Which instant camera is best for a wedding guest book on a $300 budget?
Asked 9/9/2015
4 views
2 answers
0
I want an instant camera for guests to use at my wedding in about two months. The plan is for guests to take a photo and then write a message with it for a guest book. My budget is about $300.
What I’m looking for:
- instant prints with a classic white-border look
- simple operation for non-photographers
- prints that develop in under about a minute
I also want to know:
- do any instant cameras hold more than 10 shots at a time?
- besides film, do they need any other replacement parts?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
2
I honestly don't think you have much of a choice in this arena. Probably the only camera that's going to fit the "instant photo"/polaroid bit of that that you can easily obtain new for a lower-cost is going to be a Fuji Instax Mini camera--and the prints made are tiny--roughly business-card size. The problem, budget-wise, is going to be the film, and the quality of the images is probably not what you'd like.
You may want to consider getting a Fuji Instax SP-1 printer, and letting everybody use the Instax Share app on their smartphones instead, so they can also have a digital image of higher quality as well as the print (and you typically don't need to teach people how to use the camera in their phone), but you're still going to run bang on into the cost of the film/batteries (it uses a weird CR2 battery, although you can also use smartphone external battery packs with a special cable).
And no, these Instax cameras can only do 10 at a time--that's how many sheets are in the cartridge you load into the camera/printer.
Your only other option, aside from vintage restored Polaroid cameras, is liable to be the Impossible Project's Instant Lab, but that's pretty close to all of your budget without throwing in the fim.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a wedding, Fuji Instax is the safest choice. Based on the answers, Instax Wide is the best fit: it’s easy to use, more reliable than revived Polaroid/Impossible film, and gives a larger print than Instax Mini. Instax Mini was specifically called out as too small for this kind of use.
If you want the true classic Polaroid-sized frame, an old Polaroid with Impossible/Polaroid film can do that, but it’s less reliable, develops more slowly, and old cameras may be faulty—so it’s not ideal for a one-time event like a wedding.
No common instant camera mentioned here holds more than 10 shots per pack. Reloading is generally easy, but you should expect to change film often.
Other than film, some models may need batteries, but there usually aren’t routine replacement parts beyond that.
One practical suggestion from the answers: instead of passing a camera around, consider assigning someone to manage it so it doesn’t get lost or ignored. Another alternative is an Instax printer with guests using their phones, which can be even easier.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI10y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can I sell photos printed with a Polaroid-style white border?
What are some classic photography coffee-table books under $50?
How do I choose a white border size for an A1 print before framing?
Which UK services are good for high-quality hardback wedding photo books?
What image size should I use for a small print if the printer wants 300 DPI?