The best instant cameras to shop on a budget – because retro is BACK

For snapping those perfect party moments and treasuring your memories the way you remember them, nothing can beat the Instax mini 90 NEO CLASSIC camera. 

Classic and nostalgic with the right amount of modernity for great-looking photos, the Instax mini 90 NEO CLASSIC is the perfect way to snap some pictures in a flash. Take group photos in a dark room with High-Performance Flash mode, capture the whole scene with Party Mode and even snap fast-moving objects with Kids Mode – the Instax Mini 90 NEO CLASSIC has you more than covered. 

Amazon customer review: "Love using this instant camera- the pet, double, and bulb exposure modes are my current go-to. The quality of the camera matches the price and feels substantial without weighing down a backpack/handbag like a brick. I have smallish hands and find the layout works well for me. I've picked up themed prints (Snoopy, Rilakumma, Mickey Mouse etc. ...) whilst in Asia. Bonus points for rechargeable battery (lasts for several packs between charges), tripod socket, choice of plain or themed film packs."

For a much more modern aesthetic (and for less than £100), the Instax mini 12 instant film camera’s bubbly appearance is both adorable and durable, so it’ll outlive those wild nights out - whilst looking flawless. 

Mini by name, Mini by nature – the Mini 12 is tiny – so you won’t be lugging it around with you on your next adventure abroad. The Instax mini 12 takes credit card-sized pictures, which are perfect for filling photo boards or gifting to your besties. 

Amazon customer review: "Absolutely love this product. I've been testing this out for the last few weeks and have captured some brilliant photos. I've taken scenic, animal, and people photos and all have worked well. The only time a photo hasn't come out great is if a main light has been on while inside, it seems the camera focuses on that and not the intended shot. Similarly, if you point the camera to the sun it loses the focus of the picture. Great price, would highly recommend."

KODAK’s Mini Shot 2 Retro instant camera is a great value instant camera that’ll practically fit in your pocket it’s so compact. This slightly more modern-looking instant camera is filled with gorgeous photo modes and features that’ll have you taking pictures non-stop.  

But what if you want to print off photos from your smartphone? Simply connect to the KODAK Mini Shot 2’s Bluetooth and print directly off your phone in a flash. Grab this little camera and 68 blank sheets for an absolute bargain, you won’t regret it. 

Amazon customer review: "Loving this camera/printer. Love the fact it has filters on it and you can add a border. The prints are of very good quality. I have had an instant camera before where you couldn't disable the flash, all the prints came out overexposed so for me this is a key feature of this camera. The film is quite pricey but worth it, I bought mine to use on holidays and special occasions. The fact you can Bluetooth your phone photos so easily and also print them is genius. Would definitely recommend this camera, it's easy to use and a good price."

Chic and understated, the slick SQUARE SQ1 Instant Film Camera from instax is the perfect cure for your photography cravings – and its boxy aesthetic looks absolutely timeless. Develop pictures within 90 seconds and make a great keepsake to pin to the fridge or frame.  

Perfect for special occasions – we’re talking graduations, weddings and those nights out that you never want to forget, the Instax SQUARE SQ1 is an absolute bargain. And with plenty of picture-taking modes, you’ll wish you’d gotten it sooner. 

Amazon customer review: "I bought this camera for my boyfriend as a gift and he loves it. It feels really special and always comes out on special occasions, birthdays, parties, with family etc. The film isn't cheap so that's why we save it for important moments, but not always! The colour of this is so nice and a bit different to other Polaroid cameras out there. It's also really easy to use, feels nice in your hands and the pictures come out great.

There's definitely a learning curve to using a Polaroid camera and it might take you a couple of tries the first time you use it, but don't be discouraged if your first photo doesn't turn out the way you expected. Make sure you read the instructions properly for both the camera and the film, maybe watch a YouTube tutorial and you'll figure it out. The photos look lovely and are really nice to give as small gifts, party favours or to use as decorations or in scrapbooks.

Fully embracing the retro aesthetic, Polaroid’s Now+ Instant Camera is for the serious scrapbooker who wants to capture every little detail in one go.  

This chunkier camera is certainly a bit of a throwback design-wise, but it’s filled with plenty of tech to help you catch the perfect photographs for you to frame. Use Polaroid’s app to snap a family photo, without the need to click a single button, and use the included funky lenses to add some dazzle to your pictures – this is one instant camera you shouldn’t skip out on. 

Amazon customer review: "I loved taking pictures with my Polaroid camera as a kid, and was excited to try their updated version of their instant camera. This one is very different from the camera I remember but still has a lot of fun features. This still has the same general shape as the classic camera but with a modern twist. It's definitely more compact and it still spits out the photos from the front, which was the most fun part. You can take really simple pictures by just looking and pressing the button, but most of what this camera can do is done on the Polaroid app.

With the app, there are a number of advanced features on there that are above my skill level, but I think if I play around with them more, I could learn to use them better. These features include double exposure, which basically puts one photo on top of the other, manual control, noise trigger and light painting. This set also includes a lens filter kit in five different colours: Starburst, Red Vignette, Orange, Yellow and Blue. These are really fun to play around with and with some practice I think they could make for some really cool photos."

Perfectly pocket-sized, the Canon Zoemini S instant camera is simple, yet slick – making it perfect for anyone to pick up at a moment’s notice – no camera experience required. 

Take some quick selfies, print yourself some heart-warming pictures to scatter around your home and even print your saved phone selfies on it, the Canon Zoemini S is a clever little camera worth picking up right away. 

Amazon customer review: "At first I was a bit apprehensive as I hold something so dainty could be a good camera and printer with this new fangal-dangal "Zink" (zero-ink) paper. But all my fears were put aside. The prints come out quickly and smoothly from the moment the shutter is pressed. The Zoemini S is basically a point-and-shoot with the added bonus of 1. A grid square on the mirrored front portion so people can place themselves correctly (no missing heads etc.) and 2. The "S" version has the Canon Zoemini app which allows you to save your photos to your smartphone and also to print your mobile's photos onto the Zink paper held in the Zoemini.

The paper also has a sticky back, once the protective sheet is removed, hence allowing your photo to be stuck onto most surfaces. Zink also allows the photos to be handled immediately upon printing as no drying time is required. Zoemini is small enough to be placed in a jacket pocket or handbag. Zoe is small, cute, totally useful and user-friendly. Best Xmas purchase of 2019."