Fujifilm has announced the Instax Pal 2, a follow-up to its tiny digital camera that takes the original’s unusual concept and gives it a more traditional camera design. Unlike Fujifilm’s other Instax models, the Pal 2 does not capture photos directly onto instant film, instead storing digital images that can be transferred to a smartphone or printed separately.
The original Instax Pal was designed around the idea of separating the camera from the printer, allowing Fujifilm to make it significantly smaller than a conventional instant camera. The Pal 2 takes this concept further by adopting a more familiar camera-like body, complete with physical controls, viewfinders and various shooting effects.
More Like A Traditional Camera
Measuring 37 x 42 x 92mm, the Instax Pal 2 is larger than its predecessor and is designed to be held horizontally. Its appearance is also considerably different, with Fujifilm giving it a squat, miniature film camera-inspired design instead of the rounded shape of the original Pal.
The Pal 2 features a 1/3.06-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing images at either 10MP or 1MP, along with an f/2.2 aperture, LED flash, autofocus and automatic white balance. While modern smartphones can generally capture more detailed photos, the Pal 2 is aimed more at users looking for a dedicated camera with a more nostalgic shooting experience.
That experience is helped by the camera’s physical controls. It has an optical viewfinder on the back, while a small digital viewfinder on top can be used for framing shots and navigating its menus.
The camera also features a prominent shutter button, a dial for cycling through downloaded colour filters and effects, as well as a lever that lets users select frames matching Fujifilm’s different Instax film formats.
Filters And Animation
Beyond conventional photography, the Pal 2 comes with several creative shooting features, including a digital timer and a new Animation mode. The latter captures 10 frames and combines them into a flipbook-style animation. Users can download additional colour filters and effects through Fujifilm’s Instax Pal app, with the camera’s physical dial providing a way to cycle through the available options.
Once captured, photos can be transferred to a smartphone through the app for further editing. The Pal 2 supports Bluetooth for wireless transfers, while a built-in USB-C port provides another way to transfer images. The camera can also connect directly to Fujifilm’s Instax Link series of wireless printers, allowing users to turn their digital photos into physical instant prints.
Unlike most Instax cameras, the Pal 2 does not require users to stick to a single film format. Its frame settings support Instax Mini, Square and Wide formats, along with a frameless option.
The accompanying app also allows users to add filters, text and stickers to their photos before sharing or printing them. A microSD card slot is included for additional storage.
Pricing And Availability
In Malaysia, Shashinki is currently listing the Fujifilm Instax Pal 2 for RM899. This makes the new model considerably more expensive than the original Instax Pal, which was launched locally at RM499. Meanwhile, N4 Camera also announced last month that it will bring the new pocket camera to Malaysia, while other local retailers are expected to follow with their own listings.
