This is the first instant camera I ever bought. I have had a great experience shooting with the Wide 300, it is fairly easy to use and produces very consistent results. Just keep in mind the two focusing modes, as I sometimes don't realize I'm using the wrong one and the picture comes out blurry! The camera also comes with a close up lens attachment that can focus as close as 0.4m, although taking selfies with this thing isn't very easy because of how bulky it is. I also wish that the camera had an option to shut off the flash. You can force it to be on but you can't turn it off manually.

The right hand grip makes this camera extremely comfortable to hold, even while holding it one handed. The Wide 300 struggles the most in indoor low-light situations. By contrast, it does the best with outdoor landscapes. I have gotten genuinely stunning images of sunsets with it! It does have a simple exposure compensation switch which is nice, but it sometimes doesn't help enough. It is powered by four AA batteries, and I have never run out of a charge since I bought the camera. Instax Wide film isn't all too expensive when it comes to instant film, only being about a dollar a shot. I can also say I have gotten more compliments from strangers using this camera than any other camera I have. It can be a bit heavy if you're carrying it around for awhile, so I'd recommend getting a decent strap to go with it.

My biggest issue with the Wide 300 is the power switch. It is a nub that twists next to the power button. The issue is that it is too easy to trigger, especially when you put the camera in a bag. There have been reports of people with this camera having it turn on while in a bag, and the gears that trigger the lens popping out ruining the camera. I have had the camera turn on in a bag before, but there was enough room in it so the camera didn't break. As a 'fix' to this annoyance, I just flip one of the batteries around in the battery compartment so it doesn't turn on while transporting the camera.

VERDICT: I can wholeheartedly recommend this camera to beginners and experienced users alike. The Instax Wide 300 is easy to use while being pretty cheap and prints large, sharp and consistent images.

Official Instax Wide 300 Web Page

The Mini 40 is a good looking little camera that is incredibly easy to use. There are no manual controls or buttons anywhere on it, (besides the shutter button). This is meant to be a simple point and shoot. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as a fully automatic camera like this makes instant photography more accessible. It is also real easy to take selfies using the 40 with its close up focus as close as 0.3m. Much like the Wide 300, I've never run out of charge from the 2 AA's that are required.

Due to the automatic nature, what you see is what you get with the images that it takes. All images I've taken with the Mini 40 have been in focus and have been exposed properly, so no complaints there. This camera shines the most with portraits, really making use of the small real estate of the Mini film.

Despite its boxy appearance, it is actually fairly comfortable to hold due to the thumb grip on the back. The myriad types of specialty film that Fujifilm makes for the Mini line makes the format an attractive choice for beginners. The Instax Mini 40 is essentially the same thing as the Instax Mini 11, just with a much more attractive looking shell.

VERDICT: Despite this camera being basically the same as the Mini 11, it costs $30 more. So while I do really enjoy using the Instax Mini 40, I simply cannot recommend it over the 11 unless you really like the way it looks.

Official Instax Mini 40 Web Page

A modern Polaroid camera, and a good looking one at that. I love how this uses an internal rechargeable battery rather than AAs or AAAs. I need to get more practice with the Now, as I have gotten really inconsistent results with it. I can't tell if it's my lack of experience, the camera itself or the film. On one hand I have gotten some stunning results with this film and camera, mostly from indoor portraits. Nature photos from the Now have been the most disappointing, the colors don't look right and photos consistently have come out underexposed.

Inconsistencies aside, this camera is packed with features while still being easy to use. Flash override, exposure compensation, double exposure and a ten second timer are all shoved into this small package. These creative features are more than what you see on Instax brand cameras.

I can't talk about this camera without talking about the price of Polaroid film, however. The I-Type film costs around $2 per shot - twice the price of Instax Wide film. 600 film can cost from $2.40-$2.75 per shot, so while the camera may be a similar price as the Wide 300 the film really adds up. The inconsistencies of the film make the price even harder to swallow. This is a more 'artsy' kind of camera than any in the the Instax line.

Now despite most of my comments on the Polaroid Now being mixed, it is genuinely a good piece of hardware. I just need more practice with it as I'm still learning how best to use it.

VERDICT: I'd only recommend the Polaroid Now to people who are already into instant photography, or if you really just want to use something with the Polaroid name on it. However, if you're in the market for a Polaroid I-Type camera, this is a pretty good choice.

Official Polaroid Now Web Page

An absolutely feature-packed Instax Wide camera; the Lomo'Instant Wide really is something. Instax Wide is my favorite instant film format, and I wanted a camera with more features than my Wide 300. There really aren't many cameras that can shoot Instax Wide so the Lomo was the logical choice for me. Was this the straight upgrade to the Wide 300 I was looking for? Well...

