Instax Mini 12vs Z5 II
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.
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible 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 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the z5 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Z5 II (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.5MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 700g body only |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Z5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history