Instax Mini 41vs Lumix S1
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 41 (2025)
Starting from £90 new
Best for Style-conscious shooters & gifting
View Instax Mini 41
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Style-Conscious Shooters & Gifting — Instax Mini 41 (2025): A stylish step up from the Mini 12 — the retro design and refined feel make it one of the best-looking instant cameras at this price.
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
Who should buy what
Instax Mini 41 (2025)
- Photographers who want their camera to look as good as the prints it makes
- Mini 12 owners who want a more premium, retro-styled upgrade
- Anyone buying a stylish instant camera as a gift
- Casual shooters who value aesthetics alongside simplicity
Lumix S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
Quick take: The instax mini 41 is the most affordable; only the lumix s1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 41 (2025) | Lumix S1 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £90 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞) | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 9fps continuous with AF/AE |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~310g (with batteries, without film) | 898g body only |
| Dimensions | 112 × 116 × 68mm | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder with selfie mirror | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 41 | Lumix S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 41
Camera family history