The Kodak Charmera nails the charm, but not the shots — here are 3 fun, high-performing alternatives that keep the cuteness alive

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Fun lo-fi pics here I come

A photo of a Kodak Charmera keychain camera
(Image credit: Nikita Achanta / Tom's Guide)

I am no photography expert, but I love a good vintage photo. Maybe that's due to my grandmother's affinity for a cheap disposable camera throughout my childhood, my local cinema's ageing photobooth, or the fact that film-style pictures are all over social media. Ultimately, it all comes down to the same conclusion: if the image isn't rustic-looking, I don't want it.

I was highly intrigued by the camera brand Kodak's latest venture in the Charmera, a fun, mystery box keyring camera, with relatively retro-style images to match. That said, even in our 4-star review, my colleague Nikita found the Charmera's photos and videos subpar at best, thanks to the 1.6MP quality.

Now, don't get me wrong — I adore my Kodak Charmera. It's permanently attached to my keys (and me, by extension) and I've included a deal below — but if you're keen on better photos or videos, you might want to consider other options. Sure, you may not get the suspenseful thrill of a surprise colourway, but you're guaranteed to have better photos to post, share or print.

Best fun camera deals right now

Kodak Charmera
Save 11% (AU$6)
Kodak Charmera: was AU$55 now AU$49 at Amazon

Love the thrill of a blindbox keyring? The Kodak Charmera is worth getting your hands on. We gave it 4 stars in our review, as it is, simply put, "cute, cheap and lo-fi". You're not going to get high-definition quality out of it, but you'll get a cute keyring camera with vintage aesthetic photos and videos. The Charmera has 11 different filters and frames to choose from, and comes with a USB-C cord for easy charging. You'll only need to add a microSD card in a GB capacity of your choice to transfer your pics. Oh, and your selected colourway? That's anyone's guess, as the Charmera comes in seven mystery colours, including a "secret", rare transparent green cover.

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Instax Fujifilm Pal
Save 53% (AU$79.96)
Instax Fujifilm Pal: was AU$149.95 now AU$69.99 at Amazon

Next up in the cute cam lineup is this little beauty. The Instax Fujifilm Pal comes in four fun colours and straps onto your bag or keys for effortless portability. Much like the Charmera above, it takes retro-style images, but it can pair with a companion app and sync to the closest Instax photo printer (like this Mario-themed one) for easy printing.

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Camp Snap
Camp Snap: AU$129 at Amazon

I was recently introduced to this camera during a family trip, and frankly, I fell in love with it. In a design similar to disposable cameras, Camp Snap is a digital point-and-shoot without a viewfinder. It also takes photos with a similar, disposable film feel, all without needing to send the roll away for developing. What's more, it can save up to 2,000 photos with its included SD card and comes with a USB-C charging and transfer cord.

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Polaroid Go Gen 2
Polaroid Go Gen 2: AU$127 at Amazon

Scoring a nice 4.5 stars in our review, the Polaroid Go Gen 2 is a cute, easy-to-use camera. Improving on the first-generation model, the Go Gen 2 introduces a new double-exposure mode for creative shots, has a self-timer and a selfie mirror, and has a decent battery life. Plus, it's supposedly so small, it'll fit in your pocket, and you can take it everywhere. The only caveat? You'll need to purchase Polaroid's compatible Go film separately, which is AU$36 on Amazon for a double pack.

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Lucy Scotting
Lucy Scotting
Staff Writer

Lucy Scotting is a digital content writer for Tom’s Guide in Australia, primarily covering NBN and internet-related news. Lucy started her career writing for HR and staffing industry publications, with articles covering emerging tech, business and finance. In her spare time, Lucy can be found watching sci-fi movies, working on her dystopian fiction novel or hanging out with her dog, Fletcher.

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