Instax Mini 90 camera for $210: Once my favorite Instax, the Mini 90 seems to have been replaced by the Mini Evo. The price isn’t too different, but the Mini Evo is more capable, especially since the Mini 90 is exactly the same. That said, the Mini 90 delivers the highest quality images of the Mini series (on par with the Mini Evo), so if you want the exact same experience and the highest quality images, this is the camera. you should have. It regularly drops below $150, so avoid paying more.
Instax SQ 6 cameras for $130 to $210: This one is a head scratcher. As I noted above, the SQ 6 is a better camera than the SQ 1 or SQ 40, which appear to have 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). Regardless, Fujifilm no longer lists the SQ 6 on its Instax website. But if you find it and like the square format, the SQ 6 is a great camera. It has some manual features not found elsewhere—I especially like the Lighten and Darken modes that can be used as exposure compensation—in addition to the SQ 40’s fully automatic mode. Other cool extras include a self-timer, pop-up close-up mode, and the option to turn off the flash. It’s still in stock, so try to only buy it if you find it for around $100 to $150.
Instax Mini Link 2 printer for $100: The Instax Mini Link has been replaced by the Mini Link 2, but the upgrades are minor and to be honest, I couldn’t tell any difference in print quality. If you can find the original Mini Link for less than the price of the Link 2, buy it. Link 2 mostly sells for $100, so don’t pay a lot for the original Link. Both are great printers.
Avoid these Instax cameras
Instax Mini 11 for $80 to $120: I mentioned it above, but the Mini 11 is rarely worth buying. It’s only a few dollars cheaper than the newer Mini 12 and lacks most of the features that made the Mini 12 a great buy. If you can find this for under $50, it’s probably worth it. But otherwise avoid the Mini 11.
Instax 7s/Instax 8/Instax 9: These are all old, low-end Instax models. They use a fixed 1/60 shutter speed, whereas the auto exposure of the comparably priced Mini 12 can select shutter speeds from 1/2 to 1/250 second, making it much more flexible. . Since most of these are hard to find anyway, skip them.
Do you want a camera, a printer or both?
Once you’ve chosen 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 gives you the best of both worlds—our top picks are the camera and printer. Note that if you want Instax Square or Instax Wide printing, there is no hybrid model.
If you’re still nostalgic for what I call the “Polaroid experience,” the Instax camera is the way to go. They’re not the highest quality cameras (most have plastic lenses), but they take beautiful photos, and you can watch them develop seconds after you take them. This is the more interesting option, but the downside is that if you have an image you love on your phone and want to print it, you will have to look elsewhere.
