If you browse the Instax website, the most affordable analog camera option listed is the Instax Mini 12. But Fujifilm has a secret, more budget-friendly instant camera: The Instax Mini SE. Because the Instax Mini SE is a Walmart-exclusive camera, you won’t find it on Instax’s list of analog cameras or while browsing Amazon. But, the Instax Mini SE not only sits at a lower price point than the Mini 12 but offers a little more control over the final exposure.
The Instax Mini SE lacks the selfie mirror and fully automatic design of the Instax Mini 12. But the twistable brightness control grabbed my attention, as well as the larger grip. Could a $67 camera actually have more controls than a $79 one? I blasted through a pack of Instax film to see whether Instax’s cheapest camera is even worth buying. And while more advanced options like the Instax Mini Evo or the Mini 99 still sit among the best instant film cameras, the Mini SE has a lot to offer for the price.
