Christmas: 3 essential instant devices to slip under the tree

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If the smartphone has become the king of photography, the charm of paper still resists all-digital technology. For this Christmas, instant nostalgia is a safe bet. Are you looking for the perfect gift to capture those New Year’s Eve memories? Here is our selection of three models tested by the editorial staff, each with its own character.

For style lovers: Fujifilm Instax Mini 41

If the recipient of your gift cares about their look as much as their photos, the Instax Mini 41 is the perfect candidate. Fujifilm offers here a real lesson in neo-retro design with a camera with impeccable finishes and a very successful faux leather covering. It is a beautiful object that we are proud to place on a shelf or to take out in the evening.

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In use, it shines with its absolute simplicity. Exposure has been greatly improved over previous generations, limiting failed shots, and it includes a handy “close-up” position for selfies. The other side of the coin: the device is completely automatic, which can frustrate experts, and the “Mini” format (credit card size) remains quite small.

The verdict

The ultimate “pleasure” gift. Beautiful, simple and effective, it will delight newbies.

So that grandpa and grandma fit into the frame: Fujifilm Instax Wide 400

Forget tiny photos, the Instax Wide 400 thinks big. Its major advantage is its “Wide” format (99 x 62 mm), twice as wide as the Mini, which makes it the ideal camera for group photos during the Christmas meal or for landscapes.

Designed for user-friendliness, it incorporates an adjustable self-timer (4 to 10 seconds) and an ingenious accessory for adjusting the shooting angle without a tripod. However, you have to accept its bulk: it’s a beautiful 800g baby that runs on batteries. We regret a little the absence of a rechargeable battery and manual settings, but its robustness and the generous size of the images quickly make us forget these faults.

The verdict

The ultimate social device, perfect for creating real beautiful memories to display on the fridge.

For connected artists: Polaroid Now+

The Polaroid Now+ is aimed above all at those who want to go beyond the simple automatic “click-clack”. If it takes the iconic design of the brand, its real strength lies in its Bluetooth connectivity. Once connected to the very complete mobile application, it unlocks enormous creative potential: light painting, double exposure or even total manual mode. In addition, it comes with a kit of physical colored filters to clip onto the lens and finally has a tripod screw, a welcome addition to stabilize your creations.

Polaroid Now+

Amazon
€153.29 Nine

Amazon Marketplace
€198.30 Nine

Pixmania
€214.26 Nine

How the pricing table works

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However, offering Polaroid is also offering a school of patience. Development takes around 15 minutes and each shot is expensive (nearly €2). It is a demanding camera, sometimes finicky on exposure, but which offers this vintage square rendering and this unique colorimetry that purists love.