Instant Cameras and Photo Printers for Grandkids
Last verified: August 2026
There's real magic in a photo you can hold seconds after you take it. Instant cameras and little pocket printers are a hit with grandkids — and a delightfully simple way to make prints from your phone.
About instant cameras and photo printers
Instant photography is having a moment, and Fujifilm's Instax line leads it. An instant camera (like the Instax Mini or the square-format Instax Square SQ40) shoots and prints a little photo on the spot — no phone, no computer, just point, click, and watch it develop.
A pocket photo printer is a different tool: it makes prints from the photos already on your phone. The Instax Mini Link printers connect over Bluetooth and print your phone snapshots as instant-film keepsakes, and the clever Instax Mini Evo works as both a camera and a phone printer.
The one thing to know going in: the film is the ongoing cost. Each pack makes about 10 prints, so it's the “razor-and-blades” deal — the camera is cheap, the film adds up. That's part of what makes each shot feel special.
When to skip the DIY and just call: Choosing between a camera, a printer, or both · Pairing a printer to your phone · Setting up a fun, foolproof kit for the grandkids.
Common Questions
1 Camera or printer — which do I want?
- Get an instant camera if you want the grandkids snapping and shaking photos in the moment, no phone involved.
- Get a pocket printer if you mainly want to print photos already on your phone.
- Get an Instax Mini Evo if you want one gadget that does both.
- For young kids, a simple, sturdy instant camera is the most fun and the least to break.
2 How do I set up an instant camera?
- Load the batteries, then load a film pack — match the film to the camera (Instax Mini film for Mini cameras, Square for Square).
- The first print that ejects is a dark cover sheet; that's normal.
- Point, make sure you're not too close (there's usually a minimum distance), and press the button.
- Let the print develop face-up in the shade for a minute — no need to shake it hard.
3 How do I print from my phone?
- Charge the pocket printer and install its app (for Instax, the Instax app).
- Turn on Bluetooth and pair the printer in the app.
- Pick a photo, adjust it if you like, and tap print.
- Keep spare film on hand — running out mid-party is the only real letdown.
4 How much does the film cost?
- Film comes in packs (commonly about 10 prints per pack), and multi-packs are cheaper per print.
- Budget for film as the real ongoing cost, not the camera itself.
- Store film in a cool, dry place and use it before the date on the box for best colors.
- Buy a couple of packs with the camera so there's no waiting to start the fun.
5 What makes a good gift setup for grandkids?
- Pick a simple, durable instant camera and include two or three packs of film.
- Add a cheap album or a box of little frames so the prints have a home.
- Show them the minimum focus distance so their first shots aren't blurry.
- Write their name on the camera and keep a spare set of batteries in the bag.
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