Instax Mini 12vs Z5
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
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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.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £999 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.3MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | N/A | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history