Choosing the Right Cheap Polaroid Camera
If you are looking for a cheap polaroid camera then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will guide you through the Best 8 Cheap Polaroid Cameras under $100 available on the market today, based on our testing and customer review feedback.
We continually update this guide to reflect recent launches, recognize price changes, and ensure the latest and greatest cheap polaroid cameras are considered for review. All the cameras listed here have been fully reviewed by us.
Best 8 Cheap Polaroid Cameras Under $100
The Instax Mini 9 is our top recommendation for a cheap Polaroid camera because it combines all the advantages of its insanely popular predecessor, the Mini 8, plus a close-up lens and selfie features.
What’s more, the Mini 9 comes in a delightful array of color options, and at the time of writing, it is retailing for under $70!
It’s really simple and fun to use, making it perfect for weddings, special occasions, and would make a great introduction to photography for young children
As with any camera, the Mini 9 is not perfect and there were a few things we didn’t like although they are not deal-breakers. Firstly, if you already own a Mini 8 we would not recommend upgrading to the Mini 9 unless you are a die-hard Instax fan or selfie-obsessed, because the upgrades are not significant enough to justify the upgrade otherwise.
The Mini 9 is not great for taking photos some distance away (for this we recommend the Instax Mini 90) and as with all instant cameras, the cost of instant film is expensive. You can read our full review here.
READ NEXT: Buy Instax Mini 9 Film in Bulk and Save 20%!
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.4 stars (703 customer reviews)
Pros
- Rated 4.4 stars by Amazon users
- Fun and easy to use
- A great instant camera for adults and children alike
Cons
- Not great for long-distance shots
- Design aesthetics does not appeal to everyone
- Upgrades are not sufficient to justify replacing your existing Instax Mini 8
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 is one of the newest additions to the instant camera range. Its stylish design makes it a natural step-up model to the hugely popular Instax Mini 8.
Perhaps one of the nicest features of the Mini 70 is the ‘Selfie’ mode which is ideal if you love taking selfies. Users can press the selfie button when shooting so that the camera automatically adjusts the brightness and focal length so they are optimized for selfie shots. One other neat feature is the selfie mirror beside the lens which lets you check the framing to achieve the best angle for your selfie.
We also really liked the ‘self-timer’ mode which allows you to take group shots without leaving anybody out; this feature is something that not many of the best instant cameras have and is a real plus.
The camera has a lot of other great features including automatic exposure control and the new ‘Fill-in-Flash’ which you can read about here.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.6 stars (249 customer reviews)
Pros
- Stylish Design
- Selfie mode
- Self-timer for taking group shots
Cons
- Small viewfinder
- Pricier than the Fuji Instax Mini 8
The Mini 90 is arguably the best-looking instant camera in the Instax range with its retro-inspired design. It also comes with a wider range of settings and features which make this an excellent choice if you are looking for an instant camera that offers a higher degree of control over your photos.
The Instax Mini 90 can be used in portrait or landscape orientation, with a shutter button for each position ensuring a comfortable grip either way. One neat little touch is the front shutter button doubles as a mirror which can be very helpful when using the camera for selfies.
It also features a timer that can be used to capture a special moment without leaving a member of the group out to snap the photo – make use of the tripod mount for the perfect shot.
The optical viewfinder is rather small and it can be difficult to view through, particularly if you wear glasses. It’s not a showstopper but we would have preferred a larger viewfinder for ease of use.
Overall the range of settings and features are pretty straightforward to use and the learning curve is minimal. The Instax Mini 90 is great fun to shoot with and captures natural, great-looking photos.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars (1,210 customer reviews)
Pros
- Cool, retro-inspired design
- Best Instax for manual settings options
- Unique double exposure mode
Cons
- Pricier than the Fuji Instax Mini 8
- As with all instant cameras, the cost of the film can be expensive
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 offers many of the same awesome benefits as the Mini 9 AND several additional customized settings plus a built-in selfie mirror which is a great way of getting just the right distance for your selfie and ensuring you don’t waste film without focus shots. Read our full review here.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars (450 customer reviews)
Pros
- Autofocus
- Has a 4.6-star rating from Amazon users
- Better customization settings than the Instax Mini 8
Cons
- No zoom feature
- Some users prefer AA batteries instead of the lithium-ion battery used by the Instax Mini 25
This Instax is ideal for anyone who is a fan of Hello Kitty. It also makes a perfect present set as the box comes complete with a Hello Kitty strap, zoom lens, and 10 sheets of Hello Kitty film.
