instax mini 12 camera, LILAC PURPLE

Product Information

I did find that, despite the automatic flash setting, the camera often struggled to focus in low light. This was especially apparent in scenes that had some depth to them where the flash would illuminate the closest object, as well as in close-ups. On the lens itself is a small mirror that can be used as a guide for selfies. This selfie mirror is a surprisingly helpful aid, but again because of the lens position you'll consciously need to tweak of angle of the camera to frame yourself in the centre. And with the camera turned on you, those tweaks are reversed as you look at the camera. It’s a shame to think that I can't really use the Instax Mini 12 to its best potential when the sun is out, and improvements here would top my wish list for a successor that we might reasonably expect to land in 2026. Not only is the Instax 12 more technically advanced than its predecessor, it also looks better too, a crucial consideration for its target market who are looking for fun as well as competence. Exposure parameters are the same as on the Mini 11, with a shutter speed range between 0.5 sec and 1/250 sec, combined with the ISO 800 sensitivity rating of Instax Mini film.

Otherwise, most of the features of the Instax Mini 11 are carried over to the Instax Mini 12. There’s the same 60mm f/12.7 lens, with a close-up / selfie mode that reduces the minimum focus distance from 0.5m to 0.3m. With it's fun new bubble design, the Instax Mini 12 is a very distinctive looking, almost toy-like camera which is available in five attractively muted colours. We particularly liked the Mint Green version that we had for this test. The super bubbly INSTAX mini 12 is bursting with joy, creativity, and colour. Not only is this iconic instant camera available in five eye- poppingly pleasing tones – Pastel Blue, Mint Green, Blossom Pink, Lilac Purple and Clay White – it’s fully loaded with easy-to-use modes and controls. The printing time is fast. Instax estimates around five seconds which I found to be accurate, though photos do take a few minutes to fully develop. Fujifilm have greatly improved the accuracy for close up subjects, though. Now when you select the Close-up mode, your main subject will be rightLandscape format is more accommodating, but it's a little more awkward to hold the camera and operate the shutter release button in this orientation. Of course that enjoyment factor is tarnished if the camera is churning out pictures that appear too bright or too dark, too blown out by the flash or with off-kilter framing that cuts out half of your subject. You don't really want photos that have to go straight in the bin. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 improves on the previous generation Instax Mini in meaningful ways, making instant photography more accessible than ever with a largely accurate auto exposure system and an adjustable lens that works for close-ups and selfies as well as portraits and landscapes. The camera now has auto flash exposure, but I should stress that the flash still fires for every single picture. The theory is that the power of the flash is adjusted depending on what the camera sees, within the 0.3m to 2.7m range. Size-wise, the Instax Mini 12 fits in the hand comfortably enough. There's not a single right-angle on the curved plastic body, which has a smooth and slippy non-textured surface.

VALHALLA, N.Y., March 2, 2023 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Imaging Division, announced today the introduction of its INSTAX MINI 12 Instant Camera (MINI 12). Following in the footsteps of the popular INSTAX MINI 11™ Instant Camera (MINI 11) launched in 2020, MINI 12 brings a new look and enhanced features for instant photographers, including parallax correction capabilities, automatic flash control, and a convenient multi-function twist lens. As this is an entry-level instant film camera aimed at beginners, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is thankfully very easy to initially setup. It also comes with a concise instruction manual to follow for a smooth experience. Coming soon, INSTAX users will be able to use the INSTAX UP! App to stay informed about the latest INSTAX updates, tips, and other creative content.

There are a couple of design tweaks that make perfect sense. You now turn the camera on by rotating the lens, and the lens has two settings: on and close-up. It's more intuitive, and a far less clunky process than on the Instax Mini 11, where pressing a stiff button pops the lens out and turns the camera on, and pulling the lens out then engages close-up mode. The super bubbly INSTAX mini 12 is bursting with joy, creativity and colour. Not only is this iconic instant camera available in five eye-poppingly pleasing tones – Pastel Blue, Mint Green, Blossom Pink, Lilac Purple and Clay White – it’s fully loaded with easy-to-use modes and controls. But that’s not all the Close-up mode is good at. When activated, the adjustable viewfinder neatly pairs up with the lens, so what you see if what you get. (FYI the fancy term for this is parallax correction.) Because when you’re this close, there’s no room for error.

Meanwhile, the new Parallax Correction feature aligns the camera’s viewfinder with the lens whilst using the Close-Up Mode, reducing object shifts and resulting in a more aligned photo than on the previous model. I personally found I still had trouble centring close-ups and standard shots with the viewfinder, but then instant photography isn’t really about getting the most perfectly framed shots every time. Performance and image quality This field of view is similar to that of the main camera on a smartphone – it’s a little closer to the ‘classic’ 35mm focal length – and in selfie mode at arm's length you can fit yourself and a couple of other people in the picture, with a small mirror next to the lens giving you a rough idea of what the camera sees. Solutions like our INSTAX UP! App keep our consumers connected, engaged, and informed,” said Ashley Reeder Morgan, vice president, Consumer Marketing, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “INSTAX UP! will enable our users to organize, archive, and share their INSTAX photos with ease, helping preserve their special memories and inspiring them to create more.” Colors, Pricing, and Availability The camera is a little slippery in the hand, with its smooth finish and curved edges not offering a great deal of grip. It's a fiddly camera to hold, especially when taking selfies, and I would love to see a more pronounced thumb grip, and/or or some kind of rougher texture on the exterior. Thankfully, a color-matched wrist strap is supplied; use it, as otherwise you’re bound to drop this camera at some point.It's because the auto exposure system can now vary the shutter speed between 1/2 and 1/250, so it should be able to capture the right amount of light in all shooting scenarios. This is a big step up from the Mini 9's fixed 1/60 shutter speed, and helps massively when shooting indoors. The previous Selfie mode on the Instax 11 has become the Close-up mode on the Instax 12 to better indicate what it can be used for, not just selfies but also any subject that's positioned between 0.3 m to 0.5 m away from the camera. Instax Mini 11 is Fujifilm's new entry-level snapshot for instant photos in the Instax Mini format. It is the first model in the lower price segment to have automatic exposure control. This measures the ambient light as soon as the shutter button is pressed. By automatically adjusting the shutter speed and flash intensity to the prevailing conditions, the camera reveals more detail right from the start. Easy to Use Selfie Mode