Which Instax camera should you buy? (2026)

Go big or go home. The larger image of the Instax Wide has always made Instax a favorite choice for photographers. Genius enthusiasts have even figured out how to retrofit older models (Wide 300) with custom lenses to get better quality images. The Instax Wide 400 is similar in most ways to its predecessor, the 300. It uses the same lens and the same full auto exposure system. If you want complete control over your exposure, this isn’t the Instax for you. However, I like this look and hence this camera.

It’s a rather chunky thing. The film size is pretty good, so the camera is a good size too, but for me this makes it easier to hold than some of the other cameras here. There’s a nice big grip that holds 4 AA batteries, enough to take 100 photos according to Fujifilm specifications. Design-wise, the one-color look is reminiscent of the SQ1 (see above), and is simple and understated. The 95mm f/14 lens consists of two elements (both plastic) and gives you the equivalent of a 35mm focal length on a full-frame camera. Fujifilm has added a new close focus option to focus at a distance of 10 feet to infinity focus. I wish Fuji had reversed the order, as I sometimes forgot to turn the lens on the second click and ended up with out-of-focus images. Once you get used to it, it’s okay.

There’s not much to this camera, and that’s part of its appeal. The lens produces good images, and the large format makes sharing with friends more fun. I wish there was a way to manually control…something, anything, because that would open up more possibilities, but if you like this format, this is the best camera you can get.

Other Instax wide cameras:

Lomography Lomo’Instant Wide for $200: If you’re willing to spend a little more, the Lomography Instant Wide camera shoots Instax Wide film and has some additional lenses you can add. Shooting is fully automatic and offers a programmable shutter mode. I haven’t tested this yet, so I can’t speak to image quality, but the built-in 90mm lens has about the same field of view.

Fujifilm Wide Evo for $409: At first glance, the Wide Evo looks like a clone of our top pick, the Mini Evo, but for wider format Instax film. I wish it were so. There are some similarities. You get filter effects, two new lens filters, and an “intensity” ring, which lets you get a sense of how strong different effects are. The lens can switch between wide angle (16mm full frame equivalent) and standard angle (28mm full frame equivalent), and there are dials to control all the effects. The shutter button is an annoying lever-shaped button that you can flip down instead of pressing. This head-scratching design decision is not good. It’s embarrassing and ruins the shooting experience in irreparable ways in my experience. Combine that with its poor shutter lag (even by Instax standards) and its price, and this is hard to recommend. If you want a printer, choose Instax Wide. If you want a camera, the Wide 400 or Lomography Lomo’Instant Wide are better deals and better cameras.