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Instax Mini 12 vs X-T30

Quick take: The Instax Mini 12 is the most affordable.

Different kinds of camera — their specs aren't comparable, so read the rows as facts, not a contest.

16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

Instax Mini 12 — Beginners, Parties & Gifting: The perfect starter instant camera — effortless to use, great colours, and comes in beautiful pastel shades.

X-T30 — Street, Travel, Everyday: The X-T3's sensor in a pocketable body. One of Fujifilm's best value cameras.

Who should buy what
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
  • 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-T30 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Photographers who want X-T quality without the bulk
  • Travellers who prioritise compact size
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification Instax Mini 12Fujifilm · 2023X-T30Fujifilm · 2019
Price £69Best£399
Sensor Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area)APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 BSI
Resolution —26.1MP
Video N/A — instant film camera4K 30fps
Autofocus Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode)425-point phase-detect intelligent hybrid AF
Stabilisation No stabilisationNo stabilisation
Burst Rate No burst rate8fps mechanical, 20fps electronic
Battery Life 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots)380 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight ~293g (with batteries, without film)Best383g (body only)
Dimensions 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm118.4 × 82.8 × 46.8mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedNot weather sealed
Viewfinder Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×)EVF 0.62× 2.36M-dot
Screen No screen3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot
Mount Fixed lensFujifilm X-Mount
Memory Cards N/A — instant film onlySingle SD UHS-I
Connectivity No wireless connectivityWi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, Micro HDMI

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Instax Mini 12
X-T30
Fun & simple
8.4/10
—
Portrait
—
6.4/10
Street
—
6.5/10
Travel
—
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
—
4.9/10
Filmmaking
—
4.8/10
Documentary
—
5.0/10
Sports & Action
—
6.4/10
Landscape
—
4.9/10
Wildlife
—
6.6/10
Casual
—
4.8/10
Food
—
5.8/10
Macro
—
5.7/10
Architecture
—
5.3/10
Astrophotography
—
4.9/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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