Instax Pal 2: UK price, new features and what’s changed

The Instax Pal 2 is here, giving Fujifilm’s tiny digital camera a substantial upgrade with a screen, viewfinder, autofocus, 10MP photos and new creative features. Here’s what’s new, how it compares with the original Instax Pal and how much it costs in the UK.

Fujifilm has launched the Instax Pal 2, a new version of its tiny digital camera and this time, I think the Pal just makes more sense.

When the original Instax Pal launched, it was certainly cute. It was tiny, colourful and designed to capture digital photos that could later be transferred to your phone or printed using compatible Instax devices.

But it also raised a fairly obvious question:

Why wouldn’t I just use my phone?

The Instax Pal 2 doesn’t completely eliminate that question, but Fujifilm has made some significant changes that make this feel much more like a camera in its own right.

There’s now a viewfinder, a 1.3-inch colour LCD screen, autofocus, a higher-resolution 10MP shooting mode and even a deliberately low-resolution 1MP option.

And with a UK recommended retail price (RRP) of £144.99, early launch promotions and specific listings have been spotted from £89.99. But please note, the Pal 2 will only be available from the 29th September.

What is the Instax Pal 2?

The Instax Pal 2 is a compact digital camera from Fujifilm’s Instax range.

And there’s something important to get out of the way immediately:

The Instax Pal 2 does not print photos itself.

Despite carrying the Instax name, there’s no instant-film mechanism inside the camera.

Instead, you take digital photographs and then transfer them to the Instax Pal app. From there, they can be shared digitally or printed using compatible Instax Link smartphone printers and selected Instax hybrid cameras.

The Pal 2 can shoot in Instax Mini, Square and Wide formats, as well as a frameless 4:3 format.

Think of it as the digital capture part of the Instax ecosystem, rather than an instant camera.

What’s new with the Instax Pal 2?

Quite a lot.

One of the biggest differences is that the Pal 2 now offers a much more traditional camera experience.

Fujifilm has added an optical viewfinder and 1.3-inch colour LCD screen, so you can compose and review photographs on the camera itself.

There’s also an analogue-style lever that lets you switch between Instax Mini, Square, Wide and frameless shooting formats.

The lever is also used to activate another new feature called Instax Animation.

Press and hold the shutter button and the Pal 2 can capture up to 10 consecutive images. These are saved as an Instax Animation, creating a flipbook-style effect that can be viewed through the app.

It’s an interesting middle ground between taking a photograph and shooting a video, something that feels particularly suited to social sharing.

Instax Pal 2 camera: 10MP photos and autofocus

This is probably the upgrade that matters most.

You can shoot in 10MP mode at 3776 × 2832 pixels or deliberately drop the resolution to 1MP at 1280 × 960 pixels.

So, if you’re deliberately chasing that imperfect, early-digital-camera look rather than smartphone perfection, Fujifilm is actually giving you the choice.

The Pal 2 also gets autofocus (AF), with both Single AF and Face Recognition AF.

Minimum shooting distance has improved too.

Instax Pal 2 vs Instax Pal: what’s changed?

This is much more than a colour refresh.

The original Pal was an incredibly simple point-and-shoot device. The Pal 2 introduces several significant upgrades, including:

• a 1.3-inch colour LCD screen
• an optical viewfinder
• 10MP and 1MP shooting modes
• a larger 1/3.06-inch CMOS sensor
• Single AF and Face Recognition AF
• an 8cm minimum shooting distance
• approximately 100 images of internal storage
• Instax Animation
• Mini, Square, Wide and frameless shooting formats
• USB-C image transfer
• an angle-adjustment accessory for remote shooting
• 30 creative effects available through the app

Internal storage has doubled compared to the original Pal.

The original could hold approximately 50 images internally, while the Pal 2 stores approximately 100 images in either resolution mode.

It also supports microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC memory cards of up to 2TB.

The Instax Pal 2 has 30 creative effects

Fujifilm has also leaned heavily into the creative side of the Pal 2.

There are five main effect categories: Modern, Y2K, Vintage, Chromatic and Fantasy, with six effects within each category, giving you 30 effects in total.

When the camera is paired with the Instax Pal app, you can also select up to six favourite effects and save them as a custom collection on the camera.

This isn’t trying to be a serious enthusiast camera. The whole point of Instax has always been making photography feel fun and accessible, and the Pal 2 seems to understand that.

