 40(opens in new tab). With its stylish black-and-silver trim, the Mini 40 looks the part, and it"s incredibly simple to operate. There are no exposure controls, or really controls of any kind; you just point, and shoot. This might be a bit too simple for some users, but if you"re the kind of person who just wants to produce instant images without having to worry about it, this is a fantastic buy. The simplicity also makes it a good option for kids, who will be able to easily get the hang of operating it.

Instax prints are smaller than Polaroids, but still, look pretty great, and will develop with unbelievable speed. Plus, let"s not forget, that the film is cheaper to buy, and these costs will add up over time if you"re a frequent shooter.

The Polaroid Go is a palm-sized camera that everyone will fall in love with faster than it takes a photo to develop. Bigger instant cameras balance exposures better, and rival Instax Mini cameras deliver slightly better image quality indoors – but neither are as fun to use nor will make you as many friends, as the Go… which still produces pleasing pics.

A consideration is that Instax Mini film(opens in new tab) works out cheaper than Polaroid Go film, but then you"ll also need to replace those AA batteries on the Mini whereas the Go just needs a USB to top up the power. And the Go boasts double exposures, which you won"t get unless you opt for pricier options like the Instax Mini 90. A fun and funky little camera, the Polaroid Go will be the star of your next party and will deposit an endless amount of memories in your pocket or wallet. And if you"ve got kids, this could be the ideal camera for little hands to get started with. Don"t forget to pick up a pack of the new Polaroid Go instant film.

Available in brown or black, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic is Fujifilm’s only instant camera to handily come with a rechargeable battery, which the company claims will last as long as 10 (credit card-sized) film packs. With retro styling, it feels like it"s pitched at the photo enthusiast, with some manual control over exposure and even the option to disable the built-in flash if you feel pictures are too bright.

A double exposure mode extends creativity options for the curious (although results can be a bit hit and miss here) as does a shutter-release button above its lens, which doubles up as a selfie mirror (another shutter-release button is in the usual top-plate location). The advantage here over a cheaper instant-print camera is an LCD display strip at the back revealing your chosen settings. The viewfinder is small but adequate for its purpose, while the faux leather finish adds a splash of style.

The Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 is the big daddy of the Instax family. It"s powered by four AA batteries rather than the usual two but this chunky camera isn"t far off the size of a medium format system. It"s able to deliver much larger prints using the Instax Wide film packs which makes it much better for group shots.

However, if you"re looking for a camera to take selfies with, the chunky design of the Instax Wide 300 makes it really hard so one of the smaller cameras on this list might be better. Despite its size, it is still relatively lightweight thanks to its plastic build and it benefits from a lens that can extend up to 95mm. The built-in flash is much more powerful than on other Instax cameras and is great for use as a fill although the viewfinder is still really small. It doesn"t have any creative modes and can"t be used with an app but if you just want larger prints, then this is the best option for you.

If it wasn"t for The Impossible Project stepping in to keep Polaroid going, we would never have had the Polaroid OneStep+ - a modern, retro-look camera nodding towards the golden era of instant film photography. The OneStep+ is the second camera to be released under the new name Polaroid Originals and follows on from the OneStep 2(opens in new tab) (confusing, we know).

The Instax Square SQ1 is powered by two small CR2 lithium batteries (included) that the manufacturer claims will last a whopping 300 shots (30 packs of film). As you might expect the camera uses Instax Square film, with a size and shape reminiscent of traditional Polaroid prints.

It"s as simple as cameras get, with automatic exposure and focus (after you select between standard or close-up shooting), so you simply point and shoot and you get a pristine photograph whether you"re indoors or outdoors.

The only reason this isn"t ranked higher is that it omits a number of really useful features from the now-discontinued Instax Square SQ6(opens in new tab), such as a self-timer, tripod mount, and double exposures. So if you want more advanced features you"re best to look towards Polaroid"s options, but if you want straightforward shooting with sumptuous square shot, look no further.

