Instax Mini 12vs Lumix S1
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
VS
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
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.
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
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
Lumix S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the lumix s1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Lumix S1 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 9fps continuous with AF/AE |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 898g body only |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Lumix S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history