Square, 1:1 ratio is a fun film format. If you want to shoot it, here are the best Instax square cameras to start making prints that the original Instagram wanted to emulate. Instax square is a relatively new addition to the Instax family but there are some cameras that really hit it out of the park. Let’s dig right in.
What you need to know about Instax square
When it comes to instant photography and Fujifilm, the Instax mini has been a while for a while but the Instax square is relatively new. So there are not too many cameras for the format as compared to the mini.
One of the best aspects of the Instax Square cameras is probably the form factor. You can get a bigger print than a mini but the cameras are not as massive as the Instax wide cameras. And the viewfinders are more compact making these have a slim profile vs the wide cameras where the viewfinder seems like an afterthought. Also look at the list of the best Instax cameras.
Most of them are also not that much bigger than the Instax mini cameras which is a plus. Since they are square they are much reminiscent of the old Polaroids but they are not as big as those prints.
Best Instax square cameras
You can find the list of the best Instax square cameras below, more on each afterwards.
| Name | Lens | 35mm Equivalent | Features | Get it here: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Instax Square SQ6 | 66 mm, f/12.6 | 32mm | Most controls | Check on ebay |
| 2. Instax Square SQ20 | NA mm f/2.4 | 33.4mm | Hybrid digital + analog | Check on ebay |
| 3. Lomo Instant Square | 95 mm f/10 | 45mm | Sharp glass lens | Check on ebay |
| 4. Instax Square SQ1 | 66 mm, f/12.6 | 32mm | Simplicity | Check Price |
| 5. Diana Instant square | Various | Various | Changeable lenses | Check on ebay |
Now that we’ve seen what the best Instax Square cameras are, let’s look at each in detail with sample images if available .
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Stylish and compact ✔️ Completely automatic ✔️ Lots of manual control if needed | ❌ Discontinued ❌ Button placement |
Let’s start our list of the best Instax Square cameras with the Instax SQ6. First of all, this is a discontinued camera so you can only find it used. Shame because this is one of the better looking Instaxes out there and it is absolutely excellent.
It has a premium feel to it with lots of attention to detail and it is motorized. Push the power button and the lens pushes out automatically. The 3 distances available [0.3-0.5m | 0.5m-2m | 2m-infinity] are also changed by pressing a button on the back of the camera.
There are no LCDs so everything is operated with a bunch of icons on top with small indicator lights. There is a timer mode and the possibility for double exposure. There is also the light and dark override (exposure compensation) if the pictures are too light or too dark.
This Instax comes with flash attachments to turn the light into green, red and pink. Makes things fun and creative. There is only one small gripe with this camera, it is simply the location of the power button. If you have ever used an Instax you should be used to the front button press to shoot but if this is your first Instax you will most likely turn the camera on or off with your first tries because the power button is on top.
The reason for the front button is to make selfies easier to shoot. There is a little mirror on the front of the lens to help your frame yourself. All an all, this is a sleek camera, not too much bigger than an Instax Mini and is fun to use making it ones of the best Instax square cameras by a long shot.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Print only what you need ✔️ Very selfie friendly ✔️ In-camera editing | ❌ Discontinued ❌ Average digital image quality |
Every single choice on this list of the best Instax square cameras are analog cameras. Except this one. This is a digital camera that shoots Instax prints. There’s no two ways around it, every time you press the button to shoot on an Instax, you will use a print.
It doesn’t matter if it is a great shot or a complete misfire that you will have to retake. Hence the strength of the Hybrid instax. An Instax that can take normal digital images and save to a memory card and the possibility to print only if you want to and as many copies as you like.
Because of the somewhat average sensor here, the images feel a bit different than other Instax cameras but the print colors are 100% there. Because you have a screen in the back you can add filters without the need to get Instax monochrome film and you can create multiple collages (up to 9 images) in one shot.
The images can be a bit dark so sometimes you will need to edit them a bit in the camera but this baby can shoot some excellent pictures. If you are into action photography, this can record mini videos with no sound that you can afterwards print a single frame from.
At f2.4 this is one of the fastest lens you can find on an Instax and coupled with the ISO of Instax film, this is particularly good for low light.
This is more selfie friendly than other cameras on this list of the best Instax square cameras because not only is there a selfie mirror there is a front grip that allows you to hold it pretty much anywhere and you have not one but two shutter release buttons on the front on the right and left.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Glass lens, sharp images ✔️ Lots of options ✔️ Optional Instax mini back | ❌ Viewfinder ❌ Close focus needs getting used to |
Our first third party choice in this list of the best Instax Square cameras. Lomography is well known in the analog circles and this does not disappoint. The camera looks like one of those vintage film cameras straight from the 60s, but you open it on the side and out comes a lens.
The lens is really the star of the show here as it is real glass (All Instaxes are plastic lenses) making some really nice, sharp images. There’s a lot of tricks up this camera’s sleeves, in the back with buttons and LED indicators you have options for the flash, double exposure, EV compensation (light/dark), bulb mode (for those light streaks) and a 10 second timer.
It’s a fun camera and you can even pull out a little remote from the bottom of the camera to reveal a remote trigger to shoot from a distance and not at arms length like most other Instaxes. There is a selfie mirror so that helps with framing.
There’s two drawbacks to this. First the focusing distance needs getting used to because this has a 45mm (35mm equivalent) lens, so the part that will be in focus will be thinner than other Instaxes that hover around the 35mm arena. The second drawback is the viewfinder, it’s on the crappy side and a bit hard to see.
One unique thing about this camera is the fact that you can change the back to take Instax mini film instead, making this a two in one camera.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Simple and fun ✔️ Price ✔️ Completely automatic | ❌ Boxy design ❌ No controls |
This is one of the best Instax square cameras if you want simplicity. You cannot possibly go simpler than the SQ1. While the SQ6 (First choice) had many options for some form of manual override this has none.
Everything is automatic and also one of the cheapest models out there. The design is very boxy vs the sleeker SQ6. You turn on the camera by twisting the lens and select the different focus mode with another twist so that it focuses closer for selfies. As with all the cameras on this list of the best Instax square cameras, this has a selfie mirror.
If you are looking for a no frills, simple model to shoot Instax square, this is a wonderful choice.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Plastic, fantastic, iconic ✔️ Fun accessories ✔️ Change lenses | ❌ Base model has vignetting ❌ No light meter |
This is the last choice as one of the best Instax square cameras. Diana is a well known name in the lo-fi aesthetic game and this model shoots Instax square. On one hand it is the most versatile Instax square because it has interchangeable lenses.
The default lens it comes with has hardcore vignetting that is either great or not depending on your preference. But since you can add lenses to it, the glass lens gives really nice images. There is no light meter and it allows for normal and variable exposure and bulb mode for those light streaks.
There’s s so many accessories for this if you get the kit that makes this a really good choice if you just want to bring the fun back in your images.
Conclusion
There you have it, I hope you enjoyed this list of the best Instax square cameras. There’s not a lot of choices because the format is relatively new. The best one by far if you do not mind used it the Instax SQ6, followed by the hybrid SQ20 that can do many tricks no other Instax can do.
If you want a no frills square shooter, then the SQ1. The Lomo Instant Square is superb and can take the mini format with an optional back and the Diana Square has loads of accessories for fun images. happy shooting.