Instax Mini 90 camera, $210: The Mini 90, once my favorite Instax, seems to have been replaced by the Mini Evo. The price isn’t that different, but the Mini Evo has better performance, especially since the Mini 90 is completely analog. That said, the Mini 90 offers the highest quality images of the Mini series (on par with the Mini Evo), so if you want a full analog experience and the highest quality images, this is the camera for you. Avoid paying more as it regularly drops below $150.
Instax SQ 6 camera from $130 to $210: This is something that gives me a headache. As I said above, the SQ 6 is a better camera than the SQ 1 and SQ 40, which supposedly jointly replaced the SQ 6. Heck, there’s even a Taylor Swift version of the SQ 6 (I don’t want to see what’s going on on eBay these days). In any case, Fujifilm no longer lists the SQ 6 on the Instax website. But if you can find it, and as with the square format, the SQ 6 is a great camera. In addition to the SQ 40’s fully automatic mode, it has some manual features that others don’t have. In addition to the SQ 40’s fully automatic mode, I particularly like its “brighter” and “darker” modes, which can be used like exposure compensation. Other great additions include a self-timer, close mode, and more. Option to turn off mode and flash. It’s in stock, so only buy it if you can find it for around $100 to $150.
Instax Mini Link 2 printer, $100: The Instax Mini Link has been replaced by the Mini Link 2, but the upgrade is minor and I honestly can’t tell a difference in print quality. If you can find the original Mini Link for less than the price of the Link 2, go for it. The Link 2 sells for $100 in most cases, so you don’t have to pay that much for the original Link. Both are great printers.
Avoid these check cameras
Instax Mini 11 from $80 to $120:As I said above, the Mini 11 is hardly worth buying. It’s only a few dollars cheaper than the new Mini 12, and it lacks most of the features that make the Mini 12 a bargain. If you can find this for less than $50, it might be worth it. However, if you don’t, avoid the Mini 11.
Instax 7s/Instax 8/Instax 9: These are all older, lower-end Instax models. These use a fixed 1/60 shutter speed, whereas the similarly priced Mini 12’s autoexposure is more flexible, allowing you to choose shutter speeds from 1/2 to 1/250 seconds. In any case, given that most of these are hard to find, skip them.
Do you need a camera, printer, or both?
Once you’ve selected the film size you want, the next question is do you want a camera, a printer, or a hybrid that can do both? The latter is more expensive but offers the best of both worlds. Our top picks are cameras and printers. If you would like an instax square or instax wide print, please note that we do not have a hybrid model.
If you’re feeling nostalgic for what I still call the “Polaroid experience,” the Instax Camera is for you. Although these are not the highest quality cameras (most cameras use plastic lenses), you can take decent photos and watch them develop within seconds of taking them. This is a more fun option, but the downside is that if you have a favorite image on your phone and want to print it, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
