Instax Mini 12vs Leica SL2
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
VS
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.
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
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
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the leica sl2 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Leica SL2 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £4,200 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | Full-frame CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | — | 47.3MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 20fps |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | 370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 835g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Leica L-Mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | 2× SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Leica SL2 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history