The best instant cameras you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

Instant cameras have improved significantly since the old days when everyone had huge Polaroid cameras. The best instant camera you can buy is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 with its fun retro look, affordable price tag, and built-in selfie mirror.

When instant print cameras initially appeared in the 1950s, there was a feeling of wonder surrounding them. The ability to shoot a photo, have the camera eject a blank print, and then eventually see the photo appear on the paper after a short time rarely failed to amaze. At the time, you usually had to wait several days to receive prints after sending film off to be developed, so the instant print was simply magical.

Of course, several decades later, the allure of instant prints isn't quite the same, but that doesn't mean instant cameras are long dead. Many people like instant cameras because they're a fun supplement to digital photography. Sure, you can shoot a photo with your phone and instantly share it with an unlimited number of people, but there's just something about being able to hold that photographic print in your hand immediately after shooting it. It's something you cannot do with digital photography.

So maybe it isn't all that surprising that instant print photography is making a bit of a comeback. If you want an instant camera to bring print photography back into your life, you're in luck. Several companies now make great digital cameras with fun, funky, retro designs.

We've picked the best instant cameras you can buy to supplement your smartphone and digital camera. Read on to see which of our picks is best for you. We've also included a brief history of instant photography and some of the pros and cons of the medium to help you make your choice.

Although the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is our top instant camera pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Polaroid PIC-300, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic, the Polaroid Snap Touch, and the Lomography Lomo'Instant Wide. View As: One Page Slides
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