Instax Mini 99vs Lumix S5
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 99 (2024)
Starting from £160 new
Best for Creative instant photography & serious enthusiasts
View Instax Mini 99
Lumix
Lumix S5 (2020)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
View Lumix S5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Creative Instant Photography & Serious Enthusiasts — Instax Mini 99 (2024): The most serious analogue instant camera Fujifilm has ever made. Manual controls, colour effects, and USB-C charging elevate it far above the rest of the range.
Professional Video & Hybrid Shooting — Lumix S5 (2020): The S5 is an outstanding video camera that also takes excellent stills. 10-bit 4K/60p, dual native ISO and 6.5-stop IBIS in a weather-sealed body is a compelling package. The contrast-detect AF is its main weakness vs Sony and Canon — but for controlled shooting it doesn't hold it back.
Who should buy what
Instax Mini 99 (2024)
- Instant photographers who want real creative control over their prints
- Mini 12 or Mini Evo owners who want the most capable analogue Instax
- Photographers who treat instant film as a serious artistic medium
- Anyone who wants colour effects, vignette, and manual controls in one camera
Lumix S5 (2020)
- Videographers who need 10-bit colour science in a full-frame body
- Photographers who shoot video as a second discipline
- Studio photographers who want full-frame IBIS at a lower price
- L-mount system users building a versatile kit
Quick take: The instax mini 99 is the most affordable; only the lumix s5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 99 (2024) | Lumix S5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £160 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus with zone focus dial (0.3m / 0.5m / 1m / 2m / ∞) | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) |
| Battery Life | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~100 shots) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~440g (with battery, without film) | 714g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 131.7 × 104.9 × 66.8mm | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C (charging only) | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 99 | Lumix S5 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Creative | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Street | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 99
Camera family history