Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat South Beach
Score: 69/100
Leica Sofort 2
Score: 75/100Rankings
The Leica Sofort 2 is a hybrid instant camera that combines a 4.9-MP sensor with Instax Mini printing, offering premium build and extensive creative modes. Its trade-offs are limited low-light capability, bulkier dimensions, and few manual controls. Best suited for casual shooters who value design and app features over low-light performance.
The Lomo'Instant Automat South Beach is a fully automatic Instax Mini camera offering unlimited multiple exposures, motorized film ejection, and remote selfie functionality. Its fixed f/8 aperture, plastic build, and reliance on CR2 batteries limit low-light performance and durability. Ideal for creative beginners who prioritize fun features over ruggedness.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 354 g | 320 gbest |
6.2 cmbest | 6.2 cmbest | |
— | 100 shotsbest | |
60 mmbest | 28 mm | |
8best | 2.4 | |
2 | 3best | |
9 mbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | — | 16 sbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 354 g | 320 g |
Dimensions (H × W × D) (mm) | 118.9x93.5x59.9 mm | 87x123x44 mm |
Camera(3) | ||
Lens Focal Length (mm) | 60 mm | 28 mm |
Maximum Aperture (f‑number) | 8 | 2.4 |
Shutter Speed Range (s) | 0.004-8 s | 0.25-0.000125 s |
Features(1) | ||
Number of Shooting Modes | 2 | 3 |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Lomo'Instant Automat South Beach for its blend of portability, advanced auto exposure, and a suite of creative tools that surpass the basic Instax models. They note the sharp 60mm lens and remote selfie capability as standout features, while criticizing the slow fixed aperture, limited zone focusing, and basic plastic build.
Everyday users appreciate the camera's effortless automatic modes, vibrant South Beach styling, and the fun of multiple exposures and gel filters, but many complain about blurry low-light images, the need for multiple batteries, and the imprecise close-up focus.
Professional reviewers commend the Leica Sofort 2 for its fun, crowd-pleasing instant printing, premium build, and useful app integration, but they consistently criticize its limited dynamic range, weak low-light performance, and lack of manual exposure controls, noting that its bulk makes it less pocket-friendly.
Casual users love the camera's simplicity, stylish Leica look, and dependable battery life, especially for parties and travel, while repeatedly lamenting the poor low-light results, bulkiness, and the absence of deeper creative controls.
