Best retro polaroid camera

Retro polaroid camera

Retro Polaroid Camera? 

A Polaroid camera is smart because of the instant printing that happens immediately after you take the picture. It’s an ideal opportunity to save your memories from fun parties or your travels around the World. 

Are you one of those who think that Polaroid pictures look cool? maybe you like the way the cameras look or do you just like the practicality of getting an instant print that you can give to people while traveling or at other events.

More and more manufacturers are making Polaroid cameras for the new generation, people are getting tired of iPhones with thousands of pictures which you rarely browse through, we want something personal that we can see all the time and touch

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#1 Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay retro polaroid camera

Retro polaroid camera
Retro polaroid camera
Retro polaroid camera

Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay

Fuji’s Instax range of instant cameras has become extremely popular in recent years and the latest on is the Instax mini LiPlay. 

There’s something fun about the instant camera prints.

Fuji has made three Mini models so far. We’ve also had the Instax Square range which includes a hybrid camera that combines instant printing with digital technology.

Find the best price Instax Mini

Probably one of the most beautiful retro Polaroid cameras out there

It mixes digital and film. This means you can pick your best photos before printing them out.
Images can be saved to internal memory or to a removable microSD card.

You can also add filters and frames before you print them.

Just use the three buttons on the side of the camera where you can link to your favorite filters or frames for faster access.

The pictures come with sound!!

The Instax mini LiPlay prints the usual credit card-sized photos and can also print a QR code in the corner that links to the audio that was recorded to go along with the picture.

A great way to get that nostalgic feeling from when you took the picture.
You can even use it to print pictures from your phones camera roll, now that really smart

The Mini LiPlay also has a 2.7in LCD screen to help you compose a more accurate shot than with a normal viewfinder. Like most instant cameras, the photo quality won’t be as good as digital cameras, but the fun aspect more than makes up for this.

Unfortunately, the cost per print is quite steep. But you won’t waste any paper because photos don’t print automatically once the shot has been taken.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay specifications

Type: Polaroid camera
Manufacturer: Fujifilm
Type of film: Instax Mini
Image Size: 3.5 x 2.3 inch
Focal length: 28 mm
Shutter speed: 1/8000
With flash: Yes
Waterproof: No
Bluetooth: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Battery type: lithium-ion
Height: 4.2 inch
Width: 6 inch
Depth: 3.2 inch
Weight: 2.05 lbs
With selfie mirror: Yes

999

#2 Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 retro polaroid camera

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 retro polaroid camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 back retro polaroid camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 case

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 belongs to the smart and modern mini instant cameras, that are created to be taken on adventure and fun and be able to produce images instantly.

Find the best price Instax Mini 9

The camera is created for everyday fun moments.

The camera comes in a variety of sweet pastel colors, such as light blue, pink, light green and pale purple.

it's an easy to use retro Polaroid camera

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is, as mentioned, created for life’s fun moments, which shows in the pictures, and therefore you also do not have to spend time setting the camera – the model itself finds the best setting for the given composition so that you always get the best possible results.

It comes with a focal length of 60 millimeters and a closing speed of 1/60, which is probably not in the same league as the professional cameras, but this is not what this product was created for.

Furthermore, this camera belongs to the simple models that should only be able to take good pictures and have them developed immediately, and therefore neither Bluetooth nor Wi-Fi is available. Instead, the images are developed via film rolls, which can be purchased separately.

With a selfie mirror

It comes with a smart selfie mirror that meets the modern selfie trends, and this is well-placed close to the lens so that the selfie picture receiver gets the best angle.

The selfie mirror is the most significant difference between this model and its predecessor, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8, which does not have this feature.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is especially designed for taking pictures of people and animals, and therefore they are easily focused on them – there is a possibility for close-up shots with the close-up lens, where you can take pictures from a distance of 35 centimeters.

If you want to take portraits, you can set this on the wheel so that the lighting becomes softer and the composition sharper.

