Fujifilm opens $170 pre-orders for Instax Pal 2, a palm-size camera built around dials and filters
Fujifilm's Instax Pal 2, a palm-size digital camera with a dial, lever and downloadable color filters, is up for pre-order at $170 and can send images to a phone over USB-C or Bluetooth.
The first Instax Pal was Fujifilm's smallest instant camera, made possible by separating the image sensor from the printer. The Pal 2 keeps that split and moves closer to being a standalone digital camera, adding physical controls and a set of downloadable color filters.
At 1.46 by 1.65 by 3.63 inches (37 by 42 by 92mm), the Pal 2 is larger than the lump-shaped original and is designed to be held horizontally, a layout comparable to the Kodak Charmera. It is too big to ride comfortably on a keychain, but the design follows a similar premise: buyers accept lower image quality in exchange for a shooting experience that feels fun, tactile and spontaneous.
The camera uses a 1/3.06-inch CMOS sensor that can switch between 10-megapixel and 1-megapixel photos, with an f/2.2 aperture, an LED flash, autofocus and auto white balance. A smartphone will capture more detail, but Fujifilm is aiming at the audience that deliberately seeks out older cameras for a throwback look.
Shots can be framed through an optical viewfinder on the back or a digital viewfinder on the top, the latter also handling the camera's simple menus. A digital timer and a flipbook animation-style capture mode are included. Most of the interaction, however, runs through a dial and a lever: the lever selects frames matching Fujifilm's various Instax films, while the dial cycles through downloaded color filters and effects.
Images are taken with a shutter button and can be moved to a phone for further editing through a built-in USB-C connector. The Pal 2 also supports Bluetooth transfers and can print directly to an Instax Link printer.
In a video review cited by Engadget, PetaPixel said the camera's biggest problem is how slow its interface is. The review noted that the rest of the package is entertaining enough that the sluggishness could be a minor obstacle for people already invested in Fujifilm's ecosystem, or for those looking for a relatively affordable digital camera.