Fujifilm will launch the instax Pal 2 on 29 September, updating its palm-sized digital camera with substantial hardware upgrades. The new model introduces a 10-megapixel sensor alongside a top-mounted display and expanded physical controls.
Priced at S$249, the device arrives as the successor to the original instax Pal, which debuted in October 2023. True to the core design of its predecessor, the camera captures digital photos without an integrated printer. Photographers looking for physical prints can produce them externally through compatible instax Link smartphone printers, or by pairing the unit with instax Evo and instax LiPlay hybrid instant cameras.
Higher resolution and expanded controls
At the heart of the hardware revisions is a 1/3.06-inch image sensor that doubles the recorded resolution of the previous model, stepping up from 5 megapixels to 10 megapixels. Internal storage capacity has seen an identical doubling, expanding from 50 to 100 images straight out of the box. For those requiring additional shooting capacity, the camera also supports a separately sold microSD card.
Direct handling receives a noticeable upgrade through a new top-mounted display that lets users review photos directly on the camera. Fujifilm has also incorporated a viewfinder, a control dial and a lever, offering far more tactile ways to change settings on the fly.
In terms of exterior build, the camera preserves the compact footprint of the original Pal while introducing refined tactile qualities. Fujifilm has applied a semi-matte finish alongside a knurled surface to provide a more secure grip in the hand. Practical portability is supported by an included hand strap, which incorporates a specialised accessory. This component can be detached and used to prop up the camera, enabling users to adjust its shooting angle precisely when resting it on a flat surface.
Four framing options are available, comprising Mini, SQUARE and WIDE settings alongside a borderless No Frame mode. The first three formats replicate standard instax borders, allowing photographers to select whichever print style is supported by their linked instax printer or hybrid camera when producing physical copies.
Thirty effects and an animation mode
Creative visual treatments have been expanded with 30 in-camera effects, distributed across five distinct themes named Modern, Y2K, Vintage, Chromatic and Fantasy. Each thematic collection contains six individual effects, providing a wide array of stylistic options.
These aesthetic options are selected using the dedicated smartphone application and transferred onto the hardware. The workflow provides generous flexibility, letting users load all six effects from a single group or curate an assortment of up to six favourites pulled from the broader lineup. Once transferred, photographers can cycle between their chosen looks seamlessly by rotating the camera’s control dial.
Complementing the static effects is a new instax Animation mode, activated by shifting the physical lever towards the display. Holding down the shutter button then captures up to 10 consecutive images, which the camera automatically compiles into a flipbook-style animated video.
This animated footage can be linked directly to tangible prints using an embedded QR code, which triggers video playback whenever scanned by a smartphone. To activate the playback feature, users must first upload the video data through the instax mini Evo app. Once uploaded, the file remains hosted on Fujifilm servers and accessible for download for two years from the submission date.
USB-C provides a faster transfer option
Wireless connectivity remains an integral part of the workflow, with the camera handling standard image transfers over Bluetooth. Once paired with the dedicated mobile application via Bluetooth, users have the option to connect the camera directly to a compatible smartphone with a USB Type-C cable to facilitate faster file transfers.
Fujifilm states that direct cable transfers can shift photos in approximately 0.7 seconds per image at most, though overall speeds vary according to factors such as image size. Hardware support covers iPhones fitted with a USB Type-C port running iOS 16 or later. For the Android ecosystem, the direct connection functions with handsets operating on Android 12 or later.
Once imported, photos can be edited within the dedicated companion application, which offers controls to adjust brightness and contrast. Finished images can then be stored directly to the smartphone’s camera roll or published straight to social media.