In conclusion, a fun polaroid camera for budget money.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 specifications

Type: Polaroid camera
Manufacturer: Fujifilm
Type of film: Instax Mini
Image Size: 3.5 x 2.3 inch
Focal length: 60 mm
Shutter speed: 1/60
With flash: Yes
Waterproof: No
Bluetooth: No
Wi-Fi: No
Battery type: AA
Height: 8 inch
Width: 7 inch
Depth: 3 inch
Weight: 307 grams
With selfie mirror: Yes

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 example

#3 Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 retro polaroid camera

Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 retro polaroid camera
Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 side retro polaroid camera
Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 back

Great retro Polaroid camera

The fascination with old technology will never end, no matter how irrational it may be. The super saturated and smeared Instagram filters on the mobile are no longer enough.

Find the best price Onestep 2

The Impossible Project has for many years refined the development of Polaroid films and last year they bought the rights to the Polaroid brand.

Now they are ready with their first camera – the rebirth of a true classic that gives you real instant photos in physical format.

OneStep 2 is, as its name suggests, the follower to the iconic 1977 Polaroid camera. The design is almost identical, though with small adjustments like a flash on the front, a more simple exposure button, and a micro USB input so that the camera can be charged with a standard mobile charger.

This means that you can use movie packages without a built-in battery, which is a bit cheaper. However, it’s still about 15$  for a package with 8 pictures, so it’s not really cheap to shoot with the camera.

On the other hand, you get the truly authentic experience of pressing the trigger without really knowing, what it is that you got in the box before the picture is spit out, and after that, you have to wait for about twenty minutes while it gets developed.

The right look for a retro polaroid camera

Regardless of the scene, the image gets the right analog charm and liberating unpredictable character, which must be the reason why you choose an instant camera rather than a modern digital camera where you can fine-tune everything.

And there’s just something about a physical image that you can give to your friends or hang on the fridge. OneStep 2 is a good, fun and relatively inexpensive way to do this, so if you are considering a summer of analog pictures, then this camera has our greatest recommendation.

Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 specifications

Type: Polaroid camera
Manufacturer: Polaroid
Type of film: i-type and 600
Image Size: 4.25 x 3.4 inch (total area)
Focal length: 106 mm
Shutter speed: 1/60
Waterproof: No
Bluetooth: No (oneStep+ has it)
Battery type: 1300mAh (rechargeable)
Height: 4.7 inch
Width: 4.7 inch
Depth: 6.7 inch
Weight: 1.01 pounds
With flash: Yes

Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 example

#4 Fujifilm instax Mini 90 retro polaroid camera

Fujifilm instax Mini 90 retro polaroid camera
Fujifilm instax Mini 90 side retro polaroid camera
Fujifilm instax Mini 90 back

Best retro Polaroid camera

The Instax Mini 90 produces the best picture quality of any film only Instax cameras and also has the best build quality. It shines in a number of areas including macro (close up) 

Find the best price Mini 90

Design meets functionality in the advanced instax mini 90.

The delicious retro look is inspired by FUJIFILM’s acclaimed digital cameras. The Instax mini 90 is the most advanced polaroid camera on the market with features such as double exposure and up to 10 seconds of shutter time.

The Instax mini 90 is 100% analog and with full control over the closing time, you can capture light in many creative ways – and instantly produce the image.

The flash in the instax mini 90 is optimized to give the right amount of light in relation to the length between the camera and the subject’s ambient lighting. This ensures optimal exposure every time.

In addition to the advanced flash, you have the ability to manually adjust the brightness of the developed images. On the instax mini 90, you can choose between low or high lighting if you want to highlight or subtract certain details.

Shutter speed and exposure on a retro polaroid camera

Another unique setting option on the instax mini 90 is manual shutter speed. This setting allows exposing the film with light for up to 10 seconds.

When the bulb exposure is selected, the shutter speed is determined by how long you hold the slider down. This setting allows you to capture lights and subjects at night in many creative ways.

The Instax mini 90 includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and its charger. The battery is long lasting and depending on how many pictures you take, it can last up to several months!