Does the Instax Pal 2 print photos?

No.

And it’s worth repeating because I suspect this will be one of the biggest points of confusion around the Pal 2.

The Instax Pal 2 is a digital camera, not an instant camera.

If you want a physical Instax photograph, you’ll need a compatible Instax Link printer or hybrid Instax camera, which is sold separately.

Images can be printed across the Instax Mini, Square and Wide film formats when paired with a compatible device.

And, there is an advantage to this approach.

You don’t have to decide what deserves a piece of Instax film the moment you press the shutter.

Take the photographs. Transfer them. Choose the ones you really love.

Then print those.

Given the cost of instant film, there’s something to be said for that.

How do you transfer Instax Pal 2 photos to your phone?

You have two options.

The Pal 2 supports wireless transfer via Bluetooth, but Fujifilm has also added high-speed transfer using USB-C.

According to Fujifilm’s specifications, USB transfer takes approximately 0.75 seconds per image, compared with approximately 15 seconds per image using Bluetooth.

There is an important difference in resolution, too: USB transfers images at 3776 × 2832 pixels, while Bluetooth transfers them at 1280 × 960 pixels.

Once your photographs are transferred, you can edit them in the app, share them on social media or print them using compatible Instax hardware.

Can you use the Instax Pal 2 for selfies and content creation?

Potentially, yes.

The Pal 2 works with an angle-adjustment attachment that lets you position the camera differently, while your smartphone can be used to trigger the shutter remotely through the app.

There’s also a self-timer.

I’m particularly interested in this part because it gives the Pal 2 a possible use beyond simply being a cute little camera.

Put it somewhere unusual, step into the frame and trigger it remotely.

For creators, travel photographs and group shots, that could be genuinely useful and inspire creativity.

Instax Pal 2 UK price: how much does it cost?

Fujifilm’s official UK Instax website lists the Instax Pal 2 with an RRP starting at £89.99 and it’s available in Black and White.

That price positions the Pal 2 differently from hybrid cameras such as the Instax Mini Evo.

You’re getting the camera and creative experience, but you’re not paying for a built-in Instax printer.

Of course, if you don’t already own a compatible Instax printer or hybrid camera and you want physical photographs, you’ll need to factor that additional cost into the equation.

Is the Instax Pal 2 worth buying?

I haven’t reviewed the Instax Pal 2 yet, so I’m not going to pretend I can give you a definitive verdict on image quality or what it’s like to live with.

But on paper, this is a much more interesting product than the original Pal.

And I think that’s because the Pal 2 isn’t really trying to beat your smartphone camera.

Your phone is likely to produce technically better photographs and is already sitting in your pocket.

Instead, the appeal of the Pal 2 might be precisely that it isn’t your phone.

There are no WhatsApp messages, while you’re taking a photograph. No Instagram notification tempting you away. No email you’ve suddenly remembered you need to answer.

You take out a camera and take a photograph.

That also fits rather neatly with the wider appeal of using dedicated devices instead of asking our smartphones to do absolutely everything.

The original Instax Pal felt a little like Fujifilm experimenting with an idea.

The Instax Pal 2 feels like Fujifilm figuring out what that idea was actually supposed to be.

FAQ

Does the Instax Pal 2 print photos?

No. The Instax Pal 2 is a digital camera and does not have a built-in Instax printer. Photographs can be printed using compatible Instax Link printers or selected Instax hybrid cameras.

How much is the Instax Pal 2 in the UK?

Fujifilm lists the Instax Pal 2 with an RRP starting at £89.99 in the UK.

How many megapixels is the Instax Pal 2?

The Instax Pal 2 offers two resolution settings: 10MP at 3776 × 2832 pixels and 1MP at 1280 × 960 pixels.

Does the Instax Pal 2 have autofocus?

Yes. It supports Single AF and Face Recognition AF.

Does the Instax Pal 2 have a screen?

Yes. The Instax Pal 2 has a 1.3-inch TFT colour LCD screen as well as an optical viewfinder.

What colours does the Instax Pal 2 come in?

The Instax Pal 2 is available in Black and White.

Can Instax Pal 2 photos be printed on Instax film?

Yes, but not directly from the camera. Photos can be printed in Instax Mini, Square or Wide formats using compatible Instax printers or hybrid cameras.