Small beginner camera for group photos: instant camera or point-and-shoot?
Asked 3/8/2017
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I'm just getting started with photography and want a small, portable camera for taking group photos with friends. I was originally looking for an instant camera that prints photos right away, and I'd also like to be able to get a case for it. Would an instant camera be a good choice, or would a small point-and-shoot digital camera make more sense for a beginner?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Im 13 years old and just starting to get into photography. I trying to find a good instant camera under $100
Your best bet is probably a point-and-shoot digital camera rather than an "instant" camera. That way you're spending more of your money on the part that records the image rather than the part that prints the image, and you don't have to worry about the expensive consumable cartridges those cameras require. You can also print your photos at any size, whereas the "instant" cameras only give you one or two (tiny and tinier) sizes. You can have your digital photos printed at any local drugstore for maybe 15-20¢ each, or you can use your photos in digital form at no cost at all. Contrast that with Fuji Instax film, which will cost around 70¢ every time you press the shutter button and doesn't give you a digital version of your image.
Check someplace like Amazon to find reasonable deals on compact "point and shoot" digital cameras -- there are plenty in the $100 range. There are a number that offer sensors up to around 20 megapixels for that price. Remember to reserve a bit of your budget for a memory card, but don't spend a lot on those -- you can add more later, and they're always getting faster and cheaper.
Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4262
9y ago
0
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A small point-and-shoot digital camera is likely the better choice for a beginner. Based on the answers, instant cameras are convenient for on-the-spot prints, but they spend part of your budget on the printing system and require ongoing film/cartridge refills for every shot. That makes each photo much more expensive and limits you to small print sizes.
A point-and-shoot puts more of the budget into the camera itself, lets you review photos before printing, and gives you the option to keep images digitally or print only the ones you like. You can also make prints later in different sizes through local print services.
For group photos, a compact digital camera is generally more flexible and economical than an instant camera. A separate case is commonly available for compact cameras, so that part shouldn’t be hard to solve.
If your main goal is learning photography and taking lots of photos without worrying about film cost, choose a compact digital point-and-shoot. If your top priority is the novelty of getting a small print immediately after each shot, then an instant camera may still appeal—but it’s usually the less practical option.
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