If Covid (and all of its lockdowns) has taught me anything, it’s that making memories and keeping account of them is of utmost importance. One thing I’ll always admire is that when my parents were young, no matter where they went – even if it was a small gathering at their friend’s – they had a disposable camera in tow.
My mum and dad’s bookshelf is scattered with framed pictures of me and my brothers when we were babies, as well as images of them when they were teenagers, all because they decided to document our lives with printed images and video tapes. That’s one thing I hope to continue when I have kids of my own, rather than relying on social media to document things.
Today’s equivalent to a disposable camera is an instant camera – think Instax and Polaroid. An instant camera is the perfect alternative to taking a snap on your phone and it’s more permanent; one click of the button and you’ll have a physical rendition of the image you just posed for in your hands. What better way to record memories of all these social events in our calendars?
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In years to come you might want to look back on these moments and show them to your own kids, or just simply reminisce, so surely the way to do that is by investing in one of the best instant cameras? The next thing is deciding which option is best for you, and it all depends on what you want to use the camera for. Are you looking for something that creates high quality images for a photo album or project, or do you want to simply capture a few snaps at your next party?
Which is the best instant camera to buy?
Instax seems to reign supreme when it comes to instant film cameras, with tons of different iterations on the market to suit a wide range of needs. This Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid Instant Camera comes with an LCD screen and built-in flash, so it’s just like your digital camera but it’ll print your images for you. You have the ability to control the Instax Mini LiPlay directly from your smartphone, and you can also take clear close-ups as the camera can focus as near as 10cm. The best part? As the LiPlay is also a printer, you’ll be able to share copies instantly. No more fighting over who gets to keep the print out!
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Another great buy is the Polaroid Now Instant Camera. It features a nine-second timer, so you can get in the pic too, with a built-in flash and double exposure. With a rechargeable battery and USB cable, you’ll be able to take this instant camera with you everywhere and make memories wherever you go. Exactly what life’s all about, really.
For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Associate Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.
Snap up your very own instant camera from our picks (or should I say pics?) below.
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