Canon EOS R3vs Instax Mini 12
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
VS
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Sports & Photojournalism Professionals — Canon EOS R3 (2021): The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.
Beginners, Parties & Gifting — Instax Mini 12 (2023): The perfect starter instant camera — effortless to use, great colours, and comes in beautiful pastel shades.
Who should buy what
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
- Professional sports and photojournalism photographers
- Canon users who need the fastest burst and most reliable AF in the system
- R5 users who want a pro-grade grip and faster shooting speed
- Event photographers who need eye-controlled AF and dual card slots
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
- Complete beginners wanting their first instant camera
- Anyone buying an instant camera as a gift
- Party hosts who want to hand out physical prints on the night
- Kids and teenagers who want a fun, colourful camera
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Instax Mini 12 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £80 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | — |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | N/A |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | ~293g (with batteries, without film) |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Canon RF | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | Instax Mini 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Canon EOS R3
Camera family history