Instax Mini 12vs Sony FX30
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its 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
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame pricing
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable; only the sony fx30 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 26.1MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 12
Camera family history