Not only can you take photos using the Instax Hybrid Mini LiPlay but it can also print photos from your phone. It"s small enough to fit in your pocket which makes it perfect for having on you at all times and there is space for a Micro SD card so can images can be stored as well as printed. Its gorgeous design makes it stand out from the other digital instant film cameras and it comes in a range of colors including Blush Gold (our favorite), Stone White, and Elegant Black.

The camera itself features an LCD screen, a selfie mirror, a 4.9MP sensor (which although small is plenty big enough for 1.8 x 2.8 - inch Instax Mini prints), and built-in memory to store 45 images. In terms of size, it measures just 82.5 x 122.9 x 36.7mm and weighs 255g. Photos can also be edited in the LiPlay app where you can add filters, borders, and other effects before printing and the internal memory mean you can take multiple photos before deciding which is the best one to print.

The Kodak Smile Instant Print(opens in new tab) is one of the best digital instant cameras(opens in new tab) – a modern update of instant photography that combines the best of analog with the beauty of digital. This slim-as-a-smartphone camera sports a sleek design and uses Zink (zero ink) technology – it"s essentially a miniature printer with a lens, producing 2x3-inch sticky-backed prints.

Inside the camera is a relatively humble 5MP sensor (up to 10MP through interpolation), though for images this size you don"t need all the resolution in the world. Ultimately the pictures it produces look more like printer images than they do instant photographs – not necessarily a bad thing, but they don"t possess quite the same magic as instant film.

Kodak"s Mini Shot 3 is a tidy little instant print camera that"s great for anyone who doesn"t want anything too complicated. It doesn"t use Zink like the Kodak Smile above but houses a proper little printer that uses Kodak"s 4PASS all-in-one cartridges to spit out little square prints, 3 inches by 3 inches. The colors pop a good deal better than Zink, and they are also rated to be long-lasting.

The camera overall is pretty cheap and running it isn"t too expensive either, making it a good option if you want to shoot instant on a budget. It also produces 10MP digital photos that you can save via Bluetooth on the app (and you do have to do it this way; there"s no internal storage). A cheap option that"s good fun for anyone, especially those who aren"t too confident with using a camera.

We test cameras(opens in new tab) both in real-world shooting scenarios and, for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera"s ISO range. We only use real-world testing for our guides to instant and compact cameras - comparing results against similar models that we have tested.

A fan of retro photography? You might also likeThe best film cameras(opens in new tab), the10 best point-and-shoot cameras(opens in new tab)and thebest cameras for beginners(opens in new tab).Round up of today"s best deals

Fujifilm"s Mini Link is close to our top pick, the LiPlay, but ditches the camera functionality. Instead the Mini Link prints images from your phone. Fujifilm"s new mobile app is much better than its past efforts. I"d recommend this over the older SP-2 printer for that reason alone, since the results are otherwise similar.

What makes the new app more fun? Fun Modes. Party Print creates collages from multiple phones, while Match Test takes images of two people (or two images of one person) and prints a combined image. It"ll also tell you how "compatible" it thinks the pair is, which is gimmicky, but what party doesn"t lighten up with a little gimmickry?

If you want the instant gratification of snapping a photo and sharing it on social media, use the cameras built into your smartphone. But if the idea of immediately sharing a physical print with other people intrigues you, one of the best Polaroid cameras or instant cameras is the way to go. Such cameras—including our pick for the best Polaroid camera overall, the Polaroid Now+—combine a film cartridge with paper to capture and develop an image in front of your eyes, just like the iconic Polaroid cameras of yesteryear.

Today’s best instant cameras, which still include Polaroid cameras, have a more diverse set of features than the vintage models from the 1970s. Some even have memory card slots, so you can capture a digital version of the image as well as print it instantly. Whether you’re with a group of friends and want to share candid photos, or you’re attending a special event and want to capture spontaneous memories, taking photos with an instant camera is both fun and rewarding. People of all ages still love the instant gratification of watching a color print come to life in their hands, which is why these cameras make great gifts for teens and adults alike.

