Mini Printer as an instant camera alternative

Mini Photo Printers: Pros and Cons

We are big fans of instant cameras. But even we have to admit that the sometimes quite large cameras also have disadvantages. Accordingly, mini photo printers offer some plus points.

Pros

• Often extremely handy pocket size
• Pre-selection of images possible (saving potential)
• Printing from smartphone
• Printing when you have time and desire
• Partially useful app functions

Cons

• Pictures often lack the true instant look
• Fun factor of the instant camera is missing
• Not really eye-catching

Bluetooth Printers dominate

When it comes to smartphone-to-mobile printer connectivity, there’s little way around Bluetooth. The technology is now much more reliable than a few years ago, so the devices are usually connected in no time. Important: Bluetooth is also often the only way to connect the mobile printer.

Polaroid Printer?

In fact, the legendary instant camera brand Polaroid now also offers printers. However, completely different target groups are addressed. While the Polaroid Lab offers a completely new concept (square Polaroid pics from the cell phone!), the Hi-Print relies on the Zink photo paper also popular with the competition.

Which Mini Printer is right for me?

The selection of mini printers is now somewhat confusing. Since it is worthwhile to know in advance what criteria the device should meet for personal use. From our experience it is above all the following points, which take a crucial role with the purchase:

• Which film / printer paper?
• Price per photo / sheet
• Size of the device
• Connection / connectivity
• Features (of the app)

Film makes the Printer

As with Polaroid cameras, the different types of film and photo paper are at first one thing for the layman: confusing. This is because while some printers print true instant pictures, others rely on Zink photo paper. The differences between them are enormous. Instant photos vary greatly in price depending on the manufacturer, and there are also different formats. Thus, the Instax Mini Link as the name suggests, relies on the Instax Mini Film format (about credit card size), while the Polaroid Lab relies on the familiar square Polaroid format.
Zink pictures, on the other hand, lack the instant look, have no border and are about the size of a credit card, like the Mini format. Plus: The small pictures have a removable adhesive surface on the back and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. In addition, they are vegan, unlike instant pictures.

Additional functions on the mini printer

About associated apps, many mini printers offer more or less useful additional functions. This ranges from classic post-processing of images (brightness / contrast) to special features such as an augmented reality function (Mini Link, Polaroid Lab). The latter offers the possibility to link videos from the smartphone with a printout. If you then hold the phone (with the corresponding app) over the picture, the linked video runs in the image. This is exciting to watch and adds value to the image. Whether that alone is enough for a purchase, however, is something everyone must decide for themselves.

CONCLUSION

You like the instant look? Like being able to hold the photo in your hands, give it as a gift, or put it in a frame? But you like taking photos with your smartphone? Then modern mini printers are a real alternative to instant cameras. The advantage of being able to select and post-process photos is convincing. And there are printers for every taste. Whether classic, square image format or modern Zink image with adhesive foil. Printed out cell smartphone pictures have never been so cool to look at.

VIDEO: Polaroid’s Lab photo printer unveiled