Best Manual Instant Film Cameras of 2025

Kenneth Collin Avatar
Kenneth Collin
Last Updated: 1 Feb 2025

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Manual instant film cameras are a classic way to capture memories in an instant. These cameras use self-developing film to produce physical prints right after the photo is taken. They do not require any digital processing or editing and offer a unique and nostalgic feel to photography. With their simple and intuitive controls, these cameras are perfect for beginners and professionals alike. The instant gratification of seeing a physical print develop before your eyes is a magical experience that cannot be replicated by digital cameras. These cameras are a great addition to any photography enthusiast's collection.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

INSTAX Mini 99 Instant Film Camera with Effects Cover #TOP 1
INSTAX Mini 99 Instant Film Camera with Effects
ftb score rating icon 9.8
INSTAX Mini 11 Instant Film Camera with Selfie Lens Cover #TOP 2
INSTAX Mini 11 Instant Film Camera with Selfie Lens
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 Camera Bundle Cover #TOP 3
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 Camera Bundle
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Manual Instant Film Cameras

#TOP 1

INSTAX Mini 99 Instant Film Camera with Effects

mini 99
Black
INSTAX Mini 99 Instant Film Camera with Effects Cover
instax mini 99 instant film camera with Colour effect and brightness control, Landscape/Normal/Macro modes, and a manual Vignette switch, uses instax mini film Sold Separately

The INSTAX Mini 99 Camera is designed for those who love capturing moments instantly. With six selectable colour effects, you can add a unique touch to your photos, making them stand out. The manual vignette control allows you to darken the edges for a creative look, perfect for personalising your shots. You’ll appreciate the 10-second self-timer, which is ideal for group photos or selfies. Additionally, its classic design features two identical shutter buttons and is tripod-ready, enhancing your photography experience.

What We Like
Variety of colour effects
Manual vignette control
10-second self-timer
Classic and stylish design
Tripod-ready for stability
#TOP 2

INSTAX Mini 11 Instant Film Camera with Selfie Lens

16655039
Ice White
INSTAX Mini 11 Instant Film Camera with Selfie Lens Cover
instax mini 11 instant film camera, auto exposure and Built-in selfie lens, Ice White

The INSTAX Mini 11 Camera is a delightful way to capture memories instantly. It produces credit card-sized photos, making them easy to share and display. With a built-in selfie lens and mirror, taking perfect self-portraits becomes effortless, ensuring you always look your best. The automatic exposure feature adjusts the camera settings for ideal pictures every time, eliminating guesswork and allowing you to focus on enjoying the moment. This camera uses instax mini film, which is designed for quick and vibrant prints, so you can relive your experiences in no time.

What We Like
Produces instant credit card-sized photos
Built-in selfie lens and mirror
Automatic exposure for perfect pictures
Easy to use and carry
Fun for sharing memories instantly
#TOP 3

Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 Camera Bundle

6250
Black
Camera + Film pack
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 Camera Bundle Cover
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 - Camera + Film Bundle (16 Photos Included) - Black - Bluetooth Connected App Controlled Instant Film Camera-6250

The Polaroid Now+ offers a creative photography experience with its Bluetooth-connected app, allowing you to take full manual control of your shots. You can explore fun features like double exposure and light painting, which enhance your artistic expression. The dual lens autofocus ensures you capture the perfect image every time, automatically switching between close-up and standard shots. Additionally, the camera is designed with 40% recycled plastic, making it an eco-friendly choice for your instant photography needs.

What We Like
Creative app controls
Dual lens autofocus
Eco-friendly materials
Includes bonus lens filters
Compatible with i-Type films
#TOP 4

INSTAX SQ40 Instant Camera with Selfie Lens

SQ40
Black
Camera only
INSTAX SQ40 Instant Camera with Selfie Lens Cover
INSTAX SQ40 instant camera, Black textured finish

The INSTAX SQ40 Camera allows you to produce instant photos in a classic square format, making it perfect for capturing memories on the go. With automatic exposure, you can be confident that you'll never miss a moment, regardless of lighting conditions. The built-in selfie lens and mirror enable you to take great self-portraits effortlessly. Additionally, the automatic flash control ensures that your pictures come out beautifully, with a quick print time of just five seconds for instant enjoyment.

What We Like
Instant square format photos
Automatic exposure for convenience
Built-in selfie lens
Fast 5-second print time
#TOP 5

Canal Toys Photo Creator Instant Camera with Printer

CLK 019
Teal
Canal Toys Photo Creator Instant Camera with Printer Cover
Photo Creator Instant Camera - Digital camera with built in printer - 250 prints - rechargeable

The Photo Creator Instant Camera is a delightful 12mp digital camera designed for kids, featuring a built-in thermal printer for instant photo printing without any drying time. The bright flash enhances lighting for your photos and videos, ensuring they capture memories beautifully. With a large 3-inch digital screen, you can preview and apply filters or effects before printing, making the experience even more enjoyable. Additionally, the camera is equipped with a rechargeable battery, allowing creative fun wherever you go.

