Remember the days of photography with OLD GOLD film cameras, waiting for days to fill-in the 36 snaps ! and then spending money & time for developing the 35 mm film prints ! (Which again were in different color-shades as per the printing studio and print paper used) !! Good amount of $$$ was associated with each photo captured with risk of getting complete blank film or blackout photos with lost memories 🙁
Then there was time of Cheap Instant print cameras, giving direct print of what is captured ! within seconds !! This craze continued over years, till it was overtaken by Digital cameras …. further Superseding with cheap high end Mobile cameras with excellent HD quality resolution which are supported by super storage space of tiny memory cards and mobiles are always with you for no reasons 😛 …
But even in such digital days, Cheap Instant Print Cameras are still being sold ! I think it is the nostalgia takes you back to your golden days even in this Digital era, you feel to get attached with your past while using these Instant Film Cameras 🙂
So if you have decided to buy an instant photo camera, research must be done to find out the best option out of the once available in market in terms of Price, Functions, Reliability, Photo Quality, Forward Compatibility with Digital edge, I have selected the top selling models … Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8, Polaroid Snap & Polaroid PIC-300
For simplicity I have highlighted the differences in different colors for the important features, please have a look at below table for specifications & functions comparison of Instant cameras.
Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8 vs Polaroid Snap vs Polaroid PIC-300 Compare
| Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8
| Polaroid Snap
| Polaroid PIC-300
| |
| Quality | NA | 10 megapixel | NA |
| Picture size | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 2 x 3 inches | 2.1 x 3.4 inches |
| Integrated printing | Yes | ||
| Instant Film Type | Instax Mini Film | Polaroid Zink Zero Ink Paper | PIF-300 Instant Film |
| Options | Brightness adjustment dial | Normal, Black and White, or Vintage Sepia tone pictures | Indoor, Cloudy, Fine and Clear |
| High key mode for soft tone pictures | Polaroid Classic Border Logo | ||
| Photo Booth Mode | No | Takes Six Rapid-succession pictures within 10 seconds | No |
| microSD card | No | 32 GB | No |
| Self-timer | No | Yes (10 seconds) | No |
| Shutter Speed | Fixed 1/60 sec | Automatic | Fixed 1/60 sec |
| Minimum Focal Length | Fixed 0.6m – ∞ | Fixed f2.8 lens | Fixed 0.6m – ∞ |
| Flash | Automatic | ||
| Colors | Raspberry, grape, white, pink, blue, yellow, black | Black, blue, red, white | Black, Blue, Purple |
| Batteries | 2 AA | Non-removable lithium ion rechargeable | 4 AA |
| Weight | 24.5 oz (695 grams) | 7.5 oz (215 grams) | 11.3 oz (320 grams) |
| Camera Size | 5.5 x 5 x 3 inches | 2.95 x 4.72 x 0.98 inches | 4.7 x 4.8 x 2.8 inches |
| Warranty | 1 year warranty | ||
| Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8 | Polaroid Snap | Polaroid PIC-300 | |
| Deals, Discount & Offer Price | Best Buy | Best Buy | Best Buy |
Common features In-Between Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8, Polaroid Snap, Polaroid PIC-300 cameras :
- Works best in daylight, like old-school cameras or some mobile cameras.
- Action shots will be blurry due to shutter speed to exposure issues
- Photos printed are Tiny ! So better for shooting portraits rather than landscapes where you will miss details
- You need lot of printing film and there is recurring $$$ associated with it 🙁
- Due to fixed focus lens, if you need to Zoom, you need to do it with your feet 😛 means you need to move forward and backwards to get zoom / frame as per your need. But remember this is as if using a Prime lens in SLR camera, most of the time you get good portraits with this type of shooting 🙂
Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8, Polaroid Snap, Polaroid PIC-300 Film Prices Comparison
## You have to order film too, since cameras are not supplied with films, hence if you forget you may need to wait for film again !!
| Instant Camera | Prices are daily updated 🙂 |
| Cheap Polaroid Snap film Polaroid Zink Zero Ink Paper | Pack of 50 sheets, Best Buy |
| Cheap Polaroid PIC-300 film | Pack of 20 sheets, Best Buy |
| Cheap Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Film | Value Pack, Best Buy |
The best thing is the awe factor while you use these cameras … You attract people easily rather using a hi-end smartphone ! and you can immediately handover tiny print to him ! So pocket friendly !!
My Recommendation about Instant Film Camera
Budget of $50 we recommend Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8
- Based on the Recurring film cost, Basic Function, Price-Paid and Positive User reviews I recommend Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8.
Budget of $100 we recommend Polaroid Snap
- However if you have budget around $100, and thinking of selection between Polaroid Snap versus Poloroid Pic-300, then I would recommend Polaroid Snap which supersedes Pic-300 with Digital edge compatibility, so even if you are exhausted with film, you can still go along the Social media providing you Nostalgia + Tech Egde 🙂 Also while you get print of your photos, you can still keep copy of the same photo onto the memory card as backup, which is the most important strength of Poloroid Snap camera [Your memories will never be lost]. Also rechargeable battery is one more thing which saves your recurring battery changing cost as well as worry from no battery while you are on trip or outdoors, simple charger will work which you anyway have with you always for mobiles.
# Notes #
- As soon as you buy Polaroid Snap, please get the firmware update which will save you printing pictures with lens cap on thus saving your valuable films cap on. Download firmware update here from Polaroid’s site.
- No print papers are included, hence please refer to above table to order film too with camera ! else after receipt you may need to wait for film !!
Cheers !!
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