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If you are looking for a satisfying way to take retro analog photographs without spending a fortune, there are many modern analog options under $100. These analog cameras have a more contemporary design, but still, have the classic charm of an analog camera. Modern analog cameras have features like selfie mode and LED flash that makes the cameras a great option for analog photography beginners. These cameras are low maintenance and are covered by a warranty. Modern analog film cartridges are low priced and easy to find, unlike the film for a Polaroid that is decades old. We compared four similar instant print cameras in our Polaroid PIC 300 review. You can quickly print photographs with these cameras just like the Polaroids of the 80s and 90s.
Comparison Table
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What Is The Polaroid PIC 300?
The Polaroid PIC 300 has a modern and sleek design. It has an ergonomic curve and is available in a variety of colors. In our Polaroid PIC 300 review, we found it to be an excellent analog camera at an affordable price. The Polaroid PIC 300 is an easy way to take and print analog photographs in many lighting conditions. The PIC 300 uses film that is readily available and has an electronic exposure setting that helps beginners take excellent photographs.
Product Specs
The Polaroid PIC 300 is a simple analog camera. You can easily take retro-style photographs with the Polaroid PIC 300. The PIC 300 is lightweight and compact. It uses film cartridges to print credit-card sized analog photographs. We found that the camera can use Polaroid PIF300 film or Fujifilm mini film cartridges in our Polaroid PIC 300 review. The camera has a simple electronic exposure control with 4 exposure level options and a point-and-shoot shutter.
The Polaroid PIC 300 has a 50mm lens that focuses easily at a distance and has an electronic flash. The PIC 300 works well in low lighting to take quality photographs. We liked the ease of use in our Polaroid PIC 300 review. The Polaroid PIC 300 uses four AA batteries and has an automatically closing lens cover. The LED flash works automatically in low light and a power-saving mode that turns the camera off after 5 minutes of inactivity.
The Polaroid PIC 300 quickly prints the photo; after the shutter button is pressed the photo comes out within 7 seconds and develops in a few minutes. We found this impressive in our Polaroid PIC 300 review. The camera has many color options including black, blue, ice blue, and red.
Pricing
The Polaroid PIC 300 can be purchased on Amazon or purchased from most camera and electronics retailers, online or in-store. The Polaroid PIC 300 costs around $80 on Amazon and includes four AA batteries and a wrist strap, but the film must be purchased separately. The Polaroid PIF300 Film cartridges for the Polaroid PIC 300 can be purchased in a variety of quantities for as low as $0.70 per print and provide 10 prints per cartridge.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
- Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 70
Polaroid PIC 300
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- Ease of Use
- Print Quality
- Design Quality
- Warranty
The Polaroid PIC 300 is easy to use and has a dial to choose electronic exposure modes. The camera is analog and works with a simple touch of the shutter button. The camera has an automatic power-saving mode that turns the camera off after 5 minutes and an automatic flash for low light photography. Film prints instantly after the shutter button is pressed.
The Polaroid PIC 300 takes analog photographs and instantly prints a 2.1×3.4-inch photograph. The film develops in one to two minutes, and the camera can use the Polaroid recommended PIF300 film or Fujifilm mini film cartridges. The camera prints are high-quality analog prints on a glossy surface. The PIF300 film costs a bit more than the Fujifilm mini cartridges. We like the versatility and print time of the camera in our Polaroid PIC 300 review.
The Polaroid PIC 300 is lightweight at 11-ounces and is slightly smaller than the Instax Mini 9. The camera uses four AA batteries that last long with the power-saving mode and LED flash. The PIC 300 has an electronic shutter and includes a wrist strap. The PIC 300 has a good focus range with a 50mm lens that has an automatic cover.
The Polaroid PIC 300 is covered by a one-year limited warranty.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
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The Fujifilm Instax is a well-known name in contemporary instant print analog cameras. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is an analog film camera that prints small instant photographs around the size of a credit card. The Mini 9 is quite small but weighs a little over a pound and has 5 color options. The Mini 9 has a 60mm lens, a flash, a macro lens, and a selfie mirror. The camera works on AA batteries, so it is great for travel. The prints are analog and have an average cost per print.
- Ease of Use
- Print Quality
- Design Quality
- Warranty
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 has a mirror near the lens for easy selfie pictures. The Mini 9 automatically adjusts exposure, so you never get photos that are too dark or bright. The camera also has a Hi-key for intentionally overexposed photos
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 instantly prints 62x46mm photographs about the size of a credit card. The camera print system is fully analog for a retro style, and each Instax print will cost around $0.65. The Fujifilm mini film cartridges used in the camera are available where Instax cameras are sold and load in the back of the camera.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is not bulky and takes two AA batteries. The camera has a wrist strap and uses Fujifilm mini film cartridges that load from the back of the camera. The Mini 9 includes flash and a 60mm lens with a good focal range, you can take macro photographs with a clip-on lens included. The Mini 9 is available in cobalt blue, icy blue, flamingo pink, lime green, and smokey white color variants to suit any style.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is covered by a one-year limited warranty.
Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera
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The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera is a small and lightweight digital camera that can instantly print small credit-card sized photographs. The Snap is not analog and may be easier to get used to for younger photographers who grew up with digital cameras, and it still prints quickly in the all in one camera and printer. The Snap uses low-cost print paper that gives you up to 10 prints at a time. Each print takes about a minute to print, and you can choose filters from the button on the camera. Since the Snap is digital, you can also save to an SD card up to 32 GB. The camera is 10MP and has 25.8mm wide-angle lens with a magnetic cover. The internal lithium-ion battery is rechargeable and can give you a few days worth of photographs. The Polaroid Snap is available in 7 colors.
- Ease of Use
- Print Quality
- Design Quality
- Warranty
The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera has an easy point and shoot function like most digital cameras and the ability to print photos in minutes. The Snap saves photographs to an SD card, unlike analog instant cameras. The camera has a rechargeable battery that will last a few days and uses a pop-up viewfinder instead of an LCD screen.
The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera prints photographs digitally. The Snap has some of the lowest-priced prints at around $0.50 per print and can print in various filters. Since the Snap is digital, you can also save the photographs, and it prints in about a minute. Prints are 2×3-inches and the Polaroid Zink paper packs are easy to use with no ink or toner. You can fill the camera with up to 10 Zink papers.
The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera has few buttons and includes a dedicated self-timer button and a color filter selection button. The camera can be found in black, blue, navy blue, pink, purple, red, and white colors. The camera has a flash that provides good low light photographs, but without the flash, the quality is low. The camera includes a tripod mount and wrist strap. The Snap is small enough to easily fit into a pocket.
The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera is covered by a one-year limited warranty.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 70
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The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 is a small and sleek analog camera that only weighs 8-ounces. The Mini 70 is one of the most pocket-friendly analog cameras we reviewed. The print cost for the Mini 70 is average, and the camera takes high-quality analog photographs with great exposure times. The prints are small, credit card-sized photographs, and the camera uses the Fujifilm mini film cartridges like some other analog cameras we reviewed. The Mini 70 has a range of functions with few buttons and a good 60mm lens. The Mini 70 comes in 10 different color options to suit every style.
- Ease of Use
- Print Quality
- Design Quality
- Warranty
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 has an easy to use selfie-mode with a mirror near the lens for perfect selfies. The Mini 70 also has a self-timer button and an automatic exposure setting. The Mini 70 has few buttons and a small LCD screen that displays the number of shots and camera mode.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 uses Fujifilm mini film cartridges and prints cost around $0.65. The camera takes retro-style analog photographs and the cartridge loads from the back of the camera. The prints come out of the top of the camera and take between one and two minutes to develop.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 is more sleek and pocket-friendly than many contemporary analog cameras. The buttons are small, and the camera has a small LCD screen. The camera has a flash and 60mm lens that gets a good focus range. The camera takes great pictures in low light and uses CR2 batteries that have a long life. The batteries are not as common as AA or AAA batteries, and the camera viewfinder is small.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 is covered by a one-year limited warranty.
Conclusion
We found the Polaroid PIC 300 to be one of the simplest analog cameras in our Polaroid PIC 300 review. We gave the Polaroid PIC 300 a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. The easy to use electronic exposure will help you take great photographs. The camera is lightweight and not bulky, and modern film cartridges are readily available.
Image source: Pexels
Polaroid PIC 300 Review
During our Polaroid PIC 300 review, we found one of the best features to be that it quickly prints photographs after the shutter button is pressed, and can use Polaroid or Fujifilm mini film cartridges. The cartridges are easy to load, take 10 photos, and have no ink or toner. The camera takes quality photos overall and has a good focus range with a 50mm lens.
The Polaroid PIC 300 lens closes automatically, and the camera shuts down after 5 minutes of inactivity. The PIC 300 uses four AA batteries, which is more than some other cameras but they provide long-lasting power. The electronic flash uses an LED light and automatically comes on in low light. The PIC 300 has a sleek and contemporary look and comes in 4 colors; black, blue, ice blue, and red. The camera is small enough to fit into a large pocket or small bag. We like the Polaroid PIC 300 for beginners to analog photography and people who want a camera that will work quickly out of the box.