What We Like
Instant photo printing
Bright flash for better lighting
Large preview screen
Rechargeable for on-the-go use
#TOP 6

Instax Mini 11 Instant Film Camera, Sky Blue

16654956
SKY Blue
Instax Mini 11 Instant Film Camera, Sky Blue Cover
Instax Mini 11instant Film Camera, Auto Exposure And Built-in Selfie Lens, SKY Blue

The Instax Mini 11 is a delightful instant film camera that produces credit card-sized photos effortlessly. With its built-in self-portrait lens and mirror, capturing the perfect selfie is easier than ever. The automatic exposure feature ensures that you get ideal pictures every time, regardless of the lighting conditions. Additionally, it uses Instax mini film, making it convenient for you to print beautiful memories instantly. This camera is perfect for anyone looking to document special moments with ease and style.

What We Like
Instant credit card-sized photos
Built-in selfie lens and mirror
Automatic exposure for ideal pictures
Easy to use
Compact and portable design
#TOP 7

Polaroid Now+ Instant Camera - Calm Blue

9063
Blue
No Films
Polaroid Now+ Instant Camera - Calm Blue Cover
Polaroid Now+ Instant Camera i-Type - Calm Blue

The Polaroid Now+ offers a range of innovative features to enhance your photography experience. With Bluetooth connectivity and the Polaroid App, you can unlock creative tools that help you capture stunning images. The tripod mount ensures stability for your shots, allowing you to experiment with longer exposures. Additionally, the app provides options like aperture priority and cinematic tripod mode, giving you greater control over your focus and composition. Enjoy the flexibility to create unique photos with ease.

What We Like
Creative tools via mobile app
Tripod mount for stability
Bluetooth connectivity
Compatible with i-Type and 600 film
Aperture priority feature
#TOP 8

INSTAX Mini 11 Instant Film Camera with Selfie Lens

16654994
Lilac Purple
INSTAX Mini 11 Instant Film Camera with Selfie Lens Cover
instax mini 11 instant film camera, auto exposure and Built-in selfie lens, Lilac Purple

The INSTAX Mini 11 is a delightful instant film camera that produces credit card-sized photos, perfect for capturing memories on the go. With its built-in selfie lens and mirror, taking self-portraits becomes easy and fun, ensuring you always look your best. It uses INSTAX Mini film, allowing for vibrant prints that fit easily into wallets. The camera comes equipped with a hand strap and shutter accessory set, making it convenient to carry and use anytime you want to snap a quick shot.

What We Like
Easy to use for selfies
Produces credit card-sized photos
Includes handy accessories
Vibrant prints with instant film
#TOP 9

Polaroid Originals OneStep+ Instant Camera Black

9010
OneStep + Black
Polaroid Originals OneStep+ Instant Camera Black Cover
Polaroid Originals - 9010 - OneStep+ Instant i-Type Camera - Black

The Polaroid OneStep+ is designed for instant photography enthusiasts. It features the original Polaroid format, making it easy for you to capture memories on the go. With a 60-day battery life, you can enjoy extended shooting without frequent recharges. The powerful flash ensures your photos are well-lit, even in low-light conditions. Additionally, the self-timer mode allows you to take group shots effortlessly, giving you the freedom to join in on the fun.

What We Like
Easy to use
Long battery life
Powerful flash
Self-timer for group shots
#TOP 10

Jectse 35mm Focus Free Reusable Film Camera

Jectsep73vte0bag-12
Black and White
Jectse 35mm Focus Free Reusable Film Camera Cover
Film Camera, 35mm Focus Free Reusable Film Camera with 28MM F/8 Lens, Built in Flash 35mm Analog Film Camera, Lightweight and Easy to Use (Black and White)

The Jectse Film Camera offers a unique vintage quality that digital cameras cannot match, allowing you to capture memorable moments with rich storytelling. Its versatile design lets you use both black and white or coloured 35mm film, making it suitable for any scenario. Easy operation is a key benefit, with a 1/120s shutter speed and an f/8 28MM lens that enhance your photographic experience. Being lightweight and user-friendly means you can easily carry it around, perfect for all analogue photography enthusiasts.

What We Like
Unique vintage photo quality
Versatile film support
Easy to operate
Lightweight and portable
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do instant cameras still exist?

Instant film has made a big comeback in recent years. Fujifilm has its Instax business, and while it's gone through some ownership and branding changes over the years, you can still buy film for many old Polaroid cameras, and buy new ones which use its modern I-Type film packs.

2. What is the easiest instant camera to use?

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 If you're looking for an affordable, easy-to-use camera that won't overwhelm anyone that's new to instant photography, Fujifilm's Instax Mini 11 is our current favorite.

3. Which instant camera has the most affordable film?

Fuji's Instax Mini is the cheapest and most common instant film format. This film has total dimensions of 86 x 54mm, similar to a credit card, and an actual image size of 62 x 46mm.

Editor's Notes

During our manual instant film camera research, we found 28 manual instant film camera products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 198,444 customer reviews through our big data system to write the manual instant film cameras list. We found that most customers choose manual instant film cameras with an average price of £87.10.

The manual instant film cameras are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of manual instant film cameras, including INSTAX, Polaroid, Canal Toys, Jectse. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 123 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.

Written by
Kenneth Collin Avatar

Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.