The best instant cameras will print out photos in perfect quality no matter the lighting condition. Here’s what you should know about instant cameras.
What Is an Instant Camera?
An instant camera is a type of camera that’s designed to instantly print out a photo right after it’s taken, hence the name. Modern instant cameras use a special type of photo paper that requires no ink cartridges, making the cameras easier to use, more accessible, and less wasteful.
Why Should You Use Instant Cameras?
You can take instant photos
Some may call it a mere novelty, but you can’t deny how cool it is to be able to print a photo right after you take it. You feel a sense of power when wielding an instant camera in a way, as you’re able to capture anything you see and instantly frame it on a physical photograph.
Poetry aside, being able to take physical photos instantly can be useful in certain situations. For example, if you somehow don’t own a phone, you can keep your photos saved and easily access them without having to open up your camera to view them.
You can share physical photos
This is the other big reason why instant cameras are so popular these days. In fact, many popular things today have some form of social aspect, and cameras are no different. Being able to literally hand photos to someone after taking a photo of them is a great way to connect with others.
You can take photos of you and your friends and share the photo with them to remember each other by. Alternatively, you could take photos of strangers (with their consent, of course) and make their day by handing them a free physical photo. There are plenty of possibilities, and these cameras open up new doors for connecting with others, ironic as it may sound due to their relatively low-tech nature.
Things to Consider When Buying an Instant Camera
If you want good-looking photos, then you’ll need to pay attention to a few details when picking your instant camera.
Printing Resolution
In many instant camera models, the main factor that limits the final output of the photo isn’t the camera but often the printing mechanism itself. Many instant cameras have support for up to 1080p recording and photos, but with a limited printer, that HD picture will look old and poor in quality when you hand it to someone else or frame it for yourself.
The somewhat blurry quality of instant camera photos may appear charming in a certain way, but if you care about the actual quality of your photos, you’ll need to find a camera that can print well. Don’t be fooled by the camera resolution and always check reviews that mention the quality of the printed photos.
Battery life
Instant cameras use a bit more power than a typical camera because of their printing mechanism. It has an actual mini-printer mounted within the device, which can drain quite a bit of power every time it’s used. As such, you’ll also want to consider how your camera is powered and pick a solution that you find most convenient.
There are currently two ways instant cameras are powered - either by internal rechargeable batteries or external batteries. Internal batteries make instant cameras function like smartphones in the sense that you have to leave them to charge when not in use. External battery models have the advantage of being able to replace batteries instantly, but you’ll need to buy plenty of batteries to be able to use the device regularly.
Instant Camera Price Range
For what they’re able to do, you’d be surprised by how cheap instant cameras can get. The cheapest instant cameras cost around $50, and the more expensive models will usually cost no more than $100. There aren’t many instant cameras above the $100 price point, and if you’re sticking to a budget, this is probably a good thing.
Some Buyers Also Ask
Q: Do I need an instant camera?
A: If you like being able to store physical photos or share them with others, instant cameras are a great option.
Q: Can you record video on an instant camera?
A: Depending on the model, yes. Some cameras can support recording at up to 1080p resolution. Don't expect to be able to print videos, though - we don't have access to that kind of technology yet.
Q: Do I need ink to print with instant cameras?
A: For the most part, no. Modern instant cameras use a special type of photo paper that requires no ink to print out a photo.