For many people, the Polaroid picture size is one of the decisive criteria when buying an instant camera. But be careful: depending on the source, format specifications either indicate the visible area of a photo, or the dimensions of the image including the (white) frame. To avoid any nasty surprises after buying your camera, you will find the sizes and formats of the best Polaroid models in the practical overview table.
Polaroid Image size and format:
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is one of the most popular instant cameras on the market. And yet it is out of the question for many fans of the classic Polaroid. The reason: the Instax Mini 11 as well as other Instax models are using the unusual format 3:2. Although this portrait format has its advantages – for purists it’s a NoGo. The typical 1:1 format (meaning the image WITHOUT borders) is used, for example, in the Polaroid Now. But those who prefer a wide format will find what they are looking for in the Instax Wide 300. It offers the rather unusual format 2.4 x 3.9 inches (2:3).
Ultimately, the question of the desired image format for an instant camera is also a question of price: depending on the film, the cost per photo varies between 0.60 and 2.60 bucks.
Looking for the right Polaroid? In our Top 5 we take a closer look at the most exciting models!
Polaroid & Instant Camera formats and image sizes
In the table below you’ll find the formats and image sizes of the most popular Polaroid and instant cameras at a glance:
| Camera | Picture wihtout border (height x width) | Picture with border (height x width) | Format (picture without border) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polaroid Now Plus | 3.1 x 3.1 inches | 4.2 x 3.5 inches | 1:1 |
| Polaroid Now | 3.1 x 3.1 inches | 4.2 x 3.5 inches | 1:1 |
| Polaroid OneStep 2 | 3.1 x 3.1 inches | 4.2 x 3.5 inches | 1:1 |
| Polaroid OneStep Plus | 3.1 x 3.1 inches | 4.2 x 3.5 inches | 1:1 |
| Polaroid SX-70 | 3.1 x 3.1 inches | 4.2 x 3.5 inches | 1:1 |
| Polaroid Go | 1.8 x 1.8 inches | 2.6 x 2.1 inches | 1:1 |
| Polaroid 600 | 3.1 x 3.1 inches | 4.2 x 3.5 inches | 1:1 |
| Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 3.4 x 2.1 inches | approx. 3:2 |
| Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 3.4 x 2.1 inches | approx. 3:2 |
| Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 3.4 x 2.1 inches | approx. 3:2 |
| Fujifilm Instax SQ 1 | 2.4 x 2.4 inches | 3.4 x 2.8 inches | 1:1 |
| Fujifilm Instax SQ 6 | 2.4 x 2.4 inches | 3.4 x 2.8 inches | 1:1 |
| Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 | 2.4 x 3.9 inches | 4.3 x 3.4 inches | approx. 2:3 |
| Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 3.4 x 2.1 inches | approx. 3:2 |
| Fujifilm Instax Mini Hello Kitty | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 3.4 x 2.1 inches | approx. 3:2 |
| Leica Sofort | 2.4 x 1.8 inches | 3.4 x 2.1 inches | approx. 3:2 |
| Canon Zoemini S | 2 x 3 inches | Border is a camera setting | 2:3 |
| Kodak Printomatic | 2 x 3 inches | 2 x 3 inches | 2:3 |
| Lifeprint Instantcamera for iPhone | 2 x 3 inches | 2 x 3 inches | 2:3 |
| Polaroid Image/Spectra Camera - Full switch | 2.9 x 3.6 inches | 4 x 4 inches | approx. 2:3 |
| Polaroid Image/Spectra Camera - One switch | 2.9 x 3.6 inches | 4 x 4 inches | approx. 2:3 |
| 8 x 10 Kameras Highformatcameras | 9.5 x 7.5 inches | 12.8 x 8.5 inches | 10:8 |
Detailed reviews of all models can be found in our instant camera test for 2022!
Polaroid camera: large pictures included?
in the Stranger Things special edition © Polaroid
Which instant camera has large images? We hear that question on a regular bases. Understandably so, since many of the most popular cameras on the market have the unusual credit card format (e.g. Instax Mini Film). If one disregards more exotic formats such as Polaroid’s 8 x 10 large format, most people understand “large pictures” to mean those in 1:1 format. Both Polaroid (i-Type, 600 film, SX-70 film) and Fujifilm (Instax Square) offer this format, though the Instax Square format offers a slightly smaller image with 2.4 x 2.4 inches visible image (Polaroid: 3.1 x 3.1 inches). Also offering large images is the Instax Wide film. Wide format images have an aspect ratio of 2:3 (widescreen).
Which instant camera now offers large images?
The following cameras are currently available and offer the popular 1:1 format:
- Polaroid Now
- Polaroid OneStep 2
- Polaroid Onestep Plus
- Polaroid SX-70
- Polaroid 600 Series
- Polaroid SLR670 Series
- Instax SQ1
- Instax SQ6
- Lomo’Instant Square
Wide format cameras:
- Instax Wide 300
- InstantKon RF70
- Lomo’Instant Wide