Instax Mini 12vs S1 II
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.
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
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
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the s1 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | S1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £2,200 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 680g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | S1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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