Say, ‘Nostalgia!’ My Go-To Memory Maker for Celebrations, Trips, and More Is This Fujifilm Instax Polaroid Camera
Originally published at PEOPLE.com
Maybe it’s the Millennial in me, but I love a Polaroid. As someone who fixates on getting the “perfect” photo, there’s something so simple and nostalgic about capturing a moment in one take, in all its grainy imperfection. My tool of choice for such occasions? The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Polaroid Camera.
I recently took it on my 30th birthday trip upstate, and it was a hit. My friends and I used it to document all the silliness and merriment throughout the weekend — and it delivered. I also brought the Mini 9 version, and the 12 model is definitely an upgrade. Its interface is easier to operate for power and setting adjustments, and it produces slightly clearer images than its previous iteration.
This little camera is easy to use for all skill levels and ages. After loading the film in the back, just turn the dial around the lens to the setting you want, and it automatically turns the camera on, too. Look through the small viewing window and hit the front button to snap a pic. (Just don’t forget to take a throwaway photo first to clear the sheet that protects the film.) It takes about five seconds to print the photo, which you should then set face down so it can develop for a minute or two.
Since the camera runs on batteries, the battery life really depends on usage. Personally, I use the camera occasionally for trips, events, and parties, and I only need to change the batteries once every few months.
The camera is available in an array of bright hues like blue, green, lilac, and pink. Plus, when you buy it as a bundle at Amazon, it comes with a starter pack of film with 10 photos to help kick off your photography journey right away.
“The camera is super easy to use, even for beginners, and the pictures come out clear and bright,” shared one shopper. “It’s a great gift idea and adds a fun, nostalgic touch to any occasion.”
Another reviewer bought the Mini 12 camera for their 7-year-old daughter’s birthday, who now uses it to photograph the stray cats she feeds (a moving photo target is no easy feat!). A third used it as their wedding guest book — a collection of Polaroid photos to commemorate the night — and wrote, “The quality is surprisingly good for its size.”
Regardless of how you use it, this compact yet capable camera will be a steady companion when photographing big milestones and small moments alike. Grab the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Polaroid Camera at Amazon, and keep scrolling for more accessories to add to your cart
