Best Instant Cameras in Australia 2026: 8 Instax and Polaroid Picks Compared

Best instant camera overall: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12

Best instant camera overall: the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12, because it controls the flash for you, has a built in selfie lens and mirror, and prints credit card sized photos in about five seconds.

The Mini 12 is the camera to buy if you want instant photos without learning anything first. The listing describes automatic flash control and a fast five second print speed, and it takes any Instax Mini film. Each print is 54 by 86 mm with a 46 by 62 mm picture, small enough for a wallet or a phone case. A selfie lens and selfie mirror are built in, and the box includes two AA batteries and a hand strap. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 8,200 ratings, the most of any camera here.

It suits teenagers, party hosts and anyone buying a gift who does not know what settings the other person wants. The honest catch: its image area is just 46 by 62 mm, so choose the Square SQ1 if you prefer a larger square picture, or the Mini 99 if you want colour effects. The rating is shared across the Mini 12 colours.

Best for beginners: Fujifilm Instax Mini 41

Best for beginners: the Fujifilm Instax Mini 41, because the shutter speed and flash adjust on their own and you twist the lens to turn it on, then twist again for close up mode.

The Mini 41 takes the same film as the Mini 12 but wraps it in a more traditional camera body. Per the listing, close up mode is designed for subjects 30 to 50 cm away. Shutter speed and flash brightness adjust automatically to the light, so the photos come out bright without any fiddling. It is the same point and shoot simplicity as the Mini 12 in a camera an adult is happy to carry.

It suits adults who want a camera that looks good on a shelf and still works like a point and shoot. The honest catch: the listing recommends close up mode for subjects 30 to 50 cm away, and for colour effects you need the Mini 99.

Best for square prints: Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1

Best for square prints: the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1, because its square photos are 1.5 times the size of a Mini print and it still sets the exposure for you.

The SQ1 is for people who find Mini prints too small. The listing describes square images 1.5 times the size of a Mini print, automatic exposure, a selfie mirror and a one touch selfie mode. The rounded, textured grip comes with a separate thumb grip, which helps steady the camera for selfies. It has 4.5 stars from more than 3,600 ratings.

It suits photo walls and scrapbooks where the bigger square print looks better. The honest catch: it takes Instax Square film, not Mini film, so it cannot share refills with the other Instax cameras on this page.

Best for creative control: Fujifilm Instax Mini 99

Best for creative control: the Fujifilm Instax Mini 99, because it adds six colour effects and five brightness levels to a classic analogue instant camera.

The Mini 99 offers six colour effects and five brightness levels on Instax Mini film. The listing describes six colour effects, five brightness levels and a retractable lens, all on Instax Mini film. It is the highest rated camera on this page at 4.7 stars, though from only 230 ratings so far.

It suits hobby photographers who already know they enjoy instant film and want more say over the result. The honest catch: it is one of the dearer cameras here, and the extra controls are wasted on someone who just wants a quick party photo.

Best hybrid: Fujifilm Instax Mini EVO

Best hybrid: the Fujifilm Instax Mini EVO, because it works as an instant camera and a printer for your phone photos, with 100 lens and film effect combinations.

The Mini EVO takes a digital photo first, so you only print the shots you like. The listing describes 10 lens effects and 10 film effects, a body styled like a classic camera with dials and levers, and a print lever that works like a film advance. It prints onto Instax Mini film, with a picture about 6.1 by 4.6 cm on a credit card sized sheet. It has 4.6 stars from more than 1,300 ratings.

It suits anyone who hates wasting a sheet of film on a blurry photo, and people who want to print from their phone. The honest catch: it stores photos digitally, so it is not the pure film experience of the Mini 99, and it is one of the dearest cameras here.

Best value: Fujifilm Instax Mini 13

Best value: the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13, because it is the most affordable Instax camera here and still has a selfie mirror, a self timer and close up mode with parallax correction.

The Mini 13 is a new model and the lowest priced Instax camera here. The listing describes automatic exposure and flash control, a selfie mirror, close up mode with parallax correction, and a two and ten second self timer. Prints come out in about five seconds and develop in about 90 seconds. The box includes a hand strap with a camera angle accessory and two AA batteries.

It suits a first instant camera on a tighter budget. The honest catch: it is new, so this colour has only 40 ratings so far, which is a thin count to judge it on.

Best for group shots: Fujifilm Instax Wide 400

Best for group shots: the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400, because it prints the wider Wide format and has a self timer lever with an LED countdown so everyone fits in.

The Wide 400 is built for the whole table, not just two faces. The listing describes automatic exposure and flash, a self timer dial set to four, six, eight or ten seconds with an LED countdown, and a camera angle accessory with two height options. A shoulder strap and a tripod mount are part of the design. It has 4.2 stars from 524 ratings.

It suits family Christmas photos, weddings and holidays. The honest catch: it has the lowest rating of the Instax cameras here, and Wide film is a different, larger pack to Mini film.

Best Polaroid: Polaroid Now+ Generation 3

Best Polaroid: the Polaroid Now+ Generation 3, because it shoots original full size Polaroid film with two lens autofocus and connects to an app for extra controls.