One super cute accessory for this camera that we really like is the Katia Camera Case Bag which is also handy for storing your photos in and helps protect the camera.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.8 stars (279 customer reviews)
Pros
- Very cute
- Great present for Hello Kitty enthusiasts
- Has a 4.6-star rating from Amazon users
Cons
- More expensive than some other cheap polaroid cameras because it is sold in a set
The Fuji Instax Wide 300 polaroid camera’s superpower is that it takes photos that are twice the size of the Instax Mini Cameras.
The Instax Wide 300 is a simple, easy-to-use camera that is lots of fun and perfect for capturing special moments at parties or with loved ones. The camera has some noteworthy features to help you capture the perfect shot, all of which are controlled by a few simple buttons.
This camera uses Instax Wide film, you can find out how to buy in bulk and save over 20% here.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.3 stars (467 customer reviews)
Pros
- Produces much larger images than the Instax Mini or Square
- Received great reviews on Amazon
- Uses 4 x AA batteries giving more flexibility than lithium-ion polaroid cameras
Cons
- Chunky design not very portable or stylish
- Small viewfinder
This is a modernized version of the Polaroid camera which is fun and easy to use.
The Polaroid Snap has the advantage over other instant cameras (well, except for the Instax Square SQ10) because in addition to being able to produce instant photos it also has a 32 GB SD memory card which you can use to store your photos and upload them to your social media.
One other neat thing about this camera is that it prints on zink paper which has several advantages over instant film:
- It is a lot cheaper (a great benefit as the cost of instant film is one of the main downsides to instant photography)
- It delivers vibrant, high-quality photos
- You can continue to shoot multiple photos while printing out, which is not possible with ordinary instant cameras
The Polaroid Snap can print in full color or black and white sepia which is very artistic.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars (1,104 customer reviews)
Pros
- Cheaper printing costs than other cheap polaroid cameras
- Can store photos on an SD card
- Prints and shoots photos simultaneously
Cons
- Mixed customer reviews on Amazon
- Hybrid design is not truly in the classic spirit of polaroid cameras
The Polaroid 300 is a great camera that receives fantastic ratings from Amazon users. However, I am going to let you in on a little secret … it is actually a re-branded Fuji Instax Mini 7S!
While this is a good cheap Polaroid camera with excellent features including auto flash and simple four-scene settings, I believe that the Instax Mini 9 represents a better bang for your buck. Don’t take my word for it though, please take a look at the customer reviews and decide for yourself.
Amazon Customer Ratings: 4.3 stars (1,001 customer reviews)
Pros
- A solid performer
- Received great feedback from users
Cons
- This polaroid camera is actually a re-branded Instax Mini 7S
- Price is comparable to newer polaroid camera models such as the Mini 9
Deciding Which Cheap Polaroid Camera to Pick – Making the Final Decision
If you are looking to purchase a cheap Polaroid camera then you should seriously consider the Instax Mini 9 because it’s a fun, easy-to-use camera that comes under $60. There are also some other alternative Polaroid cameras reviewed here, in particular, the Polaroid Snap is a good option if you are looking for a modernized version of the Polaroid camera, with an SD card for transferring photos to social media and printing on zink paper which is significantly cheaper than traditional instant film.
I hope you have found this review helpful in your search for a cheap polaroid camera, having reviewed the best 8 cheap polaroid cameras under $100. Of course, the most important factor in buying a cheap polaroid camera is making sure you have the right camera for you – the best for your budget-required features as well as a design and camera size that feels right and suits your needs.
READ NEXT: Best Places to Buy Polaroid 600 Film
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Emma Johnson
I have loved photography from a young age and more recently started experimenting with Instant Cameras from Polaroid and Instax. I also love dancing and hanging out with my friends :)
This free cheat sheet will improve your instant camera photography skills by providing quick information on using instant cameras, lighting, taking selfies, and more!