After testing and research, we’ve rounded up the best Polaroid and instant cameras available right now, so keep reading to learn about all of your instant camera options. If you’re looking for something less retro and more digital, we’ve got you covered. Check out our coverage of the best action cameras, best point-and-shoot digital cameras, and best mirrorless cameras.

To make getting started with instant photography easier, Polaroid shifted to selling its popular Now+ camera as part of specialized sets. For example, there’s the Starter Set, Travel Set and Gift Set. Each comes with at least one box of instant film and includes at least one camera accessory. This Starter Kit bundles the Now+ camera, two boxes of color i-Type film, one box of black and white i-Type film and five camera lens filters.

This modern twist on a vintage Polaroid camera can wirelessly link with a smartphone, and you can remotely control the camera via your phone—making it easy to focus, adjust aperture priority and create cinematic photos using light paintings or double exposure techniques.

Polaroid Go offers the same instant gratification of being able to snap a photo and then have a print in your hand within minutes, but the camera is shrunk down to make it much more portable. Features include a self-timer and the ability to capture instant selfies. However, with the smaller camera size comes smaller size prints that are just 2.1 x 2.6-inches.

This camera works exclusively with Polaroid Go Film (sold separately). Amazon separately sells a discounted film bundle that includes five double film packs—enough to shoot 80 photos—for $110.

The Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro has a different design than the Polaroid Go, but it’s as compact and portable. It serves as a 10-megapixel digital camera stores images on internal memory, as well as an instant camera that can create 3 x 3-inch prints.

The camera connects wirelessly with any smartphone, so you can transfer images from your phone’s camera to print on the Mini Shot 3. You can also snap photos on the Mini Shot 3, create instant prints and then transfer the digital images to your mobile device. It comes with two boxes of Kodak Instant Print 3 x 3-inch film cartridges—enough to create 60 instant prints.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is one of the simplest and most affordable of Fujifilm’s instant cameras. The camera features a curvy, ultra-simplistic design, and its casing comes in bright colors. It has automatic exposure so you don’t have to fuss with settings, and a built-in flash for shooting in low-light situations.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 comes with a pair of shutter buttons, so you can choose among a jewel or glow-in-the-dark button. Want to take a selfie? Pop the lens out to configure the camera for a closeup and take aim. A tiny selfie mirror embedded beside the lens helps you frame your shot, perfect for a gaggle of friends on an afternoon out. Film comes in packages of 20, 50 and 120 sheets. A package of 20 Instax Mini film sheets sells for $14 on Amazon, while 50 Instax Mini film sheets costs about $41 and 120 sheets costs $80.

Back in the day, the popularity of Lomo’s simple point-and-shoot cameras gave birth to an entire style of photography, called Lomography. Today’s rendition of this camera, called the Lomography Lomo’Instant camera, is for the more adventurous instant photographer. Like most instant cameras, it’s fully automatic, however, it’s focus is not automatic. This camera is more advanced than the typical instant cameras: It comes with three interchangeable lenses—for far, moderate, and close focus distances. And it has other advanced features like multiple exposures and long exposures using a “bulb” setting that leaves the shutter open for as long as you hold the button down (up to 30 seconds). This is a popular technique for night photography and for creating artistic light trail photos. The removable lens cap for this camera has a wireless remote control built in for triggering the shutter from a distance. The camera uses Fujifilm Instax Mini film cartridges to produce its creative prints.

The Polaroid Now+ Gift Set is very much like the Starter Set, but it includes the camera, just one box of i-Type film and a camera strap which uses Polaroid’s iconic color scheme. This bundle also includes a set of five lens filters. Unlike the Polaroid cameras of yesteryear, this one has a built-in rechargeable battery. As its name suggests, this is a great gift for someone who would enjoy discovering the art of instant photography.

The biggest drawback to this camera is the cost of the film. A single box of i-Type film (enough for just eight shots) costs around $17, so you wind up paying slightly more than $2 per image.

The Canon Ivy Cliq+2 serves three purposes. It’s an instant camera, a digital camera and a photo printer for your smartphone or tablet. As an instant camera, it can take photos and instantly print them on low-cost Zink paper (which has a peel and stick adhesive backing). As a digital camera, it can take digital images, store them on a microSD card and print your favorites at will. Or you can transfer those images to a computer or mobile device and then share them online. The Ivy Click+2 can also receive images from your mobile device via Bluetooth wireless and quickly create prints of those images.

The camera has a two-inch selfie mirror and eight LED ring lights, making it perfect for selfies and group shots, too. With a compact, easy-to-carry design, this instant camera is great companion. Its biggest drawback is its comparatively low-resolution, 8-megapixel image sensor—which is enough for images printed at 2 x 3 inches, but less compelling if you ever want to print the image at a larger size.

If you care about the instant print aspect of instant cameras but prefer to use your own digital camera or smartphone camera, the Canon Selphy CP1500 standalone photo printer can get you started. This printer produces 4 x 6-inch prints from digital images sent to it via Bluetooth wireless or from an SD memory card. While compact, it weighs two pounds and is large enough you won’t necessarily carry it around with you all day, but it can be a great asset at a party or on your desk. It can work via a battery (sold separately).

The battery-powered HP Sprocket Studio Plus printer can generate a single 4 x 6-inch, glossy print in about a minute. The printer connects to Android and iOS devices via Wi-Fi, so you can output images from your smartphone or tablet with ease via HP’s app.

These days, most modern instant cameras—including Polaroid’s instant cameras and Fujifilm’s Instax cameras—take a similar approach. These cameras develop their own prints, ranging from nearly instant output to up to 15 minutes to fully develop after a sheet of film leaves the camera.An instant camera offers interesting ways to tap your creativity when taking photographs—and you can ... [+]see the results almost instantly.getty

While Polaroid and Instax cameras expose traditional, chemically treated film with light, a very different—and less costly option—is a Zink camera. Short for “Zero Ink,” these instant cameras are digital cameras with a built-in Zink printer. Instead of using ink cartridges, like normal inkjet computer printers, Zink embeds all the ink into the paper itself, similar to how Polaroid prints carry their own chemicals for printing. The benefit, of course, is the nostalgic thrill of snapping a photo and then having a full-color or black and white print in your hands in a matter of minutes.

Ease-of-use, focus, features and film/paper price and size are all aspects of instant cameras worth looking it before you buy. Options vary by model and manufacturer. Instant cameras are all about fun, so they mostly offer the most basic point-and-shoot functionality, and they have similar features and performance. A few, however, add a few modern twists as compared with the original instant cameras from decades ago.

Yes. Most instant cameras are simple point-and-shoot cameras. You look through a viewfinder, frame your shot, press the shutter button and an “instant” print pops out of the camera. Some models, however, offer additional functions that require a bit more tinkering with the camera when snapping photos.

The price of instant film is often the biggest deterrent to purchasing and using one of these cameras. Each instant camera model requires a very specific type of instant film. In some cases, you could pay between $1 and $2 per image, so as you’re choosing an instant camera, pay attention to the cost of the film and how many shots (image sheets) are included with each film package.

Additional features built into some instant cameras give you more creative control over your photography. These features may include a selfie mode, a remote shutter, advanced exposure controls (like flashbulb photography), a landscape shooting mode, a macro shooting mode or the ability to transfer images directly to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Some of the latest instant cameras even allow you to remotely control the camera from a smartphone while you’re taking pictures.

The design of each instant camera is slightly different, although most offer the same core set of features and functions. Choose a camera that will fit well in your hands and has int