Instax Mini 12vs ZV-E1
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, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | — | 12.1MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | N/A | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | None — screen only |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | — |
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