Fujifilm instax Pal 2 Adds Optical Viewfinder and USB-C Phone Transfers

Fujifilm instax Pal 2

Fujifilm’s first palm-sized Pal camera left some buyers unsure what it was for, so the company asked them what to change and started over. The result is the instax Pal 2, a $169.95 digital camera styled like a miniature film camera, with an optical viewfinder, a top-mounted screen and a USB Type-C connector that plugs straight into a smartphone.

Key Takeaways

• The instax Pal 2 costs $169.95 in the US and CA$219.99 in Canada, with US availability from late September and a Japanese launch on October 9.
• New hardware includes an optical viewfinder, a 1.0-inch top LCD, a built-in USB Type-C connector for direct phone transfers and Bluetooth 5.1.
• The camera does not print; users send shots to instax Link printers, the instax mini LiPlay or the instax mini Evo in mini, SQUARE or WIDE formats.

Built From Customer Feedback

“When we introduced the original Pal in 2024, some consumers weren’t sure what to make of it,” said Bing Liem, division president of the Imaging Division at FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “Its uniqueness wasn’t for some, while others felt it was a perfect go-anywhere camera and loved the overall image-making process that makes Pal different from other cameras. When designing Pal 2, we gathered extensive customer feedback on the original Pal. And with its new look, reminiscent of a classic analog camera, complete with an optical viewfinder, and the ability to send/post images digitally or print images via instax™ smartphone printers or any of our Evo hybrid cameras, Pal 2 puts options in the palm of your hand.”

The redesign drops the original’s rounded pod shape for a squat, film-camera body. A lever on top switches between shooting formats and modes, so changing styles no longer means digging through an app.

From Camera to Phone in Under a Second

The Pal 2 offers two ways to move photos. The free instax Pal app pairs over Bluetooth 5.1 to store and transfer images. For speed, the built-in USB Type-C connector plugs directly into a phone, and Fujifilm says each image moves in about 0.7 seconds.

The camera holds up to 100 photos before it needs a transfer, and it accepts a microSD card, sold separately. A 1.0-inch LCD on top lets users review a shot before sending it. The app also works as a remote shutter, and an included angle-adjustment accessory tilts the camera on a table for hands-free shots.

Published specifications list a 10-megapixel 1/3.06-inch CMOS sensor, a 28mm-equivalent f/2.2 lens and a weight of 41 grams.

Filters, Frames and Flipbooks

Creative options carry most of the camera’s personality. Five filter themes each hold six effects. Users pick instax mini, SQUARE or WIDE frames or a frameless format before adding filters, text and stickers.

A new instax Animation mode captures 10 frames and turns them into a flipbook-style clip. Switching between stills and animations takes a quick flick of the lever.

Prints need extra hardware. The Pal 2 sends images to instax Link smartphone printers, the instax mini LiPlay or the instax mini Evo, and those devices use instax film. Fujifilm designed the camera for ages 13 and up.

Price and Availability

The Pal 2 costs $169.95 in the US and CA$219.99 in Canada, in black or white. Fujifilm expected US availability in late September. The camera lists at €169.99 in Europe and £144.99 at UK retailers, and Japan gets it on October 9. The box includes a USB Type-C cable, a hand strap, the angle-adjustment accessory and a one-year limited warranty.

Why Small Cameras Are Selling Again

Fujifilm is chasing a real trend. Compact camera shipments grew 29.6% in 2025 to about 2.44 million units, helped by younger buyers looking for something other than a phone camera. Growth has continued this year, with first-half compact shipments up about 16%, though the pace is cooling.

The Pal 2 takes a different route from enthusiast compacts. It does not compete on sensor size or optics. It sells a physical ritual: a viewfinder to look through, a lever to flip and a print at the end if you want one. Fujifilm is wagering that buyers raised on phones will pay for a dedicated camera that feels like a toy and works like a phone accessory.

Written by Alius Noreika