Instax suits people who want choice: three film sizes, analog, hybrid and digital cameras, and pocket printers that turn phone photos into instant prints. Polaroid suits people who love the classic Polaroid frame and the look of its film, with manual controls and creative modes opened up through its app on cameras like the Now+, I-2 and Flip. If you want flexibility and small prints for parties, go Instax; if you want that iconic Polaroid look, go Polaroid.
Both brands make instant cameras, but FUJIFILM's instax range has grown into something much wider, including a camera that uses no film at all. Polaroid's stayed closer to its roots, with classic film types and an app that adds manual control, and that's where it shines. I read the instax site and Pal 2 page, the instax mini Link app listing, Polaroid's site and film pages, and the Polaroid app listing.
Instax and Polaroid side by side
| Instax | Polaroid | |
|---|---|---|
| Film formats | mini, SQUARE and WIDE | i-Type, 600, SX-70, Go and 8x10 |
| Camera types | Analog, hybrid and a no-film digital camera | Analog cameras such as Now+, I-2, Flip and Go |
| Phone printers | mini Link 3, mini Link+, SQUARE Link, Link WIDE 2 | Polaroid Lab and Hi-Print |
| App extras | Collage, remote shutter, print from video | Manual Mode, Double Exposure, Light Painting |
| Scanning prints | Not stated | Built-in scanner in the app |
| Newest release | instax SQUARE 2 | Not stated on the pages I read |
How wide the instax range has become
The instax site sorts everything by film size. mini cameras include the mini 12, mini 13 and mini 99, SQUARE cameras include the SQ40 and the new SQUARE 2, and the WIDE 400 takes the widest film. Hybrid models such as the mini Evo let you shoot digitally and choose which shots you'd like to print, so you don't waste film.
The instax Pal 2 is the surprise: it's a camera FUJIFILM lists as a no-film digital camera with a viewfinder that shoots in mini, SQUARE, WIDE and no-frame formats and pairs with an instax printer when you want a print. The mini Link app also prints from your phone, including frames from videos, and has a Click to Collage photobooth mode that takes six shots three seconds apart.
What Polaroid does differently
Polaroid's range is built around its film: i-Type, 600, SX-70, Go and the large 8x10. The Polaroid app is where its cameras get clever. Connect a Now+, OneStep+, I-2 or Flip and the app adds Portrait Mode, Double Exposure, Self Timer, Aperture Priority, Tripod Mode, Light Painting and Manual Mode.
The app also has a high-resolution scanner for i-Type, 600, SX-70 and Spectra pictures, so you can keep digital copies of prints you hand out. With the Polaroid Lab you can turn phone photos into Polaroid prints, or make grids of up to nine frames.
There's a community side too. The Polaroid app runs photography challenges with prizes and tips on shooting with Polaroid cameras, and once your prints are scanned you can arrange them into a digital scrapbook. instax answers with fun in its printer app, such as AR decorations and a Match Test, and even a mini Link 3 made for Nintendo Switch.
Who each camera suits
Instax suits parties, weddings, teenagers, scrapbookers and anyone who wants small prints to hand out or stick on a wall. Polaroid suits photographers who enjoy the craft, people who want manual control and creative effects, and anyone who loves the classic Polaroid frame. For ideas on what to shoot, try these family photo prompts, and if your prints end up online, here's how to make a photo collage for an Instagram Story.
My advice on Instax or Polaroid
Pick the print you'd want to hold. If small, sharp prints and lots of camera choices sound right, start with an instax mini, or the Pal 2 if you'd rather choose before you print. If the classic Polaroid frame is the whole point and you're happy experimenting, a Polaroid camera you can connect to the app gives you the most to play with.
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Frequently asked questions
What film sizes does instax use?
FUJIFILM lists three: mini, SQUARE and WIDE.
What film does Polaroid make?
Polaroid lists i-Type, 600, SX-70, Go and 8x10 film.
Is there an instax camera that doesn't use film?
Yes. FUJIFILM lists the instax Pal 2 as a no-film digital camera that can send shots to an instax printer.
Can I scan Polaroid photos with my phone?
Yes. The Polaroid app has a high-resolution scanner for i-Type, 600, SX-70 and Spectra pictures.
Can I print phone photos as instant prints?
Yes, with either brand. instax makes mini, SQUARE and WIDE smartphone printers, and Polaroid has the Polaroid Lab.
