Instax Mini 12vs X-E3
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Beginners, Parties & Gifting — Instax Mini 12 (2023): The perfect starter instant camera — effortless to use, great colours, and comes in beautiful pastel shades.
Street & Travel — X-E3 (2017): The X-E3 is the lightest Fujifilm interchangeable-lens camera with the 24.3MP X-Trans III sensor. Its slim, compact body appeals to street photographers who find the X-T line too bulky. The touchscreen joystick and Bluetooth connection are welcome additions. 4K is technically available but limited to 15fps — this is a stills-first camera. An excellent compact travel camera at used-market prices.
Who should buy what
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
X-E3 (2017)
- Street photographers who want Fujifilm colours
- Travel photographers prioritising size
- Minimalist camera users
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | X-E3 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £300 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III |
| Resolution | — | 24.3MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/15p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Phase-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | N/A | None |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 8fps (electronic shutter up to 14fps) |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 337g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 121.3 × 73.9 × 42.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.62× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" touchscreen (fixed), 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Fujifilm X-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB 3.0, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | X-E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Street | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history