Once upon a time, the concept of capturing static images of human beings and landscapes was akin to sorcery.
In fact, when Native Americans came face-to-face with the 19th-century invention, they feared the contraption and believed that cameras did not just capture their likeness, but their souls too. Little did they know that photography and videography would come to underpin society in the 21st century.
Nowadays, we operate in an entirely image-based society. Not only do we consume endless amounts of photo carousels in the form of social media posts and advertising, but much of our day-to-day entertainment consists of watching long-form media and motion pictures.
What’s more, the increasingly fast-paced nature of our consumer society has led us to a desire for instant gratification. It’s why, paradoxically, there’s been a huge resurgence in the popularity of vintage-style Polaroid instant cameras.
Invented by Edward Land in 1948, the first camera to be released by his newly established company, Polaroid, was the Model 95. The passionate photographer and ingenious inventor had come up with a method of producing instantly developing film which would form a finished print in just 60 seconds. This was a revolutionary development in the photography world which would go on to alter how images were taken and shared for decades to come.
Sales of Polaroid cameras skyrocketed throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s as they became an incredibly popular means to capture memories and immortalise periods of history. Photo albums were rarely seen without that signature vignette and white textured border, which was often covered in Sharpie scrawl.
With our collective obsession with all things retro, it’s no surprise that Polaroid cameras once again underwent a popularity surge in the early 2010s. However, this likely had something to do with how the newly launched Instagram was structured.
With its retro Polaroid-inspired logo and purposeful vintage-inspired filters, hipsters and indie apologists quickly decided to get their hands on the real thing. After all, what was cooler than a digital photograph of a Polaroid picture posted on Instagram way back when? Go on, we’ll wait.
There’s also something to be said for the instantly tangible nature of Polaroid photographs. While instant photography is no longer a novelty, the physical nature of a photograph certainly is. It’s another reason why the 2020s have once again repopularised the beloved Polaroid camera.
If you’re looking to get your hands on a revolutionary piece of photographic tech, we’ve got you covered. Keep scrolling for a round-up of the best modern and digital polaroid cameras on the market right now. Instant, tangible photography never looked so good.
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Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 + 5 lens filters
Polaroid is still making the instant cameras which made the company famous, and this model offers the classic vintage-style square prints via its i-Type film cartridges. The Now+ is also compatible with Polaroid 600 film and represents a modernised version of the iconic Polaroid 1000 camera which was originally launched in 1978.
It’s been brought into the 21st century by adding Bluetooth connectivity to a phone app that lets you adjust shooting modes and trigger the camera remotely. There are clip-on coloured filters that go over the lens for different looks, and you can switch between lenses for standard or wider-angle views. Plus, the iconic model has received an eco-friendly update, with the camera now being made with 40 per cent recycled materials. Rechargeable with the included USB-C charging cable and equipped with a self-timer and tripod mount, the Now+ is the super-retro-futuristic Polaroid of dreams.
Buy now £119.99, Amazon
Polaroid I-2
We too were surprised to discover that this pricey Polaroid isn’t just a DSLR in disguise. The Polaroid I-2 features the manufacturer’s sharpest-ever lens with built-in manual controls for a highly personalised instant photography experience.
Those who love the intricacies of analogue photography but value the tactility of physical Polaroid photographs are set to fall head over heels for this brilliant invention. The camera is equipped with a three-lens system and wider apertures so that photographers can create beautiful, bright portraits with impressive depth of field.
Buy now £599.99, Amazon
Polaroid Go Generation 2
Described as “the world’s smallest instant camera”, the Polaroid Go is a wonderfully colourful device which measures just 10.5 x 8.4 x 6.2cm and weighs 239g. It’s complete with a built-in selfie mirror, a wearable wrist strap, a self-timer and double-exposure modes making it brilliant for social butterflies who are constantly on the move.
The second generation of the USB-C rechargeable instant camera boasts even better picture quality than ever before thanks to a precise light sensor, better exposure settings and a large aperture range.
Buy now £79.99, Amazon
1970s Polaroid SX-70
Perhaps the most stylish Polaroid camera to ever grace the photography market, the SX-70 is featured here in its original brown and silver design. This refurbished vintage option features a folding SLR design which is both highly compact and functional. SX-70 film is less sensitive to light than other types, which is likely why the camera itself doesn’t have a flash. It nevertheless has a brilliant sonar autofocus.
Buy now £289.81, Etsy
1980s Polaroid Supercolour SE 635
With such a vast and ever-growing range of modern instant cameras on the market, it can be easy to forget about the existence of perfectly working vintage models. The Polaroid Supercolour is an iconic bit of photography kit. It’s compatible with Polaroid 600 film and will produce effortlessly vintage-style photographs with unbeatable grain and saturation.
Buy now £65.00, eBay
Polaroid 600 Extreme Camera
Since modern iterations of Polaroid 600 cameras operate pretty much the same as the original 600 (with easier USB-C charging), the Polaroid 600 Extreme remains a highly coveted vintage treasure. It was first launched in 1988 and was the first of the Polaroid cameras to feature all rounded, smooth edges. It’s equipped with a built-in flash and an electronic shutter.
Buy now £103.20, Etsy
Best non-Polaroid Instant Cameras
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1
The Instax Square SQ1 arrives at the mid-range in terms of cost and premium in terms of quality. Small but mighty, this camera has automatic exposure to adapt to light conditions and an automatic shutter speed, producing vivid and textured photographs on the move. Its selfie mode can be activated at a twist of the lens to avoid fuss, and photos print on a square framed retro film, a classic and sophisticated picture ratio that gives even your most well-liked Instagram snaps a run for their money.
Buy now £99.00, Amazon
instax Mini 12 Instant Camera
An instant classic (if you’ll pardon the pun) since its launch in 1998, the instax Mini is an affordable high-quality instant camera which is now available in a variety of delightful pastel-toned hues. The signature cloud-like shape of the Mini’s later iterations not only makes the camera wonderfully aesthetically pleasing, but ergonomically suited to taking quick snaps on the move. It has easy-to-control and intuitive modes which also makes this camera a brilliant choice for beginners. The Mini 12 additionally comes with a handy carry strap.
Buy now £74.99, Argos
Lomo'Instant Wide Central Park instant camera with lens attachments
Unbelievably chic, we couldn’t believe the Lomo’Instant Wide Central Park camera hadn’t been plucked straight out of a 1970s time capsule. The sub-£200 camera, as the name suggests, has an extra-wide frame which makes squeezing friends and family into one shot easier than ever. The camera also has a fully automatic shutter, experimental shooting modes and comes with three different lens attachments. It’s compatible with Fujifilm Instax Wide film.
Buy now £190.00, Selfridges
Verdict
Though we love vintage creations here at ES Best, the best Polaroid camera, in our humble opinion, is the newly launched Polaroid Now+ Generation 2. This is because Polaroid has mastered the art of retaining the vintage mechanisms which produce charming retro-inspired pictures (namely, Polaroid 600 film) while delivering an accessible, user-friendly and technologically advanced modern edge in the form of smart features and groovy additional accessories.