I have a lot to say about this camera. Buckle in.

Multiple exposure, long exposure, multiple lens attachments and a remote shutter button, this camera can do a whole hell of a lot. It even includes a PC socket where you can plug in external flashes. Crazy right? To be honest, the only feature that I use consistently is the close up lens. Getting as close as four inches from the subject really is something, I've gotten plenty of stunning results with that. As for most of the other features like multiple and long exposure, I don't really use them very much. When I do use these modes, I am pleasantly surprised by the results. These extra modes provide endless creative possibilities.

The first thing I don't like about the Lomo Wide is how wide the lens is. This is totally personal preference, and this might be an upside for you. Compared to the Wide 300, the lens on the Lomo is very wide. I like taking portraits and close-up nature shots the most, so this wider lens doesn't really appeal to me. The corners of the frame look fuzzy and out of focus because of this wideness, which can look nice in some situations but in others it looks distracting. Another thing I notice is a pretty visible vignette effect around the images, which I actually do like.

Another issue; build quality. The camera looks really nice in pictures and in person, but this camera just feels super cheap and flimsy to hold. The plastic ring that is used to thread the lenses on is loose on my unit and it looks like it could pop out. On top of that there are multiple spots where the 'leather' is peeling off a bit already. This was a problem out of the box, and paying this much I'd expect the camera to have better build quality. The Wide 300 is half the price and feels way better and sturdier than the Lomo.

The focusing system is fairly simple on paper, but can be hard to get used to. I messed up the focus quite a bit at first because it's hard for my freedom-loving Patriot brain to eyeball the difference between 0.6m and 1m. I did get used to it after awhile, and I can consistently get shots in focus at this point.

This camera has two HUGE problems; the viewfinder and the light meter. Framing shots is made extremely difficult with this viewfinder, and while I've learned and have gotten better, I still mess up framing of shots from time to time. To compare I've never had a problem framing shots with my Wide 300, I'm not sure why the viewfinder is so much worse on the Lomo.

But while you can learn how to use the viewfinder properly with time, what you can't master is the HORRENDOUS light meter on this camera. What I mean by this is the light meter tends to overexpose images drastically. This is to the point where if I'm in direct sunlight, I set the camera to -1 exposure comp no matter what. Even worse the meter will sometimes freak out and completely blow out the image, even in the most simple of lighting situations. I'd say this only happens about once or twice every two packs. Still, that's more wasted film due to something that wasn't even your fault.

VERDICT: While I have gotten some genuinely breathtaking images with this camera, it is very painful to use. I don't think I would recommend this camera to people unless you really want the features that it comes with. You really have to fight with this camera to get what you want and the price tag can be hard to swallow for most. If you're not prepared for a huge learning curve and a ton of wasted film, then I would look elsewhere.

Lomography Instant Camera Store

The Polaroid SX-70. One of the most iconic and celebrated instant cameras ever made. Released in 1973, what makes this camera so desirable to instant shooters to this day?

This is one of the few SLR instant cameras, meaning that the viewfinder goes through the lens itself. This means framing and focusing is dead simple, as what you see in the viewfinder is what you get with your photo. Another upside is that the SX-70 has a glass lens, which makes pictures super sharp and crisp. The camera also folds to a very compact size, making it easy to transport.

The shooting experience is great with the SX-70. As mentioned before framing and focusing is a breeze. I've gotten very sharp images out of this camera that I am consistently happy with. The lens can focus as close as 10 inches so I be sure to get as close as I can when snapping photos to take advantage of this. The light meter on this camera is very good, although I tend to underexpose just a bit when shooting outdoors. The SX-70 doesn't have a built in flash, but you can buy aftermarket flash-bars online that enable you to shoot indoors. This camera is amazing, but what's the catch? It's the price.

I got my SX-70 untested on eBay for around $60. I then went to Retrospekt to get the camera refurbished and converted to shoot the more sensitive 600 film. The refurb took about a month and cost around $270. I can wholeheartedly recommend Retrospekt for their refurbishment services. Their customer service was very kind and answered all of my questions, and the camera looks brand new despite being almost 50 years old. I spent quite a bit of money on this camera, but for me I think it was worth it.

VERDICT: This is an absolute gem of an instant camera. I totally get why people love the SX-70 so much despite many new cameras being released since. The photos I get out of it are really consistent and sharp. Due to the price tag, I can only recommend it to only the most enthusiastic of instant shooters. If you can find one in working condition for cheap, consider yourself lucky.

Polaroid SX-70 from Retrospekt

Polaroid SX-70 from Polaroid