If the picture in your head is the classic white framed print, this is the camera. The listing describes original full size Polaroid film, two lens autofocus for sharper pictures, optimised exposures in bright light and an app connection for extra creative controls. It has 4.3 stars from 220 ratings.

It suits people who want the Polaroid look and are happy to buy Polaroid film for it. The honest catch: it takes Polaroid film, not Instax film, so plan your refills around that.

How to choose an instant camera

Choose the film before the camera

Every camera on this page takes one film format, and the film decides the print size, the look and what you buy for years after. Instax Mini is the smallest and is shared by five cameras here. Instax Square gives a bigger square print, Instax Wide gives a print wide enough for a group, and Polaroid film gives the classic full size print. Work out which print you want on the fridge, then pick the camera that takes it.

Think about film as the running cost

The camera is a one off purchase, but every photo uses a sheet of film. Before you choose, check the price per shot of the film your camera takes, and buy a twin or multi pack with the camera so the first roll of photos is not the last. Hybrid cameras such as the Mini EVO help here, because you only print the photos you keep.

Automatic or creative controls

Most people are happiest with a camera that decides the flash and exposure for them, which is what the Mini 12, Mini 13, Mini 41, Square SQ1 and Wide 400 do. If you want to change brightness or add colour effects, the Mini 99 and Mini EVO give you that. More controls mean more to learn, so match the camera to the person who will use it.

Selfies, close ups and self timers

A selfie mirror shows you the framing before you press the shutter, and close up mode keeps faces sharp at arm's length. The Mini 12, Mini 13 and Square SQ1 have selfie mirrors, and the Mini 13 and Wide 400 have self timers for group photos where nobody wants to be left out.

Where the prints end up

Instax Mini prints are credit card sized, so they fit wallets, phone cases, journals and small frames. Square, Wide and Polaroid prints need a bigger frame or a photo wall. Our photo frame guide has options that suit small prints.

Batteries

The Mini 12 and Mini 13 listings include two AA batteries, but film is sold separately. Add a pack of Instax Mini film if the person wants to take photos straight away. For the other cameras, check the listing for the power source before you buy.

Who an instant camera suits

Instant cameras are a favourite gift for teenagers and young adults, a fun extra at weddings and parties, and a good way to get children taking photos away from a screen. For younger children who are hard on gear, a tough digital camera from our kids camera guide is often the better first step.

Frequently asked questions

Which instant camera is easiest for a beginner?

The Instax Mini 12 and Mini 41 are the simplest here: both set the flash and exposure for you, so you point, press and wait for the print. You twist the Mini 41 lens to turn it on, then twist again for close up mode. Both are made to point and shoot.

Is Instax or Polaroid better?

They suit different people. Instax cameras use smaller Instax film and are the easy choice for parties and travel, with the widest range of cameras on this page. The Polaroid Now+ shoots original full size Polaroid film, a bigger print with the classic look, and adds two lens autofocus and app controls. Pick the film format first.

How does an instant camera work?

An instant camera exposes a sheet of film inside the camera, then pushes it out through rollers that spread the developing chemicals across the picture. The picture then develops on its own; the Instax Mini 13 listing gives about 90 seconds. There is no memory card and no printing step, except on hybrid models like the Mini EVO.

Do all Instax cameras use the same film?

No. Instax comes in three film sizes and each camera takes one. The Mini 12, Mini 13, Mini 41, Mini 99 and Mini EVO all take Instax Mini film. The Square SQ1 takes Instax Square film and the Wide 400 takes Instax Wide film. Check the film name on the box before you buy refills.

How long do instant photos take to develop?

The print comes out within seconds and the picture then develops on its own. The Instax Mini 13 listing gives about five seconds to print and about 90 seconds to develop, and the Mini 12 listing gives the same five second print speed. The image appears gradually, so give it time before judging the shot.

What is a hybrid instant camera?

A hybrid camera takes a digital photo first and lets you choose which ones to print. The Instax Mini EVO works as an instant camera and as a printer for photos from your phone, with 10 lens effects and 10 film effects. It suits people who hate wasting film on a blurry shot.

Is an instant camera a good gift for a teenager?

It usually goes down well at that age, because the prints go straight onto bedroom walls, into journals and onto phone cases. The Instax Mini 12 is the safe choice. For younger children who are rough on gear, a tougher digital kids camera is often the better first camera.

Why is there no Kodak instant camera on this list?

The Kodak Printomatic was the most rated instant camera we checked on Amazon Australia, but it holds 3.8 stars from more than 25,000 ratings, the lowest score of any camera we looked at. Every pick on this page rates 4.2 or higher, so the Kodak did not make the cut. The Instax Mini 13 is our cheaper way in.

What is the cheapest instant camera worth buying?

On this page the Instax Mini 13 is the lowest priced camera, and it still has automatic exposure and flash, a selfie mirror, a self timer and close up mode. Film is the real running cost: every photo uses a sheet, so a twin pack of Instax Mini film with the camera makes the better gift.