Want to shoot instant cameras but want to stay away from Fujifilm Instax? Here’s the 5 best Instax alternatives that will fit the bill.
What you need to know about Instax alternatives
When comparing digital cameras, it is easy to simply give a list. This is not the case for Instax alternatives because you cannot talk about them without talking about the FILMs that go with them.
Film availability
In short, Instax DIMONIATES the space and while you can go in multiple stores, including around the world to get Instax film, most of the other film formats are buy online only. Plus that is not the only thing…
Instax vs Lomo
Fujifilm has always refused to take risks for the Instax cameras but other companies have taken the slack. The good news is a lot of Lomos cameras take Instax film so the availability is great.
Polaroid vs Instax
To simplify things, while they are not compatible Instax is the same thing as Polaroid. Back in the day Fujifilm got sued but eventually go the rights to produce its film. There is a difference however in the color, while they are both the same technology, the color science of Fujifilm is very different.
Instax vs Zink
If you know what a Polaroid is, you know what an Instax film looks like. What Zink looks like is a washed out photo. Just like Instax, there is no ink needed as the ink is in the paper itself but the image quality is really not great at all.
Where the washed out colors on Instax are great due to the fact that they are analog, the washed out of Zink makes it look low quality. But on the other hand they have a sticky back. More importantly if you are looking for cheap instant photography, Zink will do but it is nowhere the same thing as Instax or Polaroid.
5 Best Instax alternatives list
Below is the list of the 5 best Instax alternatives. More on each camera after the jump.
| Name | Film | Get it here: |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Polaroid SX-70 | SX-70 Film | Check on ebay |
| 2. Polaroid Now + | i-Type | Check on ebay |
| 3. Polaroid Go | Go film | Check Price |
| 4. Lomo Instant Square glass | Instax square / mini | Check on ebay |
| 5. Kodak Step touch | Zink | Check Price |
Now that we’ve seen the list of the best Instax alternatives, here’s more information about them with sample images when available.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Foldable and sleek ✔️ Great image quality ✔️ Beautiful Bokeh | ❌ Expensive ❌ Used only |
Can you imagine a camera SO good, it still being shot 50 years? That is the Polaroid SX-70, THE Instax alternative and probably one of the best instant cameras ever made. This camera gives you the normal, large square Polaroid and it is foldable.
It can close completely to look like a thin metallic box so it’s really portable, open it up and you get what you get is the anti-Instax: A high end instant camera. Unlike most, this is a real SLR, so you get a complete picture of what you are about to shoot, just like in a DSLR.
Speaking of, this camera can do some STUNNING Bokeh at f8. Because this is essentially a large format camera, this is almost like having an f/2 lens on a full frame. The out of focus area aren’t rough but aesthetically pleasing.
Everything comes down to the price, not only is the SX-70 premium priced, you can only find it used, and each shot for the camera comes down to $2.49. If budget is not an issue, this is one of the best Instant cameras EVER made and worthy to be on top of the Instax alternatives.
Polaroid SX70 Sample images:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Retro cool design ✔️ Simple to use ✔️ Use phone for special features | ❌ Requires phone for advanced features |
Another Polaroid? Yes. They have some of the best Instax alternatives because the film and technology is similar. This one lets you shoot Polaroid films that are just as big as the SX70 but it is a slightly different technology as the SX70 has a battery in the film cart.
So this allows you to shoot the same SX70-like images without the price tag of the camera. The film itself is still relatively expensive at $2.123 per shot but it is also pretty large compared to anything Instax offers.
At f11 the Bokeh isn’t as great as the SX70 but this camera has a trick up its sleeve. It is a completely functional, automatic camera but pair it with a phone and you have a lot of controls in your hands like aperture, shutter speed, doubles exposure, etc. This is great for when you need to shoot manual and you can simply point and shoot when you want to have fun.
The prints are excellent and are exactly what you expect from Polaroid, a large Instax-like camera.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Fun design ✔️ Smallest instant camera ✔️ Completely automatic and simple | ❌ Cost per shot |
This will be the final Polaroid on this list of the best Instax alternatives. This is closer to Instax in the sense that the film this uses is closer to Instax mini film and the price per shot is a much more affordable $1.24. The camera isn’t too expensive either.
It boasts itself as the tiniest Instant Camera nd we have to agree this thing is diminutive. It is a fully automatic camera but it has the chops where it counts. There is the obligatory self timer and selfie mirror but more importantly this has the capacity to do double exposures.
In short, it’s simple, cute and the closest to Instax mini camera and film you can get.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Sharp glass lens ✔️ Many manual features ✔️ Double Instax format | ❌ Large |
The Lomo instant sqaure is for you if you want to shoot Instax Square but just want a different camera other than Fuji. This camera is one of the top of the line when it comes to Instax cameras because of its glass lens.
Most Instax cameras are made with plastic lenses s this one is of much higher quality. It looks a bit odd when closed but the advantage here is that you can switch the camera’s back to take Instaax Mini instead.
It is fully automatic but has plenty of controls in the back for double exposure, bulb, exposure compensation, etc. It even has a litte remote that pulls out so that you can remotely trigger the camera from afar. All and all it is one of the most advanced and sharpest Instax capable cameras out there.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Hybrid ✔️ 13 Megapixels with video ✔️ Cheapest Hybrid | ❌ Average digital camera ❌ Zink |
This is pretty much the only alternative to the Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay, the Instax hybrid that shoots digital and print Instax. This however is Zink paper. Which is low quality photos but that are MUCH more affordable than even Instax at $0.49 per shot and has sticker back.
All the images you see from the manufacturer and all are simulated images and they never show you the actual print.
The camera itself is an average digital camera but much better than the Liplay as this has 13 megapixels and can record videos. The main draw here is the TOUCH part, it has a touchscreen in the back so that you can easily manipulate your photos without a phone before your print.
Just like the Liplay you can also use this as a standalone Zink printer so that you can get your pictures off your phone. If you do not mind the average prints, this is an excellent camera that bypasses the big issue with instant cameras: The fact that you are forced to print.
The top previous 4 choices as the best Instax alternatives, you are forced to print the moment your press the shutter button, but with the Step Touch you only print what you want to print, making it even more economical.
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed this article about the best Instax alternatives. The top choices are from Polaroid because they are the ones who make similar films and if budget is no issue then the Polaroid SX-70, a cult camera still being shot after 50 years. A cheaper version with cheaper film is the Polaroid Now + and if you want something closer to the Instax mini then the cute Polaroid Go.
If you want to shoot Instax but from another manufacturer then the Lomo Instant Square with sharp glass lens and plenty of creative modes. Lastly if you want a hybrid that saves the images and prints, then the Kodak Step Touch. Happy shooting.