GoKawiilis a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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Fujifilm announced a follow-up to its tiny and quirky Instax Pal camera that debuted three years ago bundled with an instant printer. While the original Pal was a palm-sized camera with a round design that lacked a screen or viewfinder, the new Instax Pal 2 includes both in a design that looks like a miniaturized analog film camera. It’s also reminiscent of trendy pocket-friendly cameras like the Kodak Charmera, but with specs that may actually produce decent shots.
In addition to an optical viewfinder, the Pal 2 has a 1.3-inch LCD screen on top for framing, reviewing shots, or applying image effects. Image: Fujifilm
The Instax Pal 2 will launch in the US later this month for $169.95, according to PetaPixel, and uses a ⅓.06-inch sensor paired with an f/2.2 28mm lens to capture images up to 10-megapixels in size. That’s a big step up over the Kodak Charmera’s 1.6-megapixel sensor. The Pal 2 has an optical viewfinder and a 1.3-inch LCD screen on top for framing shots and is equipped with autofocus capabilities including optional face detection plus adjustable ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation.
Photos can be wirelessly transferred to a phone or instant printer over Bluetooth, but the Pal 2 also includes a slide-out USB-C port for connecting to mobile devices. Image: Fujifilm
Atop the Instax Pal 2 you’ll find a shutter button, a joystick, and a functional lever similar to what old film cameras used to advance to the next exposure. The camera pairs with Fujifilm’s mobile app where you can select and download image effects to the Pal 2 or upload images to your phone for printing using a wireless Bluetooth connection or a slide-out USB-C port. The camera also features a flash, a tripod mount, a self-timer, and a rechargeable battery good for up to three hours of use, Fujifilm claims.