Fujifilm Instax Pal 2 launched with bigger sensor, animation mode, and familiar design

Fujifilm launched a feature-rich look-alike of the Charmera in the form of Instax Pal 2.

Fujifilm Instax Pal 2

The new Charmera challenger?

Fujifilm has introduced the Instax Pal 2, a follow-up to the compact Instax Pal camera it launched in 2023. The new model features a significant redesign and appears positioned to rival Kodak's Charmera, a similarly pocket-sized instant camera.

Unlike its predecessor, the Pal 2 now adopts a rectangular body reminiscent of a miniature film camera. 

Retro vibe

The update also adds an optical viewfinder and a 1-inch LCD screen on top, letting users preview shots and adjust settings directly on the device.

Photographers can choose from five onboard filters, and the camera works across all three Instax film sizes—Mini, Square, and Wide. Fujifilm has also added an Animation mode this time around: the camera fires off a burst of 10 shots, then compiles them into a short flipbook-style loop, essentially letting users create their own miniature GIFs.

Pocket size

Image quality also gets a boost. A 28mm-equivalent lens with an f/2.2 aperture sits in front of a 1/3.06-inch sensor, now packing 10.7 megapixels—a jump from the sensor found in the first-generation Pal. 

Storage has grown as well: the device can hold up to 100 shots internally, twice the capacity of its predecessor.

Fujifilm Instax Pal 2 key specs, features:

• Rectangular body, styled like a mini film camera
• New optical viewfinder + 1-inch LCD screen for previews and settings
• Bigger 1/3.06-inch, 10.7MP sensor 
• 28mm-equivalent lens, f/2.2 aperture
• 5 built-in filters
• Instax Mini, Square, and Wide formats
• Turns 10 photos into a flipbook-style GIF
• Stores up to 100 photos internally (2x the original)
• Wireless connectivity for transferring/printing photos

US price with direct conversion to PHP (no taxes and duties yet):

Fujifilm Instax Pal 2 - USD 170 (around PHP 11,000)

Although this puts it well above the cost of Kodak's Charmera, Fujifilm's device offers a higher-resolution sensor, built-in wireless connectivity for transferring and printing photos, and a broader set of creative shooting tools.

What do you guys think?

Source: Fujifilm