The instax Pal gets a second version
The first instax Pal appeared in 2023 and was quite different from the instax cameras that spit out a photo immediately. FUJIFILM removed the printer from the camera and left a small digital camera that could be easily carried.
This idea remains with the Pal 2, but the camera itself is becoming more extensive. FUJIFILM has made the design resemble that of a traditional camera more closely and now also adds a real optical viewfinder. This means you no longer have to rely solely on instinct to determine what will roughly be in the frame when photographing.
This makes the Pal 2 a bit more of a real compact camera, although it remains a fairly simple camera. The small size and simple operation remain more important than extensive manual settings.
Now with a viewfinder and small screen
The optical viewfinder is probably one of the handiest innovations. Those used to photographing through a viewfinder can determine more quickly how the subject will roughly appear in the frame.
On top of the camera, there is also a 1-inch LCD screen. You do not use this screen as a live view while photographing, as with many other digital cameras. It is mainly intended to check what you have captured after the shot.
The Pal 2 remains a camera where you photograph relatively easily and only look more closely at the result afterwards. This fits well with the idea behind the camera: quickly capturing something without many settings or menus.
Photos are now 10 megapixels large
The image sensor has also been renewed. The Pal 2 uses a 1/3.06-inch sensor and can store photos with a maximum of 10 megapixels. The first Pal was limited to 5 megapixels.
More megapixels do not automatically mean that every photo becomes twice as good. However, the file contains more pixels, giving you a bit more room to crop later. With a camera with such a small sensor, light and conditions are, of course, also important for the final image quality.
At the same time, FUJIFILM has increased the internal storage. The first Pal could store about fifty photos, while the new version has space for about a hundred images. With a microSD card, you can store even more photos.
Send photos to your phone
The Pal 2 works with the instax Pal app. Via Bluetooth, you can send images to your phone, and your smartphone can also be used as a remote control for the camera.
New is that photos can also be transferred directly via USB-C. This can be handy when you do not want to wait for a wireless transfer or want to move multiple images in quick succession.
This connection with the smartphone really belongs to the concept of the Pal. The camera itself remains deliberately simple, while you mainly use your phone for sharing, saving, and editing.
Choose which instax format you want
Before you photograph, you can choose an aspect ratio that corresponds to mini, SQUARE or WIDE. These are the three well-known instax formats. There is also a borderless 4:3 option.
This way, you can already take into account how you want to print it later while taking the photo. This prevents important parts of your photo from disappearing when you eventually print it in a different format.
The camera also contains five filter themes, each with six effects. Via the app, you can choose up to six favorite effects that you then use on the camera.
Ten photos become an animation
A new feature is instax Animation. In this mode, if you hold down the shutter button, the camera can take up to ten photos in a row. These images are combined into a short animation that resembles a flipbook.
This fits well with the playful character of the Pal series. The camera does not try to compete with an extensive system camera but primarily gives you simple ways to experiment with photos and then use them digitally or on paper.
Printing still happens elsewhere
Despite the name instax, the Pal 2 does not have a built-in printer. For that, you need, for example, an instax printer. You can first view a photo taken and then decide whether it is worth a physical print.
Various hybrid instax cameras can also print images from the Pal 2. These include models like the instax mini Evo, which can both take digital photos and make instax prints.
This has a clear advantage: you do not waste film on photos that you actually do not want to keep. The downside is that you need a second device for physical prints if you do not already own one.
Who is the instax Pal 2 interesting for?
The Pal 2 is especially interesting if you are looking for a small camera that you can easily take anywhere and you enjoy choosing which photos to print later. The viewfinder and screen make the second version more practical than the original, while the higher resolution gives a bit more leeway when saving and editing photos.
This makes it a unique offering within the instax series, but that is precisely what makes the concept interesting. You do not get the immediate print of a traditional instant camera, but rather a small digital camera where photographing and printing are deliberately two separate steps.
Price and availability
The FUJIFILM instax Pal 2 is expected to be available in Europe at the end of September 2026 for a suggested retail price of €169.99. The camera will be available in black and white and comes with a USB-C cable, wrist strap, and a small accessory that allows you to set it up at different angles.
For various functions, you need the free instax Pal app. If you want to make physical instax photos, you also need a compatible printer or hybrid instax camera and the corresponding instax film.