Fujifilm instax Mini 90 specifications

Type: Polaroid camera
Manufacturer: Fujifilm
Type of film: Instax mini
Image Size: 3.4 x 2.1 inch (total area)
Focal length: 106 mm
Shutter speed: 1/400sek – 1.8sek
Waterproof: No
Bluetooth: No 
Battery type: 850mAh (rechargeable) ~100 pics
Height: 3.6 inch
Width: 4.5 inch
Depth: 2.2 inch
Weight: 1 pound
With flash: Yes

Fujifilm instax Mini 90 example

#5 Polaroid Pop 2.0 retro polaroid camera

Polaroid Pop 2.0 retro polaroid camera
Polaroid Pop 2.0 front retro polaroid camera
Polaroid Pop 2.0 case

Different but fun polaroid play

Polaroid Pop works perfect with WiFi connectivity and it prints quickly from my phone as it does from the camera too. The 20 MP sensor captures bigger and better photos with a size of 3.5 x 4.25 It prints higher quality photos because of the no ink Zink paper.

Find the best price Pop 2.0

A good camera if you are looking for a point and shoot option that instantly prints.

I would purchase additional packets of printing paper, you can quickly burn through the initial pack. It’s not hard to begin using once the paper pack is inserted and there are really useful quick hints that support every feature.

The camera allows for traditional photographs, GiFs and Video and the quality is pretty good. Audio is also very good considering that there is no visible microphone on the camera body.

I plan on using this camera for fun family photos, as the iconic Polaroid pictures work well pined up on the fridge or posted in a booklet.

I rate this camera pretty highly as it does everything an instant print camera should do very well. I have seen the smaller printers and really like the size of these prints, others are fun too but I like having a pocket-sized print.

However this camera gets a lot of mixed reviews, so if I where you, I would maybe consider one of the other cameras or read a little more about their complaints before buying. 

Polaroid pop 2.0 specifications

Type: Polaroid camera
Manufacturer: Polaroid
Type of film: Polaroid 3.5 x 4.25 inch zink
Image Size: 4.25 x 3.5 inch (total area)
Wifi: yes
Bluetooth: yes 
Battery type: (rechargeable) ~30 pics
Height: 5.8 inch
Width: 4.7 inch
Depth: 1.2 inch
Weight: 14.7 ounces
Flash: Dual LED 

Polaroid Pop 2.0 example

#6 Kodak Printomatic retro polaroid camera

Kodak Printomatic retro polaroid camera
Kodak Printomatic back retro polaroid camera
Kodak Printomatic case

Really good polaroid camera

Takes a little getting used to since this version doesn’t have an LCD screen but it’s lots of fun to use and having instant wallet size prints is cool.

Find the best price Printomatic

If your expectations are realistic for this reasonably priced item, you will be happy.

$70 (+$0.50/photo paper sheet) is, in my book, reasonable for a camera/printer in one, considering that there is never a need to purchase toner, and there is the option for a Mini SD/ability to save digitally.

I think the manufacturer photos/videos are realistic, they make no claims to great photo quality – the best thing about this camera is the fun, instant factor.

The photo quality will seem subpar, in comparison to the excellent cameras we are all used to now on our smartphones, but in good lighting (esp outdoors), the color/picture is good. Do not expect super sharp details or super vibrant colors.

Great fun for parties, photo booth option with instant gratification (photos are immediately dry, pretty darn water resistant and sticky backed for collage fun). The shutter button is a little to easy to hit, at $0.50 a pop it gets annoying (every picture you take will print, no choice), really should have a lock or require firmer pushing. The defined area in the viewfinder is a bit hard to see.

In other words, I would definitely recommend the camera, its a cheap way to a lot of fun and memories.

Kodak PRINTOMATOC specifications

Type: Polaroid camera
Manufacturer: Kodak
Type of film: Kodak 2″x 3″ zink
Image Size: 3 x 2 inch (total area)
Wifi: no
Bluetooth: no
Battery type: (rechargeable) ~40 pics
Height: 3.1 inch
Width: 4.8 inch
Depth: 1 inch
Weight: 12 ounces
Flash: Dual LED

Kodak Printomatic example

I hope this little article helped you a little and if you are interested in other Retro stuff and articles we have a lot of great ones in our POSTS section.