Instax Mini 12vs Lumix S9
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
VS
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
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.
Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers — Lumix S9 (2024): The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.
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 S9 (2024)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact package
- Content creators attracted to Real-time LUT and 10-bit video
- Photographers already in the L-mount ecosystem wanting a lightweight second body
- Lumix S5 II users who want something smaller for travel and casual shooting
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Lumix S9 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | N/A | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 413g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | None — rear screen only |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Leica L mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Lumix S9 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history