Best Instant Camera NZ (2026)

The camera itself is the cheap part - the real ongoing cost is film, and it adds up fast. Here's what actually differs between Instax and Polaroid before you buy either.

The camera is a one-off cost, film is forever

Every instant camera on the market is really a film subscription with a camera attached. A 10-pack of Instax film runs around $15-20 NZD, working out to roughly $1.50-$2 per photo. Polaroid film is similar or slightly higher per shot. If you're buying for someone who'll shoot a few packs a year at parties, that's a minor cost. If you're buying for someone who wants to shoot instant film as a habit, the film cost will eclipse the price of the camera within a year - worth factoring in before choosing between models.

Instax Mini 12 - around $89-$115 NZD

The default recommendation for a reason: cheapest camera, cheapest film, and the credit-card-sized prints are genuinely convenient for sticking in a photo album or on a fridge. Auto-exposure means you don't need to think about settings - point and shoot. Who it suits: gifts, teenagers, party favours, and anyone who wants instant film without thinking about it. The trap: the mini print size (roughly 62x46mm image area) feels small compared to a full Polaroid print if you're after wall-worthy shots.

Instax Square SQ series - around $150-$200 NZD

Same Fujifilm film chemistry and reliability as the Mini, but in a square format closer to a classic Polaroid print size. Square film costs more per shot than Mini film (typically $1.80-$2.50 per photo), so it suits people who want fewer, more considered shots rather than rapid-fire party photos. Who it suits: anyone wanting an aesthetic closer to vintage Polaroid without switching brands. The trap: square film is pricier and less widely stocked in NZ than Mini film, so check availability before committing.

Polaroid Go Gen 2 - around $100-$110 NZD

The smallest analogue instant camera Polaroid makes, with genuinely classic square Polaroid-style prints in a compact body. The film develops with the characteristic Polaroid shake-and-wait look that Instax doesn't replicate. Who it suits: people who specifically want the Polaroid aesthetic and don't mind a smaller print. The trap: Polaroid film availability in NZ is patchier than Instax, and cost per shot is comparable to or higher than Instax Square.

Instax Mini Link (photo printer, not a camera) - around $150-$180 NZD

Worth mentioning as an alternative to an actual camera: this is a Bluetooth printer that turns photos already on your phone into Instax Mini prints. If the appeal is physical prints rather than the ritual of shooting on film, a printer gets you there without buying a second camera to carry. Who it suits: anyone who takes their real photos on a phone anyway and just wants physical copies. The trap: it's not a camera - you still need to take the photo on your phone first.

For most people - especially gifts - the Instax Mini 12 is the safe, low-cost choice with the cheapest, easiest-to-find film. Step up to Square or Polaroid Go only if the bigger, more classic print format specifically matters to you.