Faisal Ghaffar 
The Instax Mini 12 is the latest instant camera that Fujifilm has added to its Instax family. The Mini cameras are undoubtedly some of the most popular ones in the market, which is not surprising because they are simple to use and available in some funky designs.
The hardware of the Instax Mini 12 has not been significantly upgraded as opposed to the previous model, but there has been a new introduction in terms of software that could prove to be game-changing.
Design and Build
The Instax Mini 12 is available in softer shades and there are a total of five to choose from, which include mint green, clay white, lilac purple, blossom pink and pastel blue. A matt finish has been given to the plastic body, which makes it immensely easy to clean. The design is bubbly, which might give it a toy-like feel, but the curved shape means that the camera is very ergonomic.
Since it weighs only 306g, the Instax Mini 12 is easy to hold and carry around with you. You can load the film packs at the back, which opens easily. There is no power button here and all you have to do is twist the lens, which gives it a cleaner design. There is a zoom lens included and a ‘close up mode’ replaces the ‘selfie mode’. It is easy to take selfies with the mirror added on the front.Two AA batteries power the camera and it uses Instax Mini Film.
Features and Quality
You can produce Polaroid-style images with the Instax Mini 12 and they give a vintage touch with muted colors. There is auto-exposure and constant-firing flash and it works best during the day. However, you cannot turn off the flash, so the colors could be a bit too bright if you take pictures in the sunlight.
It takes about 15 seconds to print images and they can fully develop within 90 seconds, depending on the conditions. You can also find an ‘O’ shaped viewfinder that allows you to align a shot. The prints are the same size as a credit card and a section is given for writing. They can easily be used for scrapbooking, putting in your wallet, or for a pin board.
You can use the close up mode for selfies. Parallax correction mode has also been introduced, so whatever you photograph will be in the center. The Instax Up! app has also been introduced with the new camera for both Android and iOS. You can use it for scanning and uploading your physical snaps for crops, color corrections and removing reflections.
Price
The price tag of the Instax Mini 12 is just $79.99, which makes it one of the most user-friendly and affordable instant cameras in the market. Other options are quite difficult to use and do not give high quality pictures.
The Verdict
To put it simply, the Instax Mini 12 is the top instant camera option and while the changes that have been made may be minor, but they are all good.
