Fujifilm Instax Pal 2 review: cute, capable and expensive

TechRadar’s Timothy Coleman reviews the Fujifilm Instax Pal 2, a small digital camera with a retro design and playful, tactile controls. He says its appeal lies mainly in its charm and the experience of using it, rather than technically impressive images or fast performance.

The camera has a 10MP sensor, a 28mm-equivalent f/2.2 lens, an LED flash and a 1.3-inch top-mounted screen, as well as an optical viewfinder. It takes JPEG photos and has a 10-shot Animation mode, but no video recording. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support wireless connections to smart devices for image uploads and sharing through the Instax Pal app. The app had not been updated for the Pal 2 at the time of Coleman’s review. The camera can also send images to Fujifilm Instax Link printers. It charges through USB-C.

Coleman praises the compact design, controls and range of effects, but reports frustrating shutter lag and poor battery life. He also considers the price high for a novelty camera. The Pal 2 costs $169.95, £149.99 or AU$249. Coleman notes that four Kodak Charmera cameras cost about the same as one Pal 2, while the Instax Mini Evo is also priced the same. He says a price reduction could make the Pal 2 more appealing, but does not predict whether one will happen.