Kodak Smile+ review: a more affordable instant hybrid camera

Best prices today: Kodak Smile+

$99.99

Instant cameras are usually associated with classic vintage items, but today they make a great gift for people who want physical, authentic copies of memorabilia.

Kodak has been in this space for a while now and the Smile+ is the brand’s latest camera. Like previous models, this is a Zink camera, which produces ink-free prints. However, it also doubles as a portable printer, adding more versatility.

Design and build

The Smile+ is available in a wide range of colors. The one pictured is the pink option, but you can also get it in white, black, green, blue, and fuchsia.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Unlike the Step instant camera, the Smile+ has a sturdy, thick plastic construction, but it’s still quite lightweight. It’s reminiscent of old school digital cameras and has a slight toy feel that reminds me of the Instax Mini line. It can still fit in a small bag, but it’s probably too big to fit into a narrow jeans pocket.

At the top there is the power button and the shutter button. The speaker is on the top (mainly for sound effects when shooting), along with a large viewfinder. On either side are two hooks that you can use for wrist straps, although oddly enough no such item is included in the box.

The round 5MP lens dominates the front of the camera and can be rotated to switch to one of three filters: standard, retro and star. As it is a manual camera, you cannot see the impact of this effect in the viewfinder, which is a bit annoying.

The constant firing flash is positioned just above the lens. Unfortunately, no selfie mirror is included for front-facing photos.

You can load prints onto the back of your Smile+ camera: a pack of five prints is included as standard in the box. Images come out of the side of the device and it takes about a minute to print after clicking the shutter button. As a compact camera, it’s quite simple to use, making it an ideal gift for children.

The bottom of the camera includes a microSD card slot. If you insert one, it will store the images even if you run out of physical prints, which is a good idea.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Features and image quality

Images printed on the Kodak Smile+ are consistent with those of other Zink cameras Tech Advisor has reviewed: very hit and miss.

Measuring 2×3 inches, Zink prints are about the size of a credit card, so quite small. The images occupy the entire paper, rather than having the white border found on some competing prints.

Photos taken in decent lighting conditions are sufficient, especially if you have bright colors such as pops of red in the photo. I found the retro filter useful on duller days, as it elevates tones such as pink flower to a warmer hue. The star filter gives a sunburst effect to any bright lights included in an image.

However, images often have issues with color banding and loss of detail, with many lines becoming blurry and shadows dominating images. Instax prints are significantly superior in terms of clarity, brightness and contrast.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Like the Step, this camera also struggles with exposure. I had many instances where I got a completely white or black sheet when I was in an environment that was too bright or too dark. Using this camera at night is an exercise in futility.

I should also note that the first model I tested was defective. Kodak was quick to replace it and I have had no problems with the new model since.

One of the advantages of the Smile+ over previous Kodak models is its hybrid camera-printer construction. You can download the official app on iOS and Android to print physical images of shots taken on your smartphone. Your camera library, screenshots, and those you’ve uploaded to social media apps like Instagram are supported.

Although the quality of these images does not match what you will see on your screen, the colors are more vibrant than instant prints. However, it must be emphasized again that the quality of these images simply cannot capture the same level of depth as Instax or Polaroid prints.

Zink prints have a peel-and-stick adhesive back, allowing you to stick your images to albums, boards and surfaces. This is something that might appeal to young photographers.

The app includes a dedicated camera mode, so you can take images on your phone in the correct aspect ratio. You can also edit these photos and any other snaps you plan to print from your phone’s library by cropping, adding filters and frames.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Although simple to use, some changes could be made to make the app more user-friendly. For example, you cannot edit or rearrange folders on the Home screen. This means that if you choose not to link a social account such as Facebook, it will just appear as a big ugly icon taking up space.

Every time you press the shutter button, images print instantly. This means that if you get a failed photo, you won’t know until afterward, which could result in lost prints. Knowing that you can print photos from your smartphone, it’s a shame that you don’t have the option to view your results in the app before deciding to print a sheet taken directly on the camera.

The Kodak Smile+ uses a lithium-ion battery. You can see how much juice is left in the app, so you know when you’re nearing your limit. Additionally, you can also set shutdown timers for the camera if you’re worried about accidentally leaving it on and draining the battery.

In the box there is a small USB cable. No charging brick is included, but I used the one from my phone and it worked great.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Pricing and availability

The Kodak Smile+ costs £119.99/$99.99. In the UK you can get it from Kodak and Amazon, and in America you can also buy it from Kodak and Amazon.

The Kodak Smile+ also has the advantage of being a portable printer, which makes it more attractive than the older Kodak Step. However, it still functions like an instant camera in that you can’t view the images before they’re printed like you can on a digital variant.

I would instead recommend the Instax Mini LiPlay, or the Instax Mini Evo if your budget is large enough. Both have the ability to review your photos before printing them, which is a huge win.

If the instant camera part of the product is what you’re looking for, I would instead recommend the Instax Mini 12, which is less expensive than the Kodak camera and produces much higher quality prints, with fewer lighting issues.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The main advantage of the Smile+ over its competitors is its lower running costs. Zink prints typically cost £17 for a pack of 20 in the UK and $10 for 10 prints in the US. Per sheet, they are much more economical than Instax and Polaroid prints.

For more options, check out our tables of the best instant cameras and best portable printers.

Should you buy the Kodak Smile+?

The Kodak Smile+ sits at the cheaper end of the camera-printer hybrid space, so it may appeal to those on a budget. You can get decent prints from your smartphone in the app, but the main instant camera doesn’t offer the same quality.

This causes problems with exposure in environments that are too dark or too light, and you may notice color banding and blurring of details that are common among Zink prints.

If you’re not too keen on quality and just want the novelty of a hybrid instant camera, then this one is simple to use and won’t break the bank. Plus, kids may appreciate the sticky backs of the prints, as they’re ideal for creative projects.

Specifications

• 20×17.7x6cm
• 470g
• Rotating filter change lens
• Constant firing flash
• Approximate shooting time of one minute
• Requires Zink Leaves
• Film Size – 2×3 inches
• microSD card slot