KODAK Smile Instant Print Digital Camera – Slide-Open 10MP Camera w/2×3 ZINK Printer (White/ Yellow)

We love this camera! I did a lot of research before purchasing an instant print camera for my 11-year-old’s birthday. I knew that overall it was a fun novelty item, but I also knew I couldn’t invest in endless amounts of film, so printing photos that we didn’t want was going to be frustrating. Having looked into so many different models (at least those in the less than $100 price range), I had resigned myself to the fact that it was what was going to happen – she’d have to learn to be judicious with her photos and also we’d just use an SD card for when she didn’t have film.

And then, JUST before I purchased a different model, Amazon suggested the Kodak Smile – and it was EVERYTHING I was hoping for! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that it has a screen for viewing the photos and she gets to pick which photos she prints. That was the ONE thing I was wanting in an instant-print camera. Of course, she loves getting to use it to take photos of her friends, and our vacations, and she’s building up a small scrapbook with her prints (the Zink prints, btw, all have a sticky back, so they can just be stuck right into the book). And the option to review photos and re-print allows her to print multiple copies for friends.

Now, I’ll have to put the caveat that the photos are not the highest quality – I knew that was going to be the case with any of these cameras – but, again, she’s 11, so it’s good enough for her. Also, it’s a little finnicky in that, in order to save a photo, you have to click the “OK” button after you click the shutter. That takes some getting used to and she’s lost a few favorites when others were taking a photo of her, because they didn’t know that feature. Finally, I was a little disappointed in the “filters” options – there are only black and white, sepia, and blue. And the only “frame” is either a white border or no border. I thought there would be some more fun things to play with in those, but that wasn’t a deal breaker.

Overall, she’s very happy, and so are we!

The product was brought for an 8 year old, so we weren’t looking for anything spectacular. However, the overall poor quality is disappointing. The camera is plastically to the touch & external colour is in fact flat; not like the glossy pictures of the product you will see. The lense & screen look like something from 20 years ago & it has a clunky cheap toy like feel. The photo quality is dire (wasn’t expecting them to be great, but most look like a drawn by a child in a darkened room). Even then half the photos don’t print properly anyway – and the paper is very expensive too. No way is this product worth purchase price. You instantly get the feeling you’ve been ripped off & the product will be in the bin in a couple of months at best. AVOID

I was at an event and someone asked if they could take my picture. I said yes and thought that was it, then they handed me a picture to keep. I thought, “what a great idea and fun gifting experience”. I looked into poloroid and all the cameras were too bulky then found this which I thought was about the size of a smartphone and would be more pocket friendly. It’s slightly larger and at least twice as thick as a smartphone. It’s still fun to use but I wish it was not a printer but rather an actual exposure of the image being taken. The images aren’t crisp and many of them have lines from the printing process. I’ll finish up the remaining prints I have left and look for something with better quality results. Still fun, I am just picky I guess.

“..But I like pink”, I hear you say.. The problem is Kodak have printed the button functions white on pink and they are almost impossible to see in ANY light condition, never mind on a night out or party for which this type of ‘fun’ camera was designed.
our first use of it was at a fiends wedding last week and the novelty factor of being able to present printed photos of their big day as it happened was well appreciated. This is a toy , and it is fun to use for its novelty value especially when in the company of (younger) people who have thousands of pictures on their smart phone but not one single print of any of them.

The screen is small and not very bright and the function buttons that appear when the phone is opened are easily pressed in error when passing the camera around to take snaps, which changes the function(s) . It has virtually ZERO memory..3 photos, so a micro SD card is a must. Some might think at 50 pence per print it is an expensive toy and you might be right, but it’s fun to have a printed (adhesive) snap of your night out …..before the night is out.

How did I overcome the invisible white on pink buttons ?..I drew on them with a thin indelible marker pen. Job Done. I can see us as a family taking this flawed thing with us on most occasions just for the fun factor.

love this little camera. its a great little piece of equipment to have to save memories.

Didn’t appreciate the fact that it was used, there were pictures of the other buyers animals on it. Should have came with more film.