Instax Mini 99vs Z5
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 99 (2024)
Starting from £160 new
Best for Creative instant photography & serious enthusiasts
View Instax Mini 99
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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.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The instax mini 99 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 99 (2024) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £160 | £999 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.3MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus with zone focus dial (0.3m / 0.5m / 1m / 2m / ∞) | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | N/A | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~100 shots) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~440g (with battery, without film) | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 131.7 × 104.9 × 66.8mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (charging only) | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 99 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Creative | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Instax Mini 99
Camera family history