Instax Mini 12vs A7S II
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
VS
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S 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.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market 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
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £799 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 12.1MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history