Instax Mini 12vs Z30
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.
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
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
Z30 (2022)
- Vloggers and content creators who don't need an EVF
- Beginners entering the Nikon Z system at the lowest price point
- Streamers who want a compact interchangeable-lens camera for desk use
- Travel and lifestyle shooters who want a compact APS-C Z body
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Z30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £479 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 20.9MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | N/A | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~300 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 405g body only |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | None |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Z30 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history