Verdict
The Instax Mini 12 is a fun instant camera ideal for capturing unwritten reference card - sized snaps at home and on the go .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
It ’s been three geezerhood and an entire pandemic since Fujifilm last updated its funky Instax Mini line with the Instax Mini 11 .
Other mutant on the Mini – including the suave - face Mini 40 and the hybridMini Evo – have launched to make use of Instax ’s Mini - sized cinema , but the bubbly Mini range has been left without a refresh for a twosome of year .
Now , a new iteration of the camera has arrived in the form of the Instax Mini 12 . The Mini 12 is a elusive rise over theMini 11and the still availableMini 9 , retaining the camera ’s renowned champagne shape and sport range of colours but with refreshed control , an upgraded cheeseparing - Up mode and a stigma unexampled app .
Design and features
With its vivacious colouring range and inflated champagne design , the Instax Mini 12 is not only the cutest instant camera but perhaps one of the most aesthetic - looking pieces of tech I ’ve ever survey . It looks very similar to the Mini 11 but the grip no longer bulges out of the side and the colour reach seems slightly lighter than those of its harbinger .
Even if you do n’t find yourself picking it up every day , it ’s a great - looking camera that would make a fun program line piece on any desk or shelf .
The flipside of its aim is that the Mini 12 is n’t the most compendious camera out there . If you ’re looking for a svelte clamant tv camera you may err into your sack or a humble bag , you might be secure off opt for the Mini Evo .
move onto the controller , the Instax Mini 12 does away with the separate force button on the Mini 9 and Mini 11 in favour of incorporating it into the twist mechanism on the genus Lens .
Now you may curve the lens system once to power up the television camera and a second time to recruit the Close - Up ( or selfie ) mode . The only other physical button is the shutter clit which now has a border , making it palpate a bit more tactile .
Key feature on the Mini 12 include automatic exposure and flash control to brighten up image and the new Parallax Correction feature to line the viewfinder up with the lense in close - up modal value . This should allow you to get a more precise view of what you ’re shoot .
I personally recover I still had trouble centring close - ups and standard shots with the viewfinder , but then instant picture taking is n’t really about get the most perfectly framed shots every time .
Performance and image quality
The Instax Mini 12 is compatible with Fujifilm ’s Instax Mini film . This grant you to print credit circuit card - sized photos ideal for skid into your wallet , popping in the back of a clean sound case or sticking on the fridge .
The printing process time is fast . Instax estimates around five second which I find to be accurate , though exposure do take a few minutes to fully develop .
The film is n’t cheap but at £ 15 ( $ 18.50 ) for a pack of 20 – or around 75p a jibe – it is n’t extortionate . That said , if you ’re conscious about devastate film , you might be good off opting for a intercrossed tv camera like the Mini Evo or an Instax pressman , such as the Mini Link 2 or theSquare Link(for larger shot ) .
Moving onto effigy quality , the 60 mm lens is able of catch some great shots . Details are sharp , from the shapes of skyscrapers in the distance to the textbook on a card . Images have the more or less faded look you ’d await from instantaneous picture without appear too wash out , and colour are on the cool side with blues becoming firm as the Lord’s Day fade in the previous afternoon .
I did find that , despite the automatic flash background , the camera often fight to focus in low illumination . This was especially apparent in aspect that had some depth to them where the flash would illuminate the snug object , as well as in close - ups .
The Close - Up mode was perhaps the domain in which I fight most to get the upshot I want . Even in lifelike light , close - ups of aim often occur out blurry and in the obtuse lights of a cafe or restaurant the stress was even worse .
That say , the Close - Up mode worked absolutely well for selfies . feature are sharp , backgrounds are bright and peel shade , while a bit washed out , do make out to maintain some heat .
When it comes to stamp battery life , the Mini 12 takes two AA batteries ( included ) so there ’s no need to recharge every nighttime . You ’ll just need to swap the batteries out when they do die . Fujifilm states you ’ll get around 100 shots per set of batteries , and this match up with experience I have had with former cameras of this ilk .
App
Finally , there ’s the Instax Up app , an look-alike computer memory help that found alongside the Instax Mini 12 . The idea behind the app is to allow for users to scan , salt away and share their prints digitally from one app .
The better feature is easily the scanning tool , which let users to minimise glower in uploads . All you need to do is follow the management on - cover and take ginger nut of your print from a few different angle . The app then composites the photos into one , glare - free simulacrum .
It ’s a overbold tool that I found did a adept job of read in photograph with item and accurate colours , though I did demand to make some manual adaptation to the crop each time before saving my final simulacrum .
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Should you buy it?
The Instax Mini 12 has a fun , bubbly design and mere controls that make it a tremendous method to capture instant prints .
I establish that the Instax Mini 12 often struggle to focus in low - light situations , like black cafes and restaurants .
Final Thoughts
The Instax Mini 12 is easily one of thebest insistent camerasaround , with a bubbly design that comes in a grasp of eye - catching colours .
The camera is easy to habituate , with very few features and buttons to struggle with . The automatic vulnerability delivers bright and sharp images , while the Close - Up mode and build up - in mirror are great for selfies , though the mode can give mixed results when germinate cheeseparing - up objects , peculiarly in scummy - light .
The celluloid is n’t cheap to grease one’s palms either , but if you ’re look for a fun way to spontaneously catch minute on print , the Instax Mini 12 remains a brilliant choice .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every photographic camera we review exhaustively . We use set tests to liken features right and we use it as our independent twist over the review period . We ’ll always severalize you what we find and we never , ever , take money to review a product .
FAQs
The Instax Mini 12 utilize Instax Mini film for 62 x 46 mm range of a function on 86 x 54 mm composition .
Yes , you’re able to take photograph in the shadow using the built - in robotlike flash .
No , you may not choose which photos to impress and which to blue-pencil . If you require to do this , you ’ll demand to grease one’s palms a hybrid instantaneous camera .
