Reasons Why Instant Film Can Be Better Than 35mm Film

A recent post of mine talked about an upcoming project that I had planned using a 35mm point and shoot film camera, and it caused much discussion. After a lot of thought, I thought I would put together a little list of reasons why instant film can be better than 35mm film for point and shoot photography.

I have shot film all my life, and only stopped shooting film around 4 or 5 years ago. I have always believed that the charm, the honesty and the integrity of film is because the vast majority of the population who shot film over the decades, sent it off for development, received the final product (the prints) and that was it. No editing, no digital involvement, no digital manipulation and images that capture a moment with truth (warts and all).

So, I thought to myself, in 2025, where it is difficult to find photo labs that actually do not involve any part of the process that is not digital… What would be an honest and authentic way to shoot film. This led me to a number of conclusions, one of which was developing 35mm film myself using all analogue equipment, and the other was instant film!

Instant film is the last remaining part of the film industry, where it can be picked up by anyone, and from start to end, everything is analogue! You get one chance, and the moment is captured forever. All without any digital manipulation. So with that, here are five reasons that makes instant film better than 35mm for point and shoot photography.

• Instant Gratification: You see your photo immediately after taking it, without the wait for processing. Or at least within 90 seconds! Handing a person an image you’ve just taken on your instant film camera is an amazing experience, because no matter how old they are, it is still magical to see the film develop in front of your eyes.

• Unique Aesthetic: Instant film’s distinct look, with its often desaturated colours and soft focus, is difficult to replicate digitally. And looking through hundreds of instant film images from over the decades, todays images instantly feel authentic and retro.

• Physical Object: Each shot is a one-of-a-kind physical print that you can hold, share, or display right away. Sadly, this is disappearing from 35mm photography, where many people are just keeping digital files. The final step of their photography journey never completed.

• Simplicity: Instant cameras are typically point-and-shoot, making them accessible to beginners without the need to learn about manual settings. They are meant to be simple and easy to use, allowing you to capture what is important, and not think about settings.

• Social Experience: The act of taking a picture and sharing a tangible print with friends and family creates a more interactive and memorable experience. It is a feeling that can not be replicated in any other way. Give someone an instant camera, let the take a photo, and you can not help but join in the fun.

There is something about having a physical image in your hand that stands out when you use an instant film camera. The only other feeling that comes close, is when you receive images from recently developed film. It is a feeling that too many people today miss out on, and one that needs to come back into fashion.

That said, instant film, such as my favourite Fujifilm Instax film, is the biggest selling film stock in the modern age. So there are people enjoying it. Yes, it can be expensive for a instant film, even for something like Fuji Instax Mini film (which I use) it can work out at around £1 per image that you take, but it is worth every penny.

Is instant film better than 35mm film? No, not technically. It has washed out colours, less dynamic range and is expensive, however better is subjective. For me, and for the millions who still use instant film, it is capturing memories the way they are meant to be captured.