Polaroid or instax WIDE Evo: the comparison before renting

The comparison table

To read this table, remember three differences: the shape of the image, whether there is a preview, and the wait before you see the photo.

The format: almost square or landscape

i-Type film gives a 79 × 77 mm image, almost square, in a 107 × 88 mm frame. When people talk about a Polaroid-format photo, it is often this almost square frame they have in mind. instax WIDE film, for its part, offers a 99 × 62 mm landscape image in a 108 × 86 mm frame.

For a group photo, the landscape image gives more width, whereas the almost square frame gives a taller image. For a guest book, choose the shape of the pages according to that of the prints. Our guide to the photo guest book explains how to set it up.

There is also a smaller Polaroid Go film: 47 × 46 mm image, 8 photos per pack. It is reserved for the Polaroid Go camera alone and does not fit any other model.

Taking photos: analog or hybrid

An analog Polaroid camera exposes the film directly. Every shutter press uses up a photo, with no preview: a badly framed shot, a guest blinking or a finger over the lens each cost a print. When guests help themselves, that matters.

The instax WIDE Evo is a hybrid camera, announced by Fujifilm in January 2025. It takes the photo digitally, shows it on the screen, then prints only if you decide so. A failed attempt therefore does not use up any film. The camera offers 10 lens effects, with adjustable intensity, 10 film effects and 6 film styles.

As for memory, it keeps about 45 images internally and accepts a microSD or microSDHC card, sold separately. Its lithium-ion battery is built in and not removable: about 100 prints per full charge. The camera weighs about 490 g, without film, card or lens cap.

Development and the phone

According to Polaroid, i-Type film develops in 10 to 15 minutes. instax WIDE film reveals the image in about 90 seconds according to Fujifilm, a time that varies with the ambient temperature. At a party, the gap between the two is several minutes.

The phone also plays a different role. With Polaroid chemistry, printing photos from a phone requires a separate device: Polaroid sells the Polaroid Lab for this, which accepts i-Type and 600 films. The instax WIDE Evo also works as a smartphone printer. The free “instax WIDE Evo” app lets you print photos from your phone, trigger the camera remotely and transfer the printed images.

One point to watch regarding compatibility: according to Polaroid, i-Type film works with the I-2, Flip, Mod, Now, Now+, OneStep 2 and OneStep+ models and with the Polaroid Lab, but not with older Polaroid cameras. Check the model before buying film.

Our verdict

For a self-service photo corner, at a wedding or a party, we choose the instax WIDE Evo. The preview avoids wasting film on a failed attempt, and the print reveals itself in about 90 seconds. To set it all up, see how to set up your photo corner.

If you are attached to the almost square frame and to Polaroid chemistry, a Polaroid camera is the right choice, but we do not rent any. If what you are looking for is a Polaroid camera rental, you will need to turn to another rental company or to buying one.

If you are weighing it against a photo booth, our article booth or instax for a wedding compares the two approaches.

Renting the instax WIDE Evo at Fox Rider

We rent the instax WIDE Evo for 1 to 62 days. Films are not included: you add them to the booking, in packs of 10 or 20 shots. Our guidelines are 40 shots for 30 guests, 80 for 80 guests and 120 for 150 guests. The details are in how many films to plan for.

Delivery takes place the day before the first day in 9 European countries: by Chronopost in mainland France, by tracked Colissimo elsewhere. Pickup is free in Lyon 3, by appointment, for an address in France. Find the whole offer on the instax WIDE Evo photo corner page.

After the party, if you want extra prints, our photo printing service prints on instax WIDE film or in 10 × 15, from your photos, with shipping to mainland France.

See the instax WIDE Evo photo corner