Buying guide

Best instant cameras in the UK: Instax vs Polaroid compared

Instant cameras are cheap; the film is not. Here is how Instax and Polaroid actually differ, what each print really costs, and which camera to buy for weddings, gifts and kids.

By the Camera Kings team · · updated

Instant cameras are one of the few product categories where the camera is almost irrelevant to the running cost. Before comparing models, it is worth understanding what you are actually signing up for.

The instant cameras we track

  1. Polaroid Go Gen 3 CameraPolaroid · 3 retailersfrom £79.99
  2. Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 Compact CameraKodak · 3 retailersfrom £94.99
  3. Polaroid Now Gen 3 Everything BoxPolaroid · 3 retailersfrom £129.99
  4. Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 16MP 4x Zoom Tough ComKodak · 3 retailersfrom £179.99
  5. PIXPRO AZ425 Astro 20MP Bridge CameraKodak · 3 retailersfrom £219.99
  6. Panasonic DMC-FZ82DPanasonic · 3 retailersfrom £399.00

Live prices, reordered automatically as the feeds update.

Instax vs Polaroid: the real differences

Fujifilm InstaxPolaroid
Cost per shotLowerHigher
ConsistencyReliable exposureMore variable
LookClean, bright, modernSoft, warm, iconic white frame
AvailabilitySold almost everywhereLess widely stocked
Best forParties, gifts, childrenAesthetics, display, collectors

Put simply: buy Instax if you want lots of reliable prints cheaply, and Polaroid if you want that specific look and are prepared to pay for it.

Choosing a format

Instax Mini is credit card-sized, cheapest per shot and the default choice. Instax Square gives you a noticeably larger print that suits framing and photo walls — see the Square SQ40 review. Instax Wide is the largest and best for group shots, covered in our Instax Wide 400 review. Polaroid’s i-Type full-size film has the most presence of all.

Our picks

Best all-rounder: Instax Mini 13

Foolproof, cheap to run and available in every colour. Read the Instax Mini 13 review.

Best if you hate wasting film: Instax Mini Evo

Shoots digitally, prints only what you choose, and doubles as a printer for phone photos. See the Mini Evo review.

Best for enthusiasts: Instax Mini 99

Manual control, double exposures and colour effects created with actual coloured light. The Mini 99 review has the detail.

Best true Polaroid: Polaroid Now Gen 3

Full-size prints with autofocus that finally fixes the softness of vintage models — read the Now Gen 3 review. The Polaroid Flip goes further and warns you before you waste a frame.

Best for a gift or a child: Instax Mini 12

Twist to switch on, press to shoot. See the Mini 12 review.

Three tips that improve every instant photo

  • Get closer than feels natural. These lenses are wide and the prints are small, so subjects shrink fast.
  • Use the flash indoors, always. Instant film needs far more light than your eyes suggest.
  • Shield Polaroid prints as they develop. Keep them face down in the dark for the first few minutes — the colour is noticeably better for it.

Compare prices

Live prices from the retailers we track, updated daily. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links — it never changes what you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Instax or Polaroid — which is better?

Instax is cheaper per shot, more consistent and easier to get right, which makes it the better choice for parties and gifts. Polaroid has the iconic white-framed look and more character, at a higher price per print and with less predictable results.

Which instant camera is best for a wedding?

Something simple and cheap to run, so guests can use it without instruction — an Instax Mini is ideal. For a guest book with real presence, the larger Instax Square or Wide formats look considerably better on the page.

Why is instant film so expensive?

Each sheet contains its own chemistry and battery in the case of some formats. You are buying a tiny self-contained darkroom every time you press the shutter. Buying film in multipacks is the only meaningful way to reduce the cost.

Can I choose which photos to print?

Yes, with a hybrid camera. The Instax Mini Evo and Mini LiPlay capture digitally and print only on request, which stops you wasting film on shots nobody wanted.

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