Instax Mini 12vs OM System OM-1 Mark II
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
OM System
OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Wildlife, birds & outdoor sports
View OM System OM-1 Mark II
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.
Wildlife, Birds & Outdoor Sports — OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024): OM System's most capable camera — 120fps AF burst, AI subject detection, and IP53 weather sealing make it the best-value pro wildlife camera.
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
OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024)
- Wildlife and bird photographers who need the best subject tracking in MFT
- Sports photographers who want weather sealing and 50fps burst
- OM-1 owners looking for a meaningful autofocus upgrade
- Professionals who need pro-grade weather sealing in the lightest possible system
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the om system om-1 mark ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 20MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | — | 20.0MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p, 1080p/240p, 4K HLG |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | AI subject detection AF (birds, animals, motorsport) |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 8.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 120fps with AF tracking |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | 520 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 599g body only |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | 0.83" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | OM System OM-1 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history