Aggregated review · Christmas, Birthday, New Year's Eve
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
A simple instant camera that prints credit-card-sized photos in a few seconds. Good fun at a party, and easy for anyone to use.
$87 $50 to $100
The verdict
Hit: 4.4 out of 5, from 2 sources and 41 reviews. The ratings are high wherever we looked.
Thin evidence
Where the score comes from
- Digital Camera World No star rating. Cited for what it says.
Based on 41 John Lewis reviews. One source has no star rating and is cited for what it says.
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Cheapest we found: John Lewis at $87. Prices checked October 2026. We earn a commission if you buy.
- Reviews aggregated
- 41Reviews counted
- Sources
- 2Sources
- Gift mentions
- 5 Oct Last checked
John Lewis buyers average 4.4 across 41 reviews, and Digital Camera World gave it five stars. Both like the same thing: there’s nothing to set up. You twist the lens to turn it on, press the button, and a photo comes out.
That simplicity is also the main complaint. You can’t switch the flash off, and some shots come out too bright or too dark. Digital Camera World described the results as “not always consistent”. Treat it as a party camera, not a proper one.
One thing to plan for is film. Each photo uses a sheet, and the camera is no use without a pack, so put one or two in with it. It’s a good present for a teenager, or for whoever’s hosting on New Year’s Eve, where a pile of prints is better than a phone full of photos nobody looks at.
What reviewers praise
- Very simple to use
- Prints come out in about five seconds
- Cheap for an instant camera
What they complain about
- The flash fires every time and can't be switched off
- Results vary from shot to shot
- Bulkier than it looks in photos
- Not for
- Someone who wants control over their photos. The camera picks the exposure and flash for you.
- Price checked
- October 5, 2026
- Image
- Photo by Tony Webster, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Resized and cropped by review.gift.
Where to buy it
Cheapest we found: John Lewis at $87. Prices checked October 2026. We earn a commission if you buy.